Stephen is a transactional attorney who advises U.S. and international clients on domestic and cross-border M&A and other strategic transactions. He brings a practical, deal-focused approach to helping clients execute complex transactions efficiently and achieve their strategic and growth objectives.
His experience includes acquisitions and dispositions (including carve-outs), financings and growth equity investments, and strategic partnerships, as well as venture capital and emerging company matters. Stephen routinely represents clients across a range of industries, including life sciences, technology, health care, cosmetics, manufacturing, insurance, financial services, and energy & sustainability.
He often serves as a trusted advisor to emerging and high-growth businesses from formation through financing rounds and strategic exits. In his work for private equity and venture capital funds, as well as family offices, Stephen counsels investors on acquisitions, dispositions, recapitalizations, and minority and growth equity investments, and guides investment firms on formation and capital raise projects.
Prior to joining Mintz, Stephen was an associate in the Business Practice Group of a national law firm, where he advised clients on transactional and general corporate matters, including strategic acquisitions, equity and debt financings, and other corporate transactions. He also served as outside general counsel to a Community Development Financial Institution. Earlier, he practiced at two Southern California law firms, focusing on corporate and transactional matters.
While attending law school, Stephen interned with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Homeland Security, and the San Diego County District Attorney's Office. He served as articles and comments editor for the University of Miami International and Comparative Law Review and received the Dean's Certificate of Achievement Award for his work in the International Business Crimes course.
viewpoints
Trump Administration Tariffs: Key Considerations for Private Equity Investors
April 22, 2025 | Alert | By Alex S. Kaufman, Daniel Cowan, Stephen M. Callegari
Read about the key considerations private equity firms should make when doing business in the new Trump tariffs environment. Read about the key considerations private equity firms should make when doing business in the new Trump tariffs environment.
Seller Considerations When Negotiating a Letter of Intent
April 1, 2025 | Article | By Jeremy Glaser, Stephen M. Callegari
Negotiating and signing a Letter of Intent (LOI) is a key inflection point in the process of selling your business. Buyers and sellers both want the LOI to ensure a certain base level of understanding on certain key terms such as price, the structure of the deal, exclusivity, and confidentiality. However, sellers generally want, and should push for, additional details before agreeing to exclusively negotiate with a potential buyer. This article highlights key considerations for sellers to address in the LOI to protect their interests and set the stage for a successful deal.
Preparing a VC-Backed Company for an Exit Event
April 22, 2024 | Alert | By Stephen M. Callegari, Stefan Jović
This alert provides an overview of critical steps companies can take to ensure that an M&A exit event runs smoothly, including ensuring internal agreement on the sale, establishing an M&A team, attending to legal housekeeping matters, and carefully reviewing term sheets received from potential bidders.
News & Press
Mintz Advises User Interviews in Sale to Thoma Bravo’s UserTesting
January 12, 2026
Mintz advised User Interviews, the leading participant recruitment platform for user and market research and AI training, on its sale to UserTesting, the leading provider of customer insights for enterprise-scale companies. UserTesting was acquired by funds affiliated with Thoma Bravo and Sunstone Partners in 2022.
Mintz advised Cultivo, a leading platform for developing and operating natural assets at scale, on its acquisition of leading carbon grasslands project developer Kateri.
Letters of Intent: Considerations for Sellers
April 10, 2025
A memo written by Venture Capital and Emerging Companies Practice Co-chair Jeremy Glaser and Associate Stephen Callegari was referenced in a DealLawyers.com update about letters of intent (LOI). The Mintz memo provides an overview of some of the key issues that sellers should understand fully before signing up for a letter of intent.
A Mintz team led by Richard Gervase, Member and Chair of the firm’s Royalty & Revenue Interest Financing Transactions Group, advised global investment firm Sixth Street in a non-dilutive, senior secured credit facility of up to $475 million for Apellis Pharmaceuticals. Apellis received $375 million in funding at close, with ability to access an additional $100 million under the facility at the Company’s option prior to September 2025, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions.
Recent Insights
Mintz advised User Interviews, the leading participant recruitment platform for user and market research and AI training, on its sale to UserTesting, the leading provider of customer insights for enterprise-scale companies. UserTesting was acquired by funds affiliated with Thoma Bravo and Sunstone Partners in 2022.
Mintz advised Cultivo, a leading platform for developing and operating natural assets at scale, on its acquisition of leading carbon grasslands project developer Kateri.
