Ein Mann mittleren Alters mit grauem Haar und Brille, der einen dunklen Anzug, ein weißes Hemd und eine rot gemusterte Krawatte trägt, steht in einem unscharfen Innenraum, der typisch für die Kanzleien von Chicagoer Anwälten ist.

Steven H. Hilfinger

Partner/Ruhestand

Steven H. Hilfinger

Partner/Ruhestand

Steve Hilfinger served as a senior business counselor representing for-profit and nonprofit companies on mergers and acquisitions (M&A), finance transactions, corporate and board counseling, and government affairs matters. He represented automotive suppliers and other manufacturers for more than 30 years, helping found the firm’s Detroit office and its Automotive Industry Team and Manufacturing Sector.

Steve was a member of the firm’s Manufacturing Sector Advisory Board as well as co-chair of the Electrified Mobility & Infrastructure initiative and Smart Manufacturing initiative.

Steve formerly served as Chief Regulatory Officer for the State of Michigan and Chief Operating Officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

Repräsentative Erfahrung

Fusionen und Akquisitionen

  • Closed more than 200 M&A transactions in a variety of industries, including automotive, manufacturing, business services, advanced technology, and other sectors.
  • Represents private equity firms, private and publicly held corporations, closely held and family businesses, and family offices in a variety of M&A, joint venture, and other investment matters.
  • Has extensive restructuring experience in “distressed M&A” and guided two debtors through Chapter 11 plan confirmation.

Finanzen

  • Represents borrowers and lenders in a variety of corporate finance transactions.
  • Began his career doing extensive work for a large global bank, a large complex of mezzanine loan funds, and a complex of venture capital funds, focusing on private transactions.

Corporate Counseling

  • Serves as outside general counsel to several companies, including both for-profit and nonprofit concerns. This work includes counseling on business formation and corporate and board governance, general corporate and commercial contract counseling, and a variety of other legal and compliance matters.

Nonprofit

  • Extensive experience in representing nonprofits, and counseling and service on nonprofit boards.
  • Served as chief operating officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, a 501(c)(3) focused on economic development.
  • Serves as secretary, treasury, and board member of NextEnergy Center, a 501(c)(3) focused on energy and mobility.
  • Served on several Boards in his capacity as chief regulatory officer of the State of Michigan.
  • Active with other nonprofits, including Invest Detroit (member of Investment Committee) and MichAuto (co-chair of Advocacy Committee), a statewide program of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Government Affairs

  • Assists with government and public affairs matters in Michigan as a registered lobbyist in Michigan and member of the firm’s Government Solutions Team, which assists clients with a variety of administrative and legislative matters in Michigan including in Lansing and Detroit.
  • Served as chief regulatory officer for the State of Michigan under Michigan Governor Rick Snyder. In that capacity, he served as director of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) and its Office of Regulatory Reinvention (ORR). He later served as chief operating officer of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) under Governor Snyder.

Automobilindustrie

  • Co-founded Foley’s Automotive Industry Team, focused on representing automotive suppliers and technology companies with their full range of legal needs. In that role, he has handled mergers and acquisitions, finance, and other corporate mandates for numerous automotive suppliers.
  • Served as legal counsel to a number of strategy councils of the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Associate / Original Equipment Suppliers Association.
  • Currently co-chairs the Advocacy Committee of MichAuto, a statewide program of the Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce focused on growing the automotive and mobility industries in Michigan and driving automotive and mobility policy in Michigan.

Auszeichnungen und Anerkennungen

  • Er wurde in die DBusiness Top Lawyers (2025) aufgenommen.
  • Named 2023 Leading Lawyer In Michigan
  • Peer Review bewertet als AV Preeminent®, die höchste Leistungsbewertung im Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ System
  • Recognized, JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards in the field of M&A (2021)
  • Selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® in the field of Government Relations (2018-2024)
  • Named the Best Lawyers® Government Relations “Lawyer of the Year” in Detroit (2020)
  • Named a leading business law attorney in Michigan by Chambers® USA (2008-2010, 2016-2024)
  • Named as one of the “500 Most Powerful Business Leaders in Metro Detroit” by DBusiness magazine (2019-2023)
  • Recommended by The Legal 500 for his work in M&A (2015-2017)
  • “Leader in the Law” designation from Michigan Lawyers Weekly (2015)
  • Selected for inclusion to the Michigan Super Lawyers® list in the field of M&A (2006-2010)

Zugehörigkeiten

Steve serves or has served on the boards of directors of the:

  • Michigan Strategic Fund
  • Michigan Economic Growth Authority
  • Michigan Emergency Loan Management Board
  • Michigan Land Bank Fast Track Authority
  • Michigan Governor’s Talent Investment Board
  • Investment Advisory Committee to the Michigan State Treasury overseeing the state’s pension funds
  • Forgotten Harvest, Inc.
  • NextEnergy Center
  • Investment Committee of Invest Detroit
  • He is also a member of the following legal organizations:
    • Member, Business Law, Administrative Law, Government Law and International Law Sections of the State Bar of Michigan
    • Member, American Bar Association, Business Law Section

Firm Leadership

  • Co-chair, Foley’s Electrified Mobility & Infrastructure (EV) initiative
  • Co-chair, of the Smart Manufacturing initiative,
  • Member, Manufacturing Sector Advisory Board
  • Two terms as managing partner of the Detroit office (2002-2006, 2009-2011)

Vordenkerrolle

  • Instructor, American Counsel of Corporate Attorneys (corporate, M&A, economic development, and government affairs topics)
  • Instructor, “The Board’s Role in M&A” and “The Board’s Role in Talent Development and Site Selection,” National Directors Institute
  • Co-founder and Instructor, Wayne State University Commercial Law Clinic
  • Lecturer, “Drafting Asset Purchase Agreements and Related Documents” and “Formation and Initial Operation of Business Enterprises-Financing Issues,” Michigan Institute of Continuing Legal Education
  • Participated in numerous programs focused on advanced automotive technologies in Detroit, Palo Alto, Boston, New York, and London, including:
    • Presenter, update on U.S. autonomous and electric vehicle legal developments, Financial Times’ “Future of the Car Summit” (May 2019)
    • Co-chair, I “Concordant Crossroads” program, New York, NY (October 2018)
Eine große Automobilfabrik mit Roboterarmen, die Autos auf einem Fließband zusammenbauen, was an die Präzision in Anwaltskanzleien oder Teams zur Unterstützung bei Rechtsstreitigkeiten erinnert; mehrere unfertige Karosserien bewegen sich effizient über die automatisierten Fließbänder.
21. November 2024 Berater für das verarbeitende Gewerbe

MEMA-Jahreskonferenz der Erstausrüster - Wirtschafts- und Wachstumsprognosen des Outlook Panels für die Automobilbranche

In einem Jahr mit vielen globalen Marktherausforderungen, die sich auf die Automobilindustrie ausgewirkt haben, präsentierte die MEMA-Jahreskonferenz der Erstausrüster am 12. und 13. November in Novi, Michigan, eine detaillierte Analyse der aktuellen Situation und der Zukunftsaussichten für die Automobilindustrie.
Ein Elektroauto wird an eine Ladestation angeschlossen, Sonnenlicht reflektiert vom Fahrzeug und Ladegerät – direkt vor einem geschäftigen Büro von Anwälten in Chicago, die sich auf geistiges Eigentumsrecht spezialisiert haben.
November 13, 2024 Blogs

Die Einführung von Elektrofahrzeugen und der entsprechenden Infrastruktur steht 2024 vor regulatorischen, politischen und marktbezogenen Herausforderungen: Kommt es zu einer Verlangsamung oder sogar zu einem Rückschritt?

Der Weg zur Elektromobilität war für Automobilhersteller, Entwickler von Infrastrukturen für batteriebetriebene Elektrofahrzeuge und die sie unterstützenden Branchen ein turbulenter.
November 12, 2024 Events

MEMA-Jahreskonferenz der Erstausrüster 2024

Nehmen Sie gemeinsam mit Foley an der jährlichen Konferenz der Erstausrüster der MEMA vom 12. bis 13. November teil.
6. Juni 2024 Presseveröffentlichungen

Foley erreicht Spitzenplatzierungen bei Chambers USA 2024

Foley & Lardner LLP freut sich bekannt zu geben, dass sie in der Ausgabe 2024 von Chambers USA, America's Leading Lawyers for Business, erneut von Chambers & Partners als eine der führenden Anwaltskanzleien des Landes anerkannt wird.
February 27, 2024 Honors and Awards

Steven Hilfinger in die Hall of Fame aufgenommen, Michelle Freeman von Michigan Lawyers Weekly als aufstrebende Anwältin ausgezeichnet

Steven Hilfinger, Partner bei Foley & Lardner LLP, und Michelle Freeman, Senior Counsel, werden von Michigan Lawyers Weekly geehrt.
17. Januar 2024 Geschäfte und Gewinne

Foley vertritt die Barnes Group beim Verkauf der Geschäftsbereiche Associated Spring™ und Hänggi™

Foley & Lardner LLP fungierte als Rechtsberater für Barnes Group Inc., einen globalen Anbieter von hochtechnisierten Produkten, differenzierten Industrietechnologien und innovativen Lösungen, beim Abschluss einer endgültigen Vereinbarung über den Verkauf seiner Geschäftsbereiche Associated Spring™ und Hänggi™ an One Equity Partners.