Stephen A. Opler is a partner in the Atlanta office of Barnes & Thornburg and is a member of the Corporate Department.
Mr. Opler concentrates his practice on the unique characteristics of liquidity transactions by and with entrepreneurs. Buying or selling entrepreneur-owned businesses requires a unique focus on the many ways these relationships often fail, including cultural integration, performance incentives and metrics, joint ownership and minority owner rights and responsibilities.
He helps clients achieve their goals by leveraging his three decades of experience as an M&A lawyer, entrepreneur, business founder, investment banker, in-house lawyer and accountant. Mr. Opler’s clients include private equity funds, strategic acquirers, and entrepreneurial buyers and sellers.
Recent transactions Mr. Opler has led include the acquisition of two privately owned Colorado waste haulers for a Midwest-based private equity client; the sale of an international apparel manufacturer for its founder, CEO and owner; the sale to a private equity buyer of a fixed-wing air ambulance company for its founder, owner and CEO; and the sale of a founder led business services innovator to a Fortune 150 buyer.
Also using his background in accounting, investment banking and private equity, Mr. Opler counsels public and private companies and private equity firms in mergers and acquisitions. He represents clients in the broadcast, manufacturing, financial and professional services industries.
Mr. Opler serves on the advisory board of the oldest continuously owned apparel manufacturer in the United States.
In the community, Mr. Opler is an advisory board member of Kate’s Club and was a founding member of the board of TechBridge, Inc. He is a past board member of board of the Anti-Defamation League, Hands on Atlanta, Jewish Family and Career Services, and The Temple.
Mr. Opler has been recognized by Chambers USA for corporate/M&A law, named to the Georgia Super Lawyers list and named to “The Legal Elite: Georgia’s Most Effective Lawyers” by Georgia Trend magazine for his work in business law.
After graduating from the University of Virginia with a B.A. in 1981, Mr. Opler earned his J.D. from the University of Alabama School of Law in 1985. He also has passed the CPA exam and the Series 7 and 63 securities exams.
Mr. Opler is admitted to practice in the State of Georgia.
