Attorney
Steve advises corporate and individual clients on a full range of complex commercial disputes and risk management. His practice focuses on litigation and resolution of disputes based upon securities, financing, fraud, complex contract, real estate, closely-held companies, eminent domain/condemnation, technology, intellectual property, copyright, natural resources, and product liability and warranty.
His clients include private and public company officers, directors, founders and investors; real estate entrepreneurs, development and finance professionals; property owners and condemnors; yacht manufacturers and owners; and technology and manufacturing entrepreneurs. Steve regularly provides risk management advice to real estate and corporate finance executives and entrepreneurs. He also advises yacht manufacturers on a wide range of manufacturing, finance, distribution, and dealer issues.
Steve has extensive experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts and before arbitration panels in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Texas, and Rhode Island, having tried over 100 cases through verdict and appeal. Steve began his career serving as a King County Criminal Division Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
Introduction
Steve advises corporate and individual clients on a full range of complex commercial disputes and risk management. His practice focuses on litigation and resolution of disputes based upon securities, financing, fraud, complex contract, real estate, closely-held companies, eminent domain/condemnation, technology, intellectual property, copyright, natural resources, and product liability and warranty.
His clients include private and public company officers, directors, founders and investors; real estate entrepreneurs, development and finance professionals; property owners and condemnors; yacht manufacturers and owners; and technology and manufacturing entrepreneurs. Steve regularly provides risk management advice to real estate and corporate finance executives and entrepreneurs. He also advises yacht manufacturers on a wide range of manufacturing, finance, distribution, and dealer issues.
Steve has extensive experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts and before arbitration panels in Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Texas, and Rhode Island, having tried over 100 cases through verdict and appeal. Steve began his career serving as a King County Criminal Division Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
Education
- University of Notre Dame (B.A., cum laude, 1987)
- University of Puget Sound School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
- Note and Comment Editor, University of Puget Sound Law Review
Admissions
- Washington
- US District Court, Western District of Washington
- US District Court, Eastern District of Washington
- US Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
Honors & Recognition
- Ranked in Washington State by Chambers USA in the area of Litigation: General Commercial since 2022
- Named The Best Lawyers in America® Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in Seattle (2023)
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Commercial Litigation since 2013
- Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® in Litigation – Real Estate since 2013
- Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow; Invitation-only, peer-selected honorary society of 3,500 top trial lawyers
- Named on the Washington Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers® Magazine since 2001
- Named on the Top 100 Washington Super Lawyers list by Super Lawyers® Magazine since 2014
- Top Lawyer – Commercial Litigation Award Recipient, Seattle Metropolitan Magazine
- Top Lawyer Award Recipient, Seattle Magazine
- Top Business Lawyer – Business Litigation Award Recipient, Seattle Business
- Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rated AV® Preeminent 5.0 out of 5
- Avvo® rated 10.0 out of 10.0
- Outstanding Young Lawyer Award, 1994, King County Bar Association
Professional & Community Involvement
- Mackrell International
- Litigation Counsel of America, Senior Fellow
- Trial Law Institute, Member
- Diversity Law Institute, Member
- King County Bar Association, Judicial Screening Committee
- Alliance for Pioneer Square, Board Member
- Northwest Marine Trade Association
- King County Bar Association Neighborhood Clinics, Volunteer
Publications/Speaking Engagements
- Co-author, “Opinion: We Aren’t Giving up on Pioneer Square — And neither Should You,” Puget Sound Business Journal, March 18, 2022
- Speaker, “Floating Easements,” The Seminar Group’s 10th Annual Cutting-Edge Issues in Condemnation Seminar Webcast, September 11, 2020
- Speaker, “The Element of Necessity,” The Seminar Group’s 9th Annual Eminent Domain and Condemnation Seminar, Seattle, WA, May 10, 2019
- Moderator, “Seattle Transit-Oriented Development Summit,” Bisnow, Seattle, WA, December 19, 2012
Personal
- King County Bar Association Judicial Screening Committee, Past Chair
- King County Bar Association Southwest Legal Clinic, Volunteer
- United States Ski and Snowboard Association, Competition Official, Jury Advisor