Steven Graff

Practice Areas

Steve’s practice has been built on his ability to think clearly in a crisis and communicate effectively with clients. A dynamic corporate lawyer and litigator, he thrives on the immediacy of the financial services sector and revels in the high-pressure environment in which he practises. Steve’s clients appreciate his no-nonsense approach, his ability to simplify complex situations and his personal touch on each file.

Steve is Co-Practice Group Leader of Aird & Berlis LLP's Financial Services Group and a member of the firm's Litigation Group and Corporate/Commercial Group. His practice focuses on restructuring and insolvency, lending and corporate acquisitions and divestitures, often in the context of distress. He also advises on a wide range of financing transactions. In addition, Steve manages a commercial litigation practice.

Steve has strong ties in the financial sector and acts as counsel for many of the Canadian Schedule I banks and other financial institutions on restructuring, security enforcement and recovery. He has also been engaged on behalf of various stakeholder groups, including bond holders, unsecured creditors and even shareholders in the context of corporate restructurings. He has also had the opportunity to represent lenders, landlords, municipalities, trade suppliers and debtors in all aspects of insolvency law, including bankruptcy, proposals, reorganizations, enforcement of security, and in protecting rights outside of insolvency proceedings. Steve has also represented several private debt and equity investors concerning their positions in various Canadian insolvencies and restructurings. Additionally, he acts on behalf of many of the well-known professional advisory firms in their roles as monitor, trustee in bankruptcy and receiver.

On the finance side, Steve is active in both asset-based lending as well as traditional cash flow lending on behalf of several institutional lenders.

Learn more about Steve here: https://www.airdberlis.com/people/bio/steven-l-graff

Professional Memberships

Memberships

Turnaround Management Association

Teaching Engagements

Instructor, Ontario Bar Admission Course Insolvency Section for nine years

Guest Lecturer, University of Toronto, Negotiations in Insolvency Matters

Regularly delivers presentations to clients on a wide range of financing, insolvency and restructuring matters.

Publications

Co-Author, "In re: The Hacienda Company, LLC – The Budding Change in U.S. Bankruptcy Law Starts to Flower," Aird & Berlis LLP Financial Services Flash, November 22, 2023.

Co-Author, "This Could Be ‘The One’: Considerations for When a Property Developer Faces Insolvency," Aird & Berlis LLP Financial Services Flash, November 14, 2023.

Co-Author, "BioSteel Files for Creditor Protection: Will the Budding Change in U.S. Bankruptcy Law Bloom?" Aird & Berlis LLP Financial Services Flash, September 21, 2023.

Co-Author, "In re: The Hacienda Company, LLC – A Budding Change in Bankruptcy Law for Cannabis Companies?" Aird & Berlis LLP Financial Services Flash, June 12, 2023.