Steven has practiced law since 1991 and has a wide breadth of experience in business law, business litigation, construction law and litigation, church law, non-profit law and personal injury litigation. He cares about his clients and works tirelessly to get them results. He is a steady hand in stressful legal situations. Steven has tried hundreds of jury and non-jury cases and 1st chaired over 40 jury trials in state and federal courts. He has also tried appellate cases before the Texas Third Court of Appeals, US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court.

 

Steven is recognized by his peers as a top-rated attorney. He is a rated as an AV Preeminent® attorney. AV Preeminent® is a significant rating accomplishment - a testament to the fact that  Steven’s peers rank him at the highest level of professional ability and ethical standards. Steven has also been elected as a Fellow to the Texas Bar Foundation. Membership in the foundation is reserved for the top 1/3 of 1% of Texas attorneys. Election to the Fellows is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a member of the State Bar of Texas. Finally, Steven has been recognized as a Texas Super Lawyer in business litigation in 2021. Super Lawyers is an exclusive list of top-rated attorneys in specific practice areas chosen through evaluation of numerous criteria.

 

In his business practice Steven serves as outside counsel to various businesses in the Central Texas area. The businesses range from small to large corporations. He assists them with issues including corporate formation, contracts, shareholder/partnership agreements, buy-in and buy out agreements, business sales, corporate governance, employment issues, contracts, commercial transactions, collections, commercial litigation, and the numerous other issues affecting day-to-day business. Steven also has experience with issues involving receivership, bankruptcy, grand juries, and securities violations. He has succeeded in business litigation cases including several jury verdicts in the millions of dollars.

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In his church law and nonprofit practice, he serves as outside general counsel to the Texas Catholic Conference of Bishops and Mobile Loaves and Fishes. He also serves as outside counsel to the Diocese of Austin. Steven has represented hundreds of religious entities and non-profits. Steven is familiar with the sensitive issues of church interaction with the secular culture. He has represented churches and clergy (including bishops, an archbishop and a cardinal) in their official capacity in litigation. He has also tried church litigation cases before state and federal courts and successfully defended the Church seminal 1st Amendment cases in the Federal Western District of Texas, the United States Federal Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. Steven has also filed amicus briefs on behalf of his clients before various courts of appeal, the Texas Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court. Steven’s non-profit work has included his advocating for prisoner rights facing the death penalty.

 

In his litigation practice he has handled lawsuits involving construction litigation, nuisance, breach of contract, employment, personal injury, and sex abuse claims.

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Education

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Steven studied law at both South Texas College of Law and the University Of Texas School Of Law. He received his J.D. in December 1990 from South Texas College of Law. In Steven’s final year of law school, he was privileged to serve as a briefing intern for Justice Oscar Mauzy of the Texas Supreme Court.

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Steven received his B.B.A. in finance from the University of Texas at Austin in 1988. While at the University of Texas he was active in several organizations including Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity and the University of Texas Cowboys. He is a UT fan and as a student designed and raised the money for the cannon (Old Smokey) still used  at the University of Texas football games and other campus related events.

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Country & Community

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Steven served in the United States Air Force and obtained the rank of Captain. Steven was awarded, amongst other distinctions, the Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster. Steven was a Judge Advocate General prosecutor and defense counsel and tried numerous felony cases and was chosen to attend various prestigious trial practice academies. He was also recognized as the Company Grade Officer of the Quarter for McClellan Air Force Base, CA. He was honorable discharged in 1995 and served in the inactive reserve until 2001.

 

Steven currently serves on the National Advisory Committee for the Conference for Major Superiors of Men. He is also on the board for the Travis County Bar Construction Law Section. He assisted San Juan Diego capital campaign committee raising funds for underprivileged children to have a new private high school. He was awarded the Diocese of Austin’s Education Service Award in 2016. Steven has served on various other boards of directors including the Texas Cowboy Association, Media for the Holy Family (Catholic Radio) and Mobile Loaves and Fishes. Steven serves as a pro-bono volunteer forTravis County Veterans Assistance.

 

Legal Professional Affiliations

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Steven is licensed to practice law in Texas and California (inactive). He is also admitted to practice in all county and state courts in Texas, the United States District Court for the Western Districts of Texas, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court of Military Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court.

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Steven is a member of the National Diocesan Attorneys Association, Texas Diocesan Attorneys Association, the Austin Bar Association, the Travis County Bar Association and the Construction Law and the Civil Litigation sections. He is a former member of the Texas Association of Defense Counsel, Bankruptcy Section and DRI.

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Steven has lectured at several state and national legal conferences including the National Diocesan Attorneys Association, Texas Diocesan Attorneys Association, Air Force Western District Judiciary, the Travis Bar Association, and the Texas State Bar.​

 

Personal

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Steven and his wife Robin are currently empty nesters, having raised their three children in Austin, Texas. He and his family are active members of St. John Neumann Catholic Church. He is an avid skier, golfer, road cyclist, rancher and follower of English Premiere League soccer. He has also participated in several triathlons.