# Stephen K. Ganske [(830) 386-3805](tel:+18303863805) · [sganske@thlg.law](mailto:sganske@thlg.law) · https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveganske/ I am a fifth generation Texan, born and raised in Waco. My ancestors wagoned their way to the Atascosa and Fayette county areas in the early 1840s. Being the middle son of two CPAs and corporate executives, my dinner table conversation as a child consisted far more of discussions regarding corporate finance and mergers than what the three household children might have done at school that day. That sparked in me a love for business and transactions I never gave up. Not being satisfied with all that the Waco area had to offer when I graduated from Vanguard College Preparatory School in 2000, I enrolled at Baylor University. I graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor’s degree in telecommunications. During my senior year at Baylor, I was chosen to participate in a highly selective internship with Sony Electronics of America. While at Sony I served as an engineering product specialist at the 2004 National Association of Broadcasters Exposition. After graduation, I took my talents to General Motors Corporation, where I worked as a District Sales and Marketing Manager in their Dallas office. After experiencing a drastically life changing event in 2005, I decided to pursue my dreams and I enrolled at St. Mary’s University School of Law in San Antonio. During my time at St. Mary’s, I spent my spare time doing really fun things like taxes as a student manager of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program and Community Legal Clinic in San Antonio. As much as I love doing taxes, much to my surprise, upon my graduation in 2009, I was awarded a Pro Bono Service Award for my contributions to the community. After receiving my Juris Doctor and successfully navigating the bar exam in 2009, I practiced law at a medium sized corporate law firm in Fort Worth specializing in oil and gas transactions. Having demonstrated some serious aptitude for energy and environmental transactions, in 2013 I was appointed as a director of the Chisolm Trail Municipal Utility District by the Texas Legislature. Looking to move out of the “big city”, I relocated to Seguin in 2013 and joined my, now partner, Chris Moore, as an associate at our former firm. In 2019 we formed Moore Ganske Murr pllc. In my spare time, I enjoy bird hunting and coastal fishing. As I am forever a tinkerer, and in what comes as very little surprise to those who know me, my absolute favorite pastime is refinishing and rewiring solid state pinball machines. But, nothing beats spending time with my two children, Evelyn and August. I am one of only 384 lawyers in Texas (out of over 110,000) that are Board Certified in Commercial Real Estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I am one of only 61 lawyers (again, out of over 110,000) in Texas that are Board Certified in Farm and Ranch Real Estate by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I am one of only 367 lawyers in Texas (out of over 110,000) that are Board Certified in Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Only two lawyers in Texas are Board Certified in each of Commercial Real Estate, Farm and Ranch Real Estate and Oil, Gas, and Mineral Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. I was named a “Texas Super Lawyer - Rising Star” by Texas Super Lawyers Magazine for 2019 - 2022. I also appeared on Texas Monthly’s list of the best lawyers in Texas, sponsored by Super Lawyers Magazine for 2019 - 2022. ## Case Experience ### Defending Estate Against Debt Claims Estate Planning and Probate Probated large estate of business owner and successfully defended unsubstantiated debt claims made by a prior tenant of Decedent. ### Preserving Surviving Spouse’s Inheritance Estate Planning and Probate Acted quickly to probate a deceased husband’s will on behalf of his surviving spouse only a few weeks prior to the statute of limitations, preserving her rights as sole beneficiary. ### Probating a Foreign Will Across States Estate Planning and Probate Coordinated probate of Client’s mothers foreign will and obtained waivers and consents from heir’s and primary executors located in Texas, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts. ### Independent Administration of Ward’s Estate Estate Planning and Probate Assisted with the Independent Administration of a client’s father who had been a ward of the State of Texas under Guardianship for decades prior to death. ### Advisory Opinion on Foreign Will Acceptance Estate Planning and Probate Acted as a special counsel to a Texas client probating her father’s will in Louisiana and provided an advisory opinion to the Louisiana Courts stating that the will was properly executed in accordance with the Texas Estates Code, so that the will may be accepted as a foreign will in Louisiana. ### Family Settlement Agreement for Large Ranch Estate Estate Planning and Probate Remotely probated a will in concert with local counsel and negotiated and drafted a Family Settlement Agreement between three heirs settling their mother’s estate consisting of large ranch acreage, securities, and significant cash. ### Small Estate Affidavit Across Multiple Jurisdictions Estate Planning and Probate Assisted client in obtaining Small Estate Affidavit from the County Court and coordinated execution and acknowledgment of heirs in Texas, Utah, and assisted in obtaining a consular acknowledgement at a United States Embassy in Southeast Asia. ### Probating Father’s Will Across Multiple Texas Counties Estate Planning and Probate Assisted out of town client in probating father’s will and the distribution of producing mineral interested across three separate counties in Texas. ### Out-of-State Buyer Purchase Real Estate Represented out-of-state buyer in purchase of residential property in Gonzales County. Successfully negotiated contract and exceptions to title in the purchase. ### Emergency Foreclosure Prevention and Note Purchase Real Estate Our client sought emergency assistance to prevent a foreclosure on family lands. Within two days, we successfully negotiated a forbearance agreement with the Lender, secured a reduced payoff amount with the bank, and completed a note purchase. This allowed our client to step in as the bank and prevent foreclosure. ### Collateral Due Diligence and Correction for Secured $2.5M Loan Banking & Lending Assisted Lender in $2,500,000 loan secured by collateral transfer of note and lien. During due diligence, we discovered issues within the collateral Note and Deed of Trust which would have invalidated Lender’s security interest. We were able to assist the lender’s borrower in correcting the collateral deficiencies, enabling the loan to proceed while further protecting the Lender’s interests. ### Probate of Missing Will Estate Planning and Probate The deceased’s original will could not be located. Neither could a copy of the signed will. We filed an application for probate of a lost will and were able to prove the will had been executed and its contents. This allowed the executor to carry out the deceased’s wishes and avoided the estate passing under the intestacy laws of the state of Texas. ### Estate Planning With Large Land Holdings Estate Planning and Probate Drafted Will for client granting specific parcels of large farm and ranch tracts to various individuals with detailed succession of interest in the event heir(s) predeceased client. Created easements across the various parcels for legal access from public roads to each tract. ### Eliminated Estate Tax Estate Planning and Probate Developed comprehensive estate plan for client with taxable estate. Using a family limited partnership and gifting program, client’s estate passed to family free of inheritance tax. ### Forming LLCs and other Entities Business & Corporate We have formed many, many, many entities for our for profit and non-profit clients. While a limited liability company (LLC) is often the business structure of choice, we have extensive experience in forming limited partnerships, corporations, professional entities, and joint ventures. ### Drafting and Reviewing Contracts Business & Corporate We draft and review many types of contracts for our clients, including purchase and sale contracts, independent contractor agreement, licensing agreements, construction contracts and subcontracts, among many others. Just like you we are running a business and we like to cut through the clutter and focus on what matters when negotiating and drafting contracts. ### Sale and Purchase of Businesses Business & Corporate We have represented sellers and buyers of all types of businesses, including an insurance agency, vehicle repair and service shop, body shop, feed store, self-storage facility, physical therapy practice, and many others. While we work hard to protect our client’s interests we do so by being mindful of business considerations and not over-lawyering a deal. ### Craft Brewery Reorganization and addition of Private Investors Business & Corporate Assisted a craft brewery with the complete corporate reorganization of their operations in order to maximize their operational efficiency. Assisted the client with a round of private investor. Drafted private placement memorandum, investor documents, and governing documents. ### Sale of Assets to Public Company for $80,000,000 Business & Corporate Represented our client in the sale of various assets to a publicly traded corporation. The complex transaction involved the buyer purchasing the assets for a combination of cash, stock, and assumption of debt. Numerous issues that could have derailed the sale were dealt with resolved during the course of our representation. We worked with the seller’s counsel and seller’s lender’s counsel to resolve issues resulting in a successful sale. ### Purchase of Assets for $42,000,000 Business & Corporate Represented our client in the purchase of various assets for its business. The sellers were represented by the number one and number six AmLaw 100 firms. We negotiated the terms of the purchase and sale agreement. We assisted our client with its due diligence. We negotiated with our client’s lender and its counsel regarding the financing for the purchase. We worked with the seller’s counsel to resolve issues resulting in a successful purchase. ### $25,000,000 Line of Credit Banking & Lending Represented borrower in $25,000,000 revolving line of credit loan transaction with large national bank. We engaged in extensive negotiations and drafting of loan documents to obtain the favorable terms for our client. ### Loan Transactions Banking & Lending We represent community banks in all types of loan transactions, including commercial purchases, commercial cash-out, commercial construction, spec-house, residential and commercial development, agricultural, asset based, revolving lines of credit, guidance lines of credit, collateral transfers of notes and liens, SBA 7(a), SBA 504, residential purchases, owner-interim construction, home improvement, home equity, assumption, modifications, and work-out transactions. ### Farm and Ranch Sale Real Estate Represented seller of large farm and ranch tract for $3,500,000.00 including negotiating carve out parcel for water development. ### Represented Contractor in Commercial Project Real Estate Represented contractor in review, negotiation, and drafting of construction subcontract in commercial project. ### Apartment Complex Real Estate Represented developer of apartment complex. Drafted limited partnership agreement and negotiated terms with private investors. Negotiated debt financing with lender. ### Sale of Apartment Complex Real Estate Represented seller of apartment complex for $13,400,000. Negotiated and drafted purchase and sale agreement and closing documents. Drafted closing documents. ### Multi-Tenant Entertainment Complex Real Estate Represented landlord in a multi-tenant entertainment project. Negotiated and drafted leases with tenants. ### Sale of Coastal Property Real Estate Represented seller in the $16,500,000 sale of coastal property. Negotiated and drafted purchase and sale agreement and closing documents. Drafted seller financing documents. ### Sale of Mini-Storage Real Estate Represented seller in the $6,345,000 sale of multiple mini-storage locations. Negotiated and drafted purchase and sale agreement and closing documents. Resolved title issues and addressed purchaser’s due diligence concerns to enable the transaction to close. ### Special Texas counsel in $353,000,000 transaction Real Estate Represented our client as special Texas borrower’s counsel in a $250,000,000 first lien loan transaction and a $103,000 second lien loan transaction. We worked with some of the country’s most prestigious law firms representing our client and our client’s lenders to resolve loan and collateral issues. We negotiated and drafted opinion letters that were a condition to making the loans. [Read Other Success Stories](https://thlg.law/case-studies) ## Have Questions? Ready to discuss your case? Contact us today for seasoned legal support in farm real estate, mortgage, commercial lease, estate planning, probate administration, business, oil & gas matters, and more. [(830) 386-3805](tel:+18303863805) --- Texas Horizons Law Group pllc | Seguin — [https://thlg.law/about-us/stephen-k-ganske](https://thlg.law/about-us/stephen-k-ganske)