Stephen L. Burns retired from the Corporate Department in April 2025. His practice focused on representing companies and investment banking firms in connection with public and private offerings of securities, as well as on general corporate matters, including corporate governance and M&A matters.
Mr. Burns was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He received a B.B.A. with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1990, where he was named to the Chancellor’s honor society and was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review. Mr. Burns joined Cravath in 1990 and was elected a partner in 1997.
Mr. Burns was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He received a B.B.A. with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1990, where he was named to the Chancellor’s honor society and was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review. Mr. Burns joined Cravath in 1990 and was elected a partner in 1997.
Education
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J.D., 1990, The University of Texas School of Lawwith Honors
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B.B.A., 1987, University of Oklahomawith Distinction
Deals & Cases
September 23, 2024
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s $1 Billion At‑The‑Market Offering of Common Stock
Cravath represented the sales agents in connection with the at‑the‑market offering of common stock totaling up to $1 billion of Essential Utilities, Inc., a holding company for regulated utilities providing water, wastewater and natural gas distribution services to an estimated five million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.
Deals & Cases
August 29, 2024
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million senior notes offering of Essential Utilities, Inc., a holding company for regulated utilities providing water, wastewater and natural gas distribution services to an estimated five million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana and Virginia. Essential Utilities, Inc. was formerly known as Aqua America, Inc. The transaction closed on August 15, 2024.
Deals & Cases
August 26, 2024
Crown Castle Inc.’s $1.25 Billion Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented Crown Castle Inc. in connection with its $1.25 billion registered senior notes offering. Crown Castle Inc. is an owner, operator and lessor of shared wireless infrastructure. The transaction closed on August 12, 2024.
Deals & Cases
March 05, 2024
Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the registered $500 million senior notes offering of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a leading technology services company and the largest IT infrastructure services provider in the world. The transaction closed on February 20, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 20, 2024
IBM International Capital’s $5.5 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented IBM International Capital Pte. Ltd (“IIC”) and International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) in connection with IIC’s $5.5 billion registered notes offering. IBM is a guarantor of the notes. IIC is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of IBM, a globally integrated innovation company, serving the needs of enterprises and institutions worldwide. The transaction closed on February 5, 2024.
Stephen L. Burns retired from the Corporate Department in April 2025. His practice focused on representing companies and investment banking firms in connection with public and private offerings of securities, as well as on general corporate matters, including corporate governance and M&A matters.
Mr. Burns was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He received a B.B.A. with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1990, where he was named to the Chancellor’s honor society and was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review. Mr. Burns joined Cravath in 1990 and was elected a partner in 1997.
Mr. Burns was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He received a B.B.A. with distinction from the University of Oklahoma in 1987 and a J.D. with honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1990, where he was named to the Chancellor’s honor society and was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review. Mr. Burns joined Cravath in 1990 and was elected a partner in 1997.
Education
-
J.D., 1990, The University of Texas School of Lawwith Honors
-
B.B.A., 1987, University of Oklahomawith Distinction
Deals & Cases
September 23, 2024
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s $1 Billion At‑The‑Market Offering of Common Stock
Cravath represented the sales agents in connection with the at‑the‑market offering of common stock totaling up to $1 billion of Essential Utilities, Inc., a holding company for regulated utilities providing water, wastewater and natural gas distribution services to an estimated five million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Indiana, Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky.
Deals & Cases
August 29, 2024
Essential Utilities, Inc.’s Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million senior notes offering of Essential Utilities, Inc., a holding company for regulated utilities providing water, wastewater and natural gas distribution services to an estimated five million people in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Kentucky, West Virginia, Indiana and Virginia. Essential Utilities, Inc. was formerly known as Aqua America, Inc. The transaction closed on August 15, 2024.
Deals & Cases
August 26, 2024
Crown Castle Inc.’s $1.25 Billion Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented Crown Castle Inc. in connection with its $1.25 billion registered senior notes offering. Crown Castle Inc. is an owner, operator and lessor of shared wireless infrastructure. The transaction closed on August 12, 2024.
Deals & Cases
March 05, 2024
Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.’s Registered Senior Notes Offering
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the registered $500 million senior notes offering of Kyndryl Holdings, Inc., a leading technology services company and the largest IT infrastructure services provider in the world. The transaction closed on February 20, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 20, 2024
IBM International Capital’s $5.5 Billion Registered Notes Offering
Cravath represented IBM International Capital Pte. Ltd (“IIC”) and International Business Machines Corporation (“IBM”) in connection with IIC’s $5.5 billion registered notes offering. IBM is a guarantor of the notes. IIC is a wholly owned finance subsidiary of IBM, a globally integrated innovation company, serving the needs of enterprises and institutions worldwide. The transaction closed on February 5, 2024.
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