He obtained his undergraduate degree in Business Economics from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
In 1987, Steven received his law degree from the University of San Diego Law School and graduated in the top 2% of his class.
He began his legal career at Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye (now DLA Piper) in their Real Estate department in 1987 and in 1992 went on to establish a sole practice in La Jolla, California specializing in business and real estate transactions. From 1992 to 2003, he represented numerous developers, investors, lenders and business owners with business and real estate transactions totaling over $150,000,000. From 2003 through mid-2009, Steven was General Counsel to a private commercial lender, handling all legal aspects of the loan business.
He assisted in placing over $1,000,000,000 in real estate loans, and handled loan workouts as well as the management of distressed REO. Since 2010, he has been General Counsel at La Jolla Cove Investors, Inc., and he has successfully closed over $150,000,000 of convertible debenture financing, handled negotiation and documentation of financing transactions, managed outside counsel and all company litigation, production of discovery, assisted with legal strategy and he has negotiated numerous contracts, confidentiality agreements, settlement agreements and other related documents. He has also maintained a law practice handling real estate and business transactions since 2009.
Education
Juris Doctor, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA, May 1987 (Magna Cum Laude – top 5%)
State Bar of California, 1987
Bachelor of Arts, Business Economics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Experience
Owner
LJ LAW, APLC, La Jolla, CA
January, 2005 – present
General real estate and corporate transactional practice, handling all aspects including purchase and sales, leasing, easements, entity creations, joint ventures, development projects, real estate financing.
Self–Employed
Law Office of Steven M. Romanoff, La Jolla, CA
1992 – 2003
General real estate and corporate transactional practice, handling all aspects including purchase and sales, leasing, easements, entity creations, joint ventures, development projects, real estate financing, limited real estate and corporate litigation.
Associate Attorney
Gray, Cary, Ames & Frye (now DLA Piper), San Diego, CA
1987 – 1992
Practice focused primarily in the area of real estate transactions, including leasing, purchase and sales and private financing transactions.
General Counsel
La Jolla Cove Investors, Inc., La Jolla, CA
July, 2009 - present
General Counsel for local private small cap financing company.
Successfully closed over $150,000,000 of convertible debenture financing.
Negotiation and documentation of financing, debt restructuring/workout and forbearances, purchase and sale of REO assets, leasing of REO assets, assist with legal aspects of asset management
Management of outside counsel and all company litigation, production of discovery, assist with legal strategy
Management of outside counsel and all company litigation, production of discovery, assist with legal strategy
General Counsel/Vice-President
Southbridge Capital, Inc., La Jolla, CA
July, 2009 – July, 2011
General Counsel/Vice-President for local mortgage banker/broker.
Successfully closed over $50,000,000 of commercial and multi-family real estate loans.
Negotiation and documentation of financing
Negotiation of numerous contracts, confidentiality agreements, financing agreements, brokerage agreements and other related documents.