PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Steven H. McCleskey concentrates his practice in the areas of individual estate planning, business succession planning for closely held family businesses and estate administration. He also works extensively in the areas of tax law, tax planning, tax litigation and business law, including mergers and acquisitions.

He is a designated ACCREDITED ESTATE PLANNER®, achieving a graduate level specialization in estate planning awarded by the National Association of Estate Planners and Councils to recognize professionals who meet the stringent requirements of experience, knowledge, education, reputation and character.

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EDUCATION

• Christian Brothers University, B.S. degree, summa cum laude, 1978
• Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law at the University of Memphis, J.D. degree 1981

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ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

• Tennessee
• Mississippi

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HONORS/AWARDS

• The Best Lawyers in America
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated

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PROFESSIONAL/CIVIC/CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS

• American (Member, Taxation, Real Property, Probate Sections) Bar Association
• Tennessee (Member, Tax, Probate, Trust Law Sections) Bar Association
• Memphis Bar Association
• Estate Planning Council of Memphis
• Christian Brothers University, Member, Professional Advisory Council

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REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

• Mr. Greer served as co-counsel in the landmark case Tiger Lily, et. al. v. Department of Housing and Urban Development, et al., representing local Memphis property owners and managers in a critical suit against the United States Government. During the global pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention unlawfully promulgated a total ban on all residential evictions for the non-payment of rent nationwide.  Faced with watching his property-owning clients endure huge losses in revenue, layoffs, mortgage defaults, and foreclosures, Mr. Greer and his partner, Josh Kahane, filed suit against various federal government agencies, including the CDC, demanding the ban on residential evictions be struck down as unlawful and unconstitutional.  Following months of hard-fought legal battles, Mr. Greer, his partner, and most importantly, his clients prevailed on summary judgment as the District Court struck down the ban.  Faced with the loss, the Government immediately appealed the decision to the United States Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.  In another mammoth victory for landowners and landlords, the Sixth Circuit too declared the eviction ban to be an unlawful exercise of authority by the CDC.
• Mr. Greer served as federal jury trial counsel for a large dairy production company accused of disability discrimination and other violations of the ADA. Mr. Greer obtained a jury verdict in favor of his employer client on all causes of action asserted.
• Mr. Greer obtained summary judgment in favor of two (2) corrections deputies accused of applying excessive force to a pre-trial detainee, with the Court finding and holding the deputies were qualifiedly immune from suit as there was no underlying constitutional violation.
• Mr. Greer obtained summary judgment in favor of an employer-sponsored health and welfare benefit plan in a large, complex case alleging, among other things, wrongfully denying benefits, breaching a fiduciary duty owed to a plan participant, and engaging in other unlawful conduct.  The administrative record accounted for more than 10,000 pages of printed material.
• Prosecuted and/or tried thousands of forcible entry and detainer actions in Shelby County, Tennessee.
• Obtained Million Dollar settlement for a worker injured on the job.
• Recovered Million Dollar retainage for a local contractor in a federally backed multi-family construction project.
• Served as co-counsel in matter that prevented foreclosure of nearly $30 Million Dollar real estate investment portfolio by a government sponsored enterprise.
• Obtained employer sponsored health plan reimbursement after plan was defrauded by its third-party administrator.
• Negotiated and obtained numerous nominal and low-dollar settlements for corporate and business clients accused of violations of the FLSA, ADA (both Title II and III), and/or Title VII.