SERVICES
“Working with Steve instills a comfort level and confidence while navigating challenging issues."
Steve has a long record of vigorous and effective representation of organizations and individuals in legally and technically complex criminal cases brought by federal and state authorities. The perspective gained through his experience as a federal and state prosecutor and years representing organizations in private practice allow him to rapidly assess government charges and move toward a resolution. His clientele range from Fortune 10 companies to individuals, including senior executives and legal counsel.
White Collar Defense of Companies and Individuals
Internal Investigations
A trusted partner to organizations seeking answers with efficiency, speed and focus, Steve brings respect for the efforts and challenges faced by his clients and the benefit of wide experience to his internal investigations work. Clients rely on him to identify whether a legal problem exists and, if so, to determine its scope and the optimal path forward.
Often the “first call” following significant incidents, service of grand jury subpoenas or the execution of search warrants, Steve draws upon decades of experience to help clients navigate the most difficult and stressful situations. He capably marshals the approach and resources needed to address urgent matters and mitigate legal, business and reputational risk for individuals and organizations.
Incident and Crisis Response
Steve has a long history of working with C-suite officers, including CEOs, GCs and top finance, compliance and operations executives, in support of efforts to overcome compliance problems and to build sustainable compliance programs. His experience as a state and federal prosecutor allows him to provide corporations, Boards of Directors and NGOs salient advice and useful guidance to develop tailored compliance programs and policies that reflect the realities of operations while meeting government and other third-party expectations. Recently, as one of the “experts in corporate ethics and compliance” he was consulted by DOJ before it announced policy reforms in the “Further Revisions to Corporate Criminal Enforcement Policies” memo (aka, the September 2022 “Monaco Memo”).
He has participated in programs run by NYU School of Law’s Program on Corporate Compliance and Enforcement, including the NACD Certified Board of Director Training programs. He has represented Boards and helped devise the internal programs, governance structures and other programs designed to efficiently and effectively integrate compliance into all aspects of an organization. Steve serves as a Senior Fellow at the Wharton School’s Zicklin Center for Governance and Business Ethics, where he has participated in Zicklin Center programs designed to support and enhance compliance efforts by domestic and international organizations.
Corporate Compliance
Recognized as one of the most experienced environmental and workplace safety attorneys nationwide, Steve brings clients the comfort and familiarity of an attorney who has been involved in the most complex environmental matters. His experience includes the ability to engage on both the regulatory and technical perspectives, coupled with a deep understanding of the drivers of government enforcement. He works with clients to promptly address the most challenging matters. He served as the Chief of the Environmental Crimes Section at the Justice Department, overseeing the investigation and prosecution of federal environmental cases, and was the national practice chair of an environmental and workplace safety practice group for a global law firm. He has worked with domestic and international clients across the entire spectrum of environmental and safety matters, involving all relevant regulatory agencies and programs.
Environmental and Workplace Safety Civil and Criminal Litigation
Steve is skilled in the use, design and conduct of effective monitorship and related services. Drawing on his decades of experience in government and private practice, he brings a practical mission-focused approach to pathways to enhance organizational effectiveness, identify opportunities for innovation, and integrate organization functions to achieve business objectives while maintaining regulatory compliance. In 2017, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida selected Steve as the Court Appointed Monitor for five years over the world’s largest cruise company, a global entity with over120,000 employees.
Separate from his firm, Steve is a Managing Director at Affiliated Monitors, a national company that provides independent corporate integrity monitoring and assessment services across a wide range of regulated industries and professions.
Monitorships
A member of the Maritime Law Association, Steve has represented a wide range of maritime companies in safety and environmental investigations and grand jury investigations and prosecutions brought by the US Coast Guard, the EPA and other agencies. His clients have also included individual mariners.
Steve has worked closely with marine engineers for many years to conduct internal reviews, and is familiar with the unique challenges faced by maritime companies. He has provided training and support for both companies and P&I Clubs regarding the keys to devising effective compliance approaches designed to work in the demanding maritime environment.
As Chief of the Environmental Crimes Section at the DOJ, Steve oversaw the conduct of the Department’s international vessel pollution prosecution initiative. He worked closely with the US Coast Guard and also with Interpol on these efforts. He received a Public Service Commendation from the US Coast Guard for his service.
In 2017, Steve was selected by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida as the Court Appointed Monitor for five years over the world’s largest cruise company, a global entity with over 120,000 employees.