Steve’s multi-faceted practice encompasses real property acquisition and development, land use disputes, construction-related transactions and litigation, general civil and business litigation, legal malpractice defense and business/real property/construction transactional matters. He has handled a variety of construction claims involving breach of contract, delay, and construction defect matters. Within the construction industry, he specializes in window wall systems, having represented several large window suppliers and installers.
In addition to his real estate, construction and business practice, Steve acts as an outside general counsel to the largest federally funded health center in San Diego, advising on various corporate and medical legal compliance issues. These issues often include health care compliance, billing, licensing, Anti-Kickback Statute, Stark Law, and California Non-Profit Integrity Act issues. Steve also routinely handles the litigation arising out of the services the health center performs, including allegations of malpractice and negligent hiring/supervision, and as the health center is federally funded, he routinely works with the US Attorneys’ Office in defending against such claims.
Steve is admitted to practice in California, Nevada and Arizona, and has argued successfully before the Nevada Supreme Court. Steve is dedicated to the development of the legal profession. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors of both the San Diego County Bar Foundation and the San Diego County Bar Association and is currently a member of the executive board of the San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates. He also serves as a member of the Civics Learning Partnership and is a mock trial coach at Mission Bay High School. Steve is a second-generation attorney, having graduated from California Western School of Law in 1995. Before law school, Steve attended the University of Redlands (California), where he majored in Political Science and History and was a four-year varsity letterman in basketball. Martindale-Hubbell has awarded Steve an AV© Preeminent© rating (highest legal competence) and he has been listed as a Super Lawyer annually since 2013.
Licenses:
- State Bar of California 1995
- Nevada State Bar in 1996
- Arizona State Bar in 2006
- United States District Court for the Southern and Central Districts of California
- United States District Court, District of Nevada
Education:
- Juris Doctor in 1995 from California Western School of Law
- American Jurisprudence Award, Trial Practice, 1995
- Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science, History and Speech in 1992
Professional Memberships and Affiliations:
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of Nevada
- State Bar of Arizona
- San Diego County Bar Association (Treasurer 2004; Vice President 2005)
- San Diego Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (President 2022). ABOTA is an invitation-only organization of experienced trial attorneys who advocate for the preservation of the Seventh Amendment right to a jury trial.
- Clark County Bar Association
- San Diego Barristers Club (President 2001)
- San Diego County Bar Foundation (Board of Directors)
- Master, Welsh Inn of the American Inns of Court
- Member, International Society of Barristers (since 2018)
Recognition:
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV© Preeminent© rating. This rating reflects a determination the attorney so recognized has demonstrated the highest legal competence.
- Successfully argued the case of Dobron v. Busch, 125 Nev. Adv. Op. No. 36 (whether a guarantor of a loan may be held liable for attorneys fees incurred by a lender in defending a usury action brought by the borrowers)
- San Diego Business Journal Best of the Bar 2014
- Southern California Super Lawyers® 2013 to the present
- Covid-19’s Anticipated Impact to Legal Malpractice and How to Protect Your Firm From the Impending Rise in Claims