Steve Wood

Steve F. Wood, shareholder in the Nashville office, is co-chairman of the Business Technology Group at Baker Donelson. Mr. Wood counsels tech companies, venture capital funds, health care providers, and financial services companies in a broad array of business and corporate transactional matters, from company formation, acquisitions, and financing transactions to health IT deals, and advises clients on privacy, information security, and HIPAA, GLBA, and PCI compliance matters.

Mr. Wood is well-versed in securities law and taxation and he has particular experience with software licensing and development agreements. He served as the Chief Information Security Officer for Baker Donelson from 2009 – 2018.

In addition to more than 25 years as a lawyer (including five years as a law professor at Vanderbilt Law School), Mr. Wood draws upon significant real-world business experience in representing his clients.

He had a career in banking and commercial real estate finance prior to law school and later co-founded and was CEO of a successful financial services software business, including two years as division executive of the NYSE-listed firm that ultimately acquired his company.

He also has served as an advisor and business consultant to several technology-related start-ups. These hands-on business experiences provide a valuable foundation for understanding the client’s strategic objectives beyond a purely legal perspective.

EDUCATION:

• Vanderbilt University Law School, J.D., 1991
• Indiana University School of Business, B.S. in Business Economics with high distinction, 1983

ADMISSIONS : Tennessee, 1991

Professional Honors & Activities:

• Board of Directors, Nashville Capital Network (angel investing and entrepreneurial guidance organization)
• Board of Directors, Nashville Technology Council
• Founding Director, Nashville Entrepreneur Center
• American Health Lawyers Association
• American Bar Association, Section on Science and Technology

Other Work Experience:

• Professor, Vanderbilt University Law School, and Adjunct Professor, Vanderbilt Owen Graduate School of Management
• Business consultant and advisor to technology-oriented businesses
• Division Executive, Ocwen Financial Corporation (NYSE:OCN)
• Vice President, Woodmark, Inc. (real estate finance and investment services)
• Real Estate Lending Officer, NCNB National Bank (predecessor to Bank of America)

Representative Matters:

• Health information technology – development, licensing, and hosting agreements
• IT aspects of hospital acquisitions – complicated transition services agreements
• Data center hosting agreements
• Online platform and web site click-through Terms of Service and Privacy Policies
• Source code license and escrow agreements
• Venture capital and angel financing – both investor and company representation