Bio

R. Steven Kestner is the former Chairman of BakerHostetler, having served in that role from 2004 through 2018. Before serving as Chairman, Steve chaired the firm's national Business Group and served as a member of the firm's Policy Committee, its governing body. Steve concentrates his practice on mergers and acquisitions, transactions and securities law. He advises and represents clients in the areas of domestic and foreign mergers and acquisitions, and works with public and private companies, private equity and venture capital firms. His securities law work has included registration statements under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to both debt and equity financings, and annual and periodic reports and proxy statements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. He works closely with NYSE and NASDAQ companies. Steve has been named one of America's Leading Business Lawyers by Chambers USA since 2005, and he was elected to The Fellows of the American Bar Foundation in January 2008. He serves on the Board of Directors of Preformed Line Products Company (NASDAQ: PLPC). Preformed Line Products designs and manufactures products and systems for the energy, telecommunications and cable industries worldwide. Steve is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Cleveland Museum of Art, serving on the Board since 2004, and served as Chairman from 2012 to 2016. He is a Member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Cleveland Partnership (2006 to present).