Partners
Acquisitions and Business Development
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Mr. Stewart has represented SMS Financial since 1998 and formally joined the firm as General Counsel in 2016. Over the past three decades, Mr. Stewart has represented a wide array of financial institutions in all aspects of commercial lending including loan origination, loan workouts and restructuring, pre-judgment provisional remedies, post-judgment collection, lien enforcement, foreclosure, deficiency enforcement, and all aspects of creditor’s rights and bankruptcy litigation. He has marshaled thousands of creditor claims to successful resolution. Mr. Stewart’s representation of SMS Financial and other creditors has focused on professional, cost effective, and efficient resolution of complex commercial matters in multiple state jurisdictions, federal court, and bankruptcy court through trial and the appellate process. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Stewart has served as Judge Pro Tempore in Maricopa County Superior Court. Mr. Stewart is a fourth generation Arizona native and holds a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona. Robert Stewart is “AV Preeminent” rated by Martindale-Hubbell, the recognized industry authority. An AV rating recognizes attorneys who have “reached the heights of professional excellence and are recognized for the highest levels of skill and integrity.”
Mr. Sternberg has been practicing law in Arizona since 1961 after being the youngest attorney to pass the bar at the time. While practicing law, he was a co-founder of SMS Financial in 1993. Mr. Sternberg serves as an advisory member, providing strategic guidance on all facets of SMS’ operations. He has a broad background in all aspects of litigation, dispute resolution, real estate management and development and business valuation. Additionally, his extensive experience in forensic accounting and finance has proven to be invaluable, with the resolution of numerous complex and high balance assets. In addition to practicing law, Mr. Sternberg has served as Judge Pro Tempore in Maricopa County Superior Court since 1977. Mr. Sternberg holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Arizona State University and a Juris Doctorate from the University of Arizona.
Ms. Grassl joined SMS Financial in 2018. As Senior Paralegal, her responsibilities focus on the management of judgment and real estate processes, as well as the drafting of legal documents pertaining to pending litigation and company acquisitions and sales. Prior to joining the SMS team, Ms. Grassl spent over 25 years as a paralegal at various law firms in the Phoenix area, where she focused on insurance defense, business dispute resolution, and complex litigation. In addition to her legal background, she also manages her family’s residential real estate office, which specializes in the disposition of Real Estate Owned assets throughout Arizona. Ms. Grassl received her paralegal certificate from Watterson College in Van Nuys, CA in 1988.