Overview
Steve represents clients in commercial contract, civil fraud, and business disparagement cases. He also represents clients in business ownership and valuation disputes involving closely-held corporations, partnerships, and limited liability companies.
Steve has represented companies and individuals (officers and directors, investment advisors, broker dealers, auditors) before the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, other regulatory agencies, and in criminal securities fraud and tax fraud matters. He has successfully defended companies, corporate officers and directors, and professionals in securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuits involving revenue recognition, loss reserves, and corporate reorganizations.
Steve also counsels clients and conducts internal investigations focused on ethics complaints, corporate fraud, Medicare fraud, Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) issues, and other securities and compliance matters.
He is the former head of the Trial department in Salt Lake City. For the past five years he has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America in the categories of Securities Litigation and Commercial Litigation. In 2014, he was recognized by Best Lawyers as the Salt Lake Securities Lawyer of the Year.
Steve also maintains an AV® rating with Martindale-Hubbell®, which is the highest rating awarded to attorneys for professional competence and ethics. He is recognized by Chambers USA for General Commercial Litigation (Band 2).
Education & Admissions
University of Utah, S. J. Quinney College of Law (J.D., 1986), Order of the Coif
Utah Law Review, Articles Editor
University of Utah (M.A., English, 1983), cum laude
University of Utah (B.A., 1982), magna cum laude
Phi Beta Kappa
Phi Kappa Phi
Admissions
- Utah
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for the Districts of Utah and the District of Columbia
Languages
- Dutch
Experience
Client Achievements
Representative Litigation
Securities and corporate governance
- Schwartz v. Perseon Corporation, et al., (D. Del.) Civil No. 15-344-LS (Represented public corporation and its directors in successfully dismissing securities fraud and breach of fiduciary duty case)
- Software Forensics LLC v. Thompson, et al., (Fourth District, Utah) Case No. 130401037 (Represent merger survivor in dissenting shareholders' appraisal lawsuit)
- In re: Castle Arch Real Estate Investment Company, LLC, et al., Bankruptcy Case No. 11-35082 (Represent liquidating trustee asserting securities fraud and breach of fiduciary claims against former officers and directors of debtors)
- Davis v. Garrity, et al., Case No. 2:13-cv-349DS (Represented company officers and director against fellow director's claims of fraud, breach of contract, conspiracy, and minority shareholder oppression)
- Thompson et al., v. Software Forensics, Inc., et al. Case No. 2:12-cv-338RJS (Represented company and officers and directors in case asserting claims for breach of fiduciary duty, conversion, and conspiracy claims)
- Mavcap LLC, v. FJ Management Inc., et al., Case No. 120907290 (Represented Special Litigation Committee investigating direct and derivative claims asserted by minority shareholders)
- In re: Geneva Steel LLC, et al.; James T. Markus v. Albert Fried Jr. et al., Bankruptcy Adversary Proceeding No. 05-02578 (Represented former officer and director in action by bankruptcy trustee alleging breach of fiduciary duties)
- U.S. v. Strohm, (D. Utah) (No. 2:07-CR-00485) (Represented former officer of public company in criminal securities fraud case)
Commercial litigation
- Transportation Alliance Bank, Inc., v. Stearns Bank, N.A., (Third District, Utah) Case No. 130902973 (Represent seller of a portfolio of factoring assets in suit asserting fraud, negligence, conspiracy, and breach of duty of good faith claims)
- Strohm, et al., v. ClearOne Communications, Inc., 2013 UT 21 (Represented former officer in indemnification claims against former employer)
- PrizeWise v. Oppenheimer, (D. Utah April 5, 2010) (No. 2:07-CV-792) (Obtained summary judgment for broker-dealer client defending claims of intentional interference with economic relations, and breach of express and implied confidentiality )
- 3 Mark Entertainment, LLC v. Abrams-Schiller Living Trust, et al., (D. Utah Feb. 4, 2011) (No. 2:09-CV-780) (Obtained summary judgment for investor client dismissing plaintiff’s claims related to financing of a motion picture, and granting client a money judgment against plaintiff and counter defendants)
- Represented Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Company in its long-running litigation over ownership of The Salt Lake Tribune. See, Salt Lake Tribune Pub. Co., LLC v. AT & T Corp., 320 F.3d 1081 (10th Cir. February 24, 2003) (Nos. 02-4126, 02-4165); Salt Lake Tribune Publishing Co., LLC v. Management Planning, Inc., 454 F.3d 1128 (10th Cir. July 19, 2006) (No. 05-4316)
Investigations
- Internal investigations (Conducted internal investigations for public and private companies regarding alleged Medicare fraud, FCPA violations, commercial bribery, and corporate ethics violations)
News & Resources
Articles
News & Press Mentions
Events & Speaking Engagements
Select Presentations
- "Document Retention and the New Federal Rules,” November 2006
- “Well, How Much Trouble Are They In?” Risk Management Association Meeting, February 2005
- "Techniques for Organizing Complex Litigation," Utah State Bar Annual Meeting
Industries & Practices
Banking & Financial Institutions
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnergy & Natural Resources
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFood, Beverage & Agribusiness
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceFranchise & Distribution Law
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceGovernment Solutions & Investigations
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceHealthcare & Life Sciences
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceSecurities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practiceEnvironmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
Explore This Practice View client achievements related to this practice View resources related to this practice- Appellate
- Banking & Financial Institutions
- Class Action Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Electronic Discovery
- Energy & Natural Resources
- Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG)
- Food, Beverage & Agribusiness
- Franchise & Distribution Law
- Government Solutions & Investigations
- Healthcare & Life Sciences
- Mining
- Real Estate Litigation
- Securities & Financial Services Litigation & Enforcement
Professional & Civic
Professional Achievements
- Utah Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure, 2006 to present
- Master of the Bench, American Inns of Court, David K. Watkiss - Sutherland Inn of Court
- Salt Lake County Bar Association
- Utah Bar Association
- American Bar Association
Community Involvement
- Valley Mental Health, Board of Directors, 1998-2014
- Past President, Valley Mental Health Board of Directors
Accolades
- Named a Best Lawyers® Lawyer of the Year, Bet-the-Company Litigation/Litigation – Securities, 2023
- Listed in Best Lawyers in America©, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Securities, 2010-2025
- Listed as a Salt Lake City Super Lawyer, 2007-2024
- Named one of “America’s Leading Business Lawyers” by Chambers USA (Litigation: General Commercial), 2010-2024
- Named Best Lawyers© Salt Lake City Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year, 2014, 2018 and 2021
- Rated AV Preeminent® by Martindale-Hubbell®
- Listed as a Mountain States Super Lawyer, 2007-2024
- Listed in Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition, 2008, 2009
- Recognized as a "Local Litigation Star - Utah" by Benchmark Litigation, 2015-2019, 2021-2022, 2024
- Utah Business Magazine, Legal Elite (Civil Litigation), 2006-2021