| Biography:
Stephen T. Mears is a partner in the Firm’s Corporate Department and a member of the Private Investment Funds Group. Mr. Mears concentrates on the venture capital and private equity fields. He represents venture capital and private equity funds, including venture capital, mezzanine and buyout funds, and international funds. His principal activities on behalf of funds include: capital formations, portfolio investments, sales and distributions, internal governance and management, regulatory compliance and ongoing maintenance and administration.
A significant part of Mr. Mears’ practice is representing fund sponsors in the formation and maintenance of private equity funds. Some of his clients include: Bessemer Venture Partners, Core Capital Partners, GenCap America, General Catalyst Partners, Geocapital Partners, Grotech Capital Group, New Enterprise Associates, Regiment Capital Advisors, and Sterling Partners. Mr. Mears has represented funds ranging in size from $50 million to over $2.5 billion.
Recently he assisted Sterling Partners in structuring and closing its third buyout fund, Sterling Capital Partners III, with $1 billion in commitments. He also assisted Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), one of the oldest venture capital firms in the US, with the closing of a new group of venture capital funds with more than $1 billion in commitments, a portion of which is allocated to investments in India.
Mr. Mears is co-author of Stock Distributions 101: A Guide for Venture Capitalists, and a frequent contributor to other industry publications. He also was a co-editor of Private Equity Viewpoint (f/k/a Venture Update), at his former firm, Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault, LLP.
Mr. Mears was named to the BTI Client Service All-Star Team for 2008 and as a New England Super Lawyer in 2007. In 2008, he was selected as one of the leading attorneys in his field by Chambers USA. He was also recognized in the 2008 edition of US Legal 500.
He received his B.S., summa cum laude, from Boston College in 1988 and his J.D., summa cum laude, from Boston College in 1991 where he was admitted to the Order of the Coif.
Mr. Mears is admitted to the Bar in Massachusetts (1991).
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