Overview
The managing partner of WSHB’s Sonoma County office, Steve is an accomplished litigator and is certified by The State Bar of California as a Specialist in Appellate Law. His appellate work has included the handling of numerous appeals, writ petitions, and oral arguments in both state and federal court. He is known for his outstanding written work-product, analysis of legal issues, and oral advocacy. Steve also has published and taught about appellate practice and procedure.
Steve’s appellate skills translate to his other areas of practice, which include handling matters involving complex federal and state law, government and public entity issues, premises liability, intellectual property, technology, and transportation. He also handles cybersecurity and data privacy matters as a member of the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Team. Steve is skilled at accurately assessing risk and recommending cost-effective strategies that best serve his clients’ interests. He prides himself on his communication skills, commitment to ethics, and high-quality legal work. He has successfully resolved innumerable cases, whether through dispositive motions (and successful appeals), trial, or settlement.
In addition, Steve is experienced in transactional matters, having negotiated, drafted, and counseled clients regarding purchase/sale contracts, confidentiality agreements, and other complex agreements involving land use, environmental issues, employment, construction, bodily injury, civil rights issues, product liability, and intellectual property rights.
Whatever the legal issue, Steve is a diligent, passionate, and professional advocate who works tirelessly to obtain the best possible results for his clients.
Experience
- Lee v. Cardiff (2023) --- Cal.Rptr.3d --- 2023 WL 5170440
- Robertson v. Larkspur Courts (2021) 1st App.Dist., Case No. A160942
- Carter v. Clausen (2021) 4th App.Dist., Case No. G060213
- Basile v. The Los Angeles Film School, LLC, et al. (9th Cir. 2020) 827 Fed.Appx. 649
- Kinney v. Three Arch Bay Community Services District (9th Cir. 2020) 829 Fed.Appx. 273
- Sazerac Company, Inc. v. Fetzer Vineyards, Inc. (9th Cir. 2019) 786 Fed.Appx. 662
- Sawabeh International Group v. GenesisTP, Inc. (2019) 1st App. Dist., Case No. A151443
- Robertson v. Larkspur Courts et al. (2018) 1st App. Dist., Case No. A152226
- Sazerac Company, Inc. v. Fetzer Vineyards, Inc. (N.D. Cal. 2017) 265 F.Supp.3d 1013
- Allen v. Amy’s Kitchen (2016) 1st App. Dist., Case No. A148194
- Lamb v. San Francisco Electric Tour Co. (2015) 1st App. Dist., Case No. A142888
- Darling v. Superior Court (2012) 211 Cal.App.4th 69
Credentials
Education
- University of San Francisco School of Law (J.D., 2010)
- University of California, Santa Cruz (B.A., 2007)
Licensed to Practice in
- California
- 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. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Newsroom
News
Publications
- Author, The Life of an Appellate Case, Los Angeles Lawyer, March 2022
- Author, Pebley v. Santa Clara Opens the Door in California to Inflated Medical Damages Claims, May 11, 2018
- Author, Strategies for Restoring the Right to Repair Act by Challenging the Liberty Mutual and Burch Decisions, DRI Volume 18, Issue 4 (2014)
- Author, Stafford Unified School District No. 1 v. Redding: a Missed Opportunity to Restore Fourth Amendment Rights to School Children, 44 U.S.F. L. Rev. 659 (2010)
- Author, California’s Broken Parole System: Flawed Standards and Insufficient Oversight Threaten the Rights of Prisoners, 44 U.S.F. L. Rev. 177 (2009)