Steven T. Aceto  
Steven T. Aceto, Asheville Law
Contact Steven T. Aceto
Asheville Law Services by Aceto Law
Steven T. Aceto resume
Steven T. Aceto resume

STEVEN T. ACETO, Attorney

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Sole practitioner, Steven T. Aceto, P.A., Asheville NC 1983 – 89 and 1997 – present; partner, Brock, Drye, and Aceto P.A., Asheville NC 1989 – 96; associate, James H. Atkins P.A., Gastonia NC 1982 – 83. Law Clerk, Booke and Company, Winston-Salem NC (ERISA / pension consulting firm) 1979-82. Adjunct Professor of Business, Mars Hill College, Mars Hill NC 2003-04.

LICENSING / CERTIFICATION

Admitted to Bar, NC and W.D.N.C Federal 1982; N.C.D.R.C. Certified Superior Court Mediator 1996; member American Arbitration Association Panel of Neutrals since 1994, Arbitrator II Certification 2001.

BAR COMMITTEES/MEMBERSHIPS

Member North Carolina and 28th Judicial District Bar Associations, Chair, 28th Judicial District Fee Dispute Resolution Committee (2000 – present); member National Association of Dealer Counsel (lawyers representing auto dealerships).

EDUCATION

Wake Forest University, J.D. 1982.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A. 1977.

PRACTICE EXPERIENCE/CLIENTS

Outside corporate counsel for closely held and family businesses and professional practices, including multi-line automobile and equipment dealerships, residential and commercial real estate developers in North and South Carolina, machine tool and manufacturing operations, medical and dental practices, medical diagnostic equipment sales and manufacturing operations, software design and services firms, an investment advisory firm, residential and commercial building contractors, architects and surveyors; 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations including churches, international missions and humanitarian relief organizations, educational institutions, and a publisher of a news magazine with over 150,000 national circulation; 501(c)(4) and 501 (c)(6) organizations including social welfare, community service organizations, and trade organizations; and municipal organizations including small towns, utility and emergency services districts.

Business and real estate transactions including purchase, sale, and finance transactions for multi-line automobile and equipment dealerships; the recent purchase and finance of a 200,000 square foot manufacturing facility with ongoing environmental remediation; spin-off of a non-profit magazine publishing subsidiary into a for-profit and back again; shareholder and partner transactions for closely held corporations and limited liability companies including medical and other professional practices, and various manufacturing and service businesses; purchase, organizational and finance transactions of multi-lot residential and commercial subdivisions; organization and operation of residential and commercial property owner associations; corporate formation and qualification of public charities and other tax exempt entities such as business leagues, social welfare organizations, and exempt entity conversions non-corporate to corporate or reclassification for tax purposes; formation of over 400 closely held corporations, limited liability entities, and professional organizations; and over 4,000 residential and commercial real property sale or refinance transactions.

Trusts and estates including individual wills and trusts, estate planning and document drafting for small to medium sized estates; administration of decedents estates as counsel or as executor; and administration and document drafting of trusts, including various inter-vivos trusts, charitable remainder trusts, life insurance trusts, and testamentary trusts as counsel or as trustee; and trust reformation and termination proceedings.

Alternative Dispute Resolution/Arbitration and Mediation, including over 300 hearings as mediator, arbitrator, or party representative in construction, commercial, insurance, and international commercial matters since 1994. Served as mediator/arbitrator in a class action suit regarding life insurance sales practices conducting over 150 telephone hearings. Served as arbitrator or mediator in over 75 residential and commercial construction claims and numerous other types of claims including employment and service contract disputes, franchise contract disputes, real property boundary and easement disputes involving multiple parties, personal injury and accident claims, health insurance/ERISA claims, and a legal malpractice claim involving trust administration. Served as arbitrator, mediator, or referee in coverage-related insurance claims.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Commercial and residential real estate investor. Service to non-profit organizations as a board member of U.S. and international Christian missionary and humanitarian relief organizations, including organizations providing curriculum services and faculty to public universities in developing countries, organizations providing humanitarian relief to North Korea, an organization providing helicopter transportation, survey and medevac service in developing countries, and as a Presbyterian church elder. Board of Directors of Metropolitan Sewerage District of Buncombe County NC, 1985 – 91 and 1997 – present, currently serving as Board Chairman; Board of Commissioners, Town of Montreat NC, 1984 - 86. Republican candidate for Superior Court Judge, 28th Judicial District, 1996.