Steven H. Shapiro Joins Pircher, Nichols & Meeks as Corporate Partner

Aug. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Steven H. Shapiro has joined Pircher, Nichols & Meeks as a corporate partner in its Chicago office. His practice will focus on corporate governance, securities law, mergers & acquisitions and financings.

“Steve’s wealth of expertise and experience bring an extra measure of value to his clients and make him well suited as a partner in our corporate area," said Gene Leone, partner in Pircher's Chicago office. “His work ethic and business focus fit in nicely with our firm culture. We expect that Steve's perspective and skills as a long-time General Counsel and valued advisor to Boards and senior executives will provide practical and savvy legal advice in a variety of areas that address the very challenging issues our clients confront. We are indeed fortunate to now have Steve as a member of our firm.”

Steve's excellent record of service earned him the recognition of Corporate Governance Professional of the Year for Small and Mid-Cap Companies by Corporate Secretary Magazine and Top General Counsel by First Chair. Prior to joining Pircher, Nichols & Meeks, Steve was the General Counsel and Corp¬¬¬orate Secretary for Taylor Capital Group and Cole Taylor Bank, where he was responsible for all legal and compliance issues for the bank and its holding company including TARP compliance, corporate transactions, executive compensation, securities law, corporate governance, litigation, banking center, mortgage company and human resources. Steve supervised a legal staff of 12, directed compliance and community reinvestment, restructured the Board of Directors, and oversaw all aspects of the board’s matters at both the bank and holding company levels. He previously held positions as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary for eLoyalty Corporation and First Midwest Bancorp, Inc. and was Deputy General Counsel and Assistant Secretary for FMC Corporation and FMC Technologies, Inc.

Shapiro is a nationally known speaker on issues of corporate governance and securities law, serves as a member of the Board of Directors of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals and is Co-Chairman of the Society’s Small and Mid-Cap Companies Committee. He is a member of the Advisory Committee of that Society’s Chicago Chapter and twice served as chapter President. Mr. Shapiro also serves on the Board of Directors of Chicago Dramatists, the nation’s leading developer of playwrights, and is the Chairman of its Audit Committee and Treasurer.

Shapiro received his J.D. in 1984 from the University of Chicago. He holds his bachelor’s degree in economics from Columbia University where he graduated cum laude in 1979.

# # #

About Pircher, Nichols & Meeks:
Founded in 1983, Pircher, Nichols & Meeks is a national real estate law firm with a diversified real estate practice, which also includes litigation, bankruptcy, tax and corporate matters. The firm maintains offices in Chicago and Los Angeles. For additional information please visit www.pircher.com.