Each year, Midwest Real Estate News inducts a new class into its Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame. Here is a look at one of our newest Hall of Fame members, Stephen Griffith Jr., partner in the real estate division in the Cincinnati office of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LP.
Named “Cincinnati Best Lawyers—Real Estate Lawyer of the Year” by the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession, Steve Griffith represents lenders, real estate property developers, investors and corporate clients in multiple types of real property transactions.
Day to day, Griffith’s responsibilities are vast. He collaborates with developers on acquisition, development and zoning matters, as well as handles litigation regarding property land disputes. Griffith oversees commercial contracts for construction, design and engineering, as well as specialized financing, loan workouts and property tax valuation proceedings. He also manages leasing issues for client retail, office and industrial properties.
Griffith has enjoyed success in the field for a few reasons. For one, he makes it a point to learn the role of each participant in the transactional, development and management aspects of real estate to propose what each needs to receive to unite in achieving a common goal.
“In dealing with participants in real estate transactions,” Griffith said, “I have strived to explain the applicable legal concepts in plain and simple language that participants who are not lawyers can understand. In negotiations, I’ve strived to address what is practical and ignore the theoretical.”
That’s not to say there haven’t been challenges along the way, and one of the greatest has been working with people who oppose development that would benefit a community, using the legal system for purposes for which it was not designed. Additionally, Griffith said another large challenge was navigating the financial crisis of 2006–2009 and dealing with the associated restructuring of leases.
Despite it all, he’s managed to lead his clients to the other side, and he’s enjoyed working in concert with other professionals in various disciplines to develop and redevelop real estate for the betterment of communities and the those who are a part of them.
Griffith is certified by the Ohio State Bar Association as a Commercial Real Estate Specialist, and he is admitted to practice in the Courts of Ohio and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio.
In addition to “Real Estate Lawyer of the Year”, Griffith has received many awards over his 40+ year career, some of which include Honoree, Ohio Super Lawyers, Past Honoree, Chambers USA and Leading Lawyers Honoree, Cincy Magazine, Corporate Lending, Real Estate. He’s also active in his community and has been involved with organizations like the Cincinnati Habitat for Humanity and Good Shepherd Catholic Montessori School.
Outside of work, Griffith enjoys taking long walks, playing vintage baseball and softball and touring.