Member

Brian A. Cromer

502-681-0440

Brian A. Cromer is the Chair of the firmโ€™s Business & Finance Service Group. He has represented some of the largest companies in the U.S. and the international arena in corporate transactions and legal disputes, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance transactions, venture capital and private equity investments, and corporate governance matters. Brian’s broad range of experience includes providing and organizing a variety of legal services for companies at all stages, from large public companies to middle market businesses to new ventures. He has represented clients in numerous business transactions where the individual deal value ranged from $25 million to $1 billion or more. He is located in the firm’s Louisville, Ky., office.

Recent Assignments

Counsel to major healthcare services provider in multiple acquisitions of physical therapy and related businesses in numerous states, including the negotiation of debt

Counsel to industry-leading metallizing business in sale transaction with a Japanese public company’s U.S. holding company

Counsel to national provider of outsourced rehabilitation services in private equity-funded change of control transaction

Counsel to regional commercial insurance broker in change of control transaction with private equity platform company

Borrower’s counsel to public health care company in $450 million syndicated credit facility

U.S. counsel to public company affiliate in connection with ยฃ1.5 billion global revolving credit facility

M&A counsel to major insurance broker and financial services company in numerous transactions throughout the United States, including combination transaction with private equity-backed partner

Legal advisor in $10 billion combination transaction resulting in the formation of a new public company

Counsel to public and private company clients in numerous acquisitions and dispositions of long term care facilities

Lead counsel to European public company in the purchase of a major distribution business in Tokyo, Japan from multinational conglomerate

Seller’s counsel in sale of distillery and related assets to international purchaser

National acquisition counsel to public company in numerous acquisitions of staffing companies throughout the United States

Counsel to physicians and physician groups in sale of practices to hospital acquirers

Counsel to technology company in sale of business to private equity-backed investment group

Counsel to commercial lenders and borrowers in numerous asset-based multi-million dollar loan and financing transactions in a variety of industries, including manufacturing, technology, health care, financial services, consumer goods and basic materials

Counsel to buyer in financing and acquisition transactions involving ESOP-owned company and private equity partners

Lead counsel to public company in the construction of a greenfield manufacturing facility in South Korea as part of a $1 billion investment

Counsel to major investment adviser in disposition of large apartment communities

Counsel to management group in the formation of a hedge fund and offering of limited partnership units

Issuer’s counsel for initial public offering and secondary offering in rent-to-own industry

Counsel to Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development in its efforts to secure a foreign automobile manufacturer in a $1 billion transaction

Bar Admissions

Kentucky

Firm Leadership

Business & Finance Service Group, Chair

Management Committee Representative to the Southern Law Network

Management Committee, Former Member

Business & Finance Group, Former Louisville Office Chair

Recruiting Committee, Former Co-Chair

Memberships

American Bar Association

,

Health Law Section

Kentucky Bar Association

Louisville Bar Association

,

Former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Business Law Section

American Health Lawyers Association

Community Involvement

Louisville Economic Development Alliance (LEDA), Board of Directors (2024-present)

Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Director; Executive Committee (2023-25)

Leadership Louisville Bingham Fellows, Class of 2021

Louisville Orchestra, Corporate Support Group

21st Century Parks, Steering Committee

Greater Louisville, Inc., Former Member of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors

Kentucky Wesleyan College, Former Member of Board of Trustees

University of Louisville, Former Member, Secretary and Treasurer of Board of Trustees and Chair of the Finance Committee (2017-18)

The Cabbage Patch, Former Board Member

Kentuckiana Minority Business Council, Former Board Member

The Lawyers Club, Former President

Harmony Landing Country Club, Former President

Leadership Louisville, Class of 2006

Education

J.D.,

1990

with high distinction

University of Kentucky College of Law

Org / Honor

Kentucky Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief

Order of the Coif

B.A., Business Administration,

1983

Bellarmine University

Org / Honor

Silver Knight Award, 1983 (exceptional athletic achievement and outstanding sportsmanship)

College basketball

More Than Stites & Harbison

Before attending law school, Mr. Cromer worked as a commercial banking officer for a major financial institution. Mr. Cromer has served in a number of civic and professional organizations relating to his practice. Mr. Cromer is a member of the Board of Directors of Greater Louisville, Inc. where he has served on the Executive Committee and held the office of Secretary. He also chairs the Greater Louisville, Inc. Task Force on Tax Reform. Mr. Cromer served on the Board of Trustees of the University of Louisville where he was the Secretary and Treasurer of the board and Chair of the Finance Committee. He is a member and former President of The Lawyers Club. He is a former member of the Board of Trustees of Kentucky Wesleyan College and he served as a member of the Steering Committee of 21st Century Parks, a non-profit organization that acquired and developed Floyds’ Fork, which has 4,000 acres of parkland in Metro Louisville. He is a former Chair and Vice-Chair of the Business Law Section of the Louisville Bar Association, and a former board member of the Kentuckiana Minority Business Council and The Cabbage Patch. Mr. Cromer is also a graduate of the 2006 class of Leadership Louisville. Brian enjoys thoroughbred horse racing, golf, college sports and playing the piano.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbellยฎ AV-Preeminentยฎ Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in Americaยฎ, Corporate Law and Mergers & Acquisitions (2006-25)

Kentucky Super Lawyersยฎ(2007-14)

Kentucky Super Lawyersยฎ, Top 50 Attorneys in the State (2010)

Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business”

Louisville Magazine’s “Top Lawyers” for Business/Commercial Law and Mergers & Acquisitions Law (2013, 2014)

Testimonials

. . . brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to his lending practice.

Chambers USA

. . . part of the next wave of great lawyers.

Chambers USA

I have worked with Brian for several years on a wide variety of matter sand have had consistently great experiences. In addition to being outstanding on general corporate matters and corporate transactions, Brian is an extremely versatile lawyers with a broad experience base. He is a real professional and a pleasure to work with.

Best Lawyers

Brian has exhibited the qualities that I consider essential in my outside counsel. He is highly responsive to my time requirements, creative in crafting solutions and willing to listen to his client. He was always able to meet the time pressures of the transaction. In several instances Brian came up with creative and effective solutions to deal issues that ultimately enable us to consummate the transactions.

Best Lawyers

Brian Cromer is an experienced and knowledgeable commercial transactions lawyer, who works effectively in direct contact with all levels of business management personnel. He is committed to client interests, and exercises excellent judgment in identifying issues requiring higher-level client decision-making. His integrity is without question.

Best Lawyers