Biography
Steve brings nearly five decades of litigation experience and more than 40 years of focused expertise in defending complex environmental, personal injury, property damage, and products liability claims.
Although he has been a litigator for nearly 50 years, for more than 40 years Steve has specialized in the defense of complex environmental, personal injury, property damage, and products liability claims. He has represented manufacturers of chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and machinery in hundreds of state and federal court actions and in alternative dispute resolution proceedings. Steve’s litigation and trial practice has been built on a commitment to excellence and client service, attention to detail, and the ability to apply sound common sense toward resolving complex lawsuits efficiently and cost effectively. His clients find his style flexible, accessible, and responsive.
Steve’s litigation experience defending clients includes:
- Individual and mass tort personal injury claims filed in the United States and overseas arising out of alleged exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals in the workplace, air, and groundwater
- Complex property damage claims asserted by individual property owners, municipalities, and purported state-wide plaintiff classes arising out of alleged soil and groundwater contamination by agricultural and industrial chemicals
- Products liability lawsuits brought against manufacturers and distributors of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and machinery
- CERCLA litigation and litigation regarding compliance with a variety of state and federal environmental regulations
Education
- Wesleyan University (B.A., cum laude, 1972)
- University of Colorado School of Law (J.D., 1975)
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
- U.S. District Court – Northern District of California
- U.S. District Court – Eastern District of California
- U.S. District Court - Central District of California
- U.S. District Court – Southern District of California
- U.S. Court of Appeals – Fifth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Ninth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals - Eleventh Circuit
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America©, a Best Lawyers® publication, recognition in Environmental Law (2013-2025)
- San Francisco Magazine, Super Lawyer
- Bay Area Lawyer, Bay Area’s Top Environmental Lawyers
- Lexology, Who’s Who Legal