Steve first came to New Hampshire in 1974 to serve as a law clerk to Federal District Court Judge Hugh H. Bownes. Upon completion of his clerkship, Steve returned to Washington, D.C. where he served as legal counsel to United States Senator John A Durkin from 1976-1977. In 1977, Bill Shaheen, who had been appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of New Hampshire, hired Steve as an Assistant U.S. Attorney. Steve and Bill served together for 4 years. They have worked together ever since.
Steve has an active an extensive federal and state trial practice, representing individuals and businesses in complex litigation in both state and federal courts. He has been recognized as the “ideal” New Hampshire attorney, as voted by lawyers throughout the State, for his work in “Complex Litigation” and “Criminal Law”, has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America and as a New England Super Lawyer. In 2014, Steve was selected for inclusion to the Best Lawyers® publication for "bet the company litigation" — a significant distinction from one of the oldest and most trusted attorney rating services in the country.The emphasis of his practice has been in the area of white collar criminal defense, business litigation, and First Amendment defense.
He has represented a range of individuals and businesses in the Federal District Courts of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont and Massachusetts in federal criminal investigations. He also represented throughout the New Hampshire state courts a range of corporations and individuals involved in corporate disputes related to breaches of fiduciary duties, contract disputes, and shareholder disputes. His practice also focuses on counseling healthcare clients on compliance with federal and state regulations and billing and coding practices, and represents hospitals, medical staffs and physicians in internal investigations and disputes regarding privileges.
Steve has also represented a number of corporations in conducting internal investigations as part of the law firm’s corporate governance practice. He has advised and assisted corporate Boards of Directors in exercising their duties and responsibilities under the Sarbanes-Oxley statute, and has lectured on the subject. He also has a very active practice representing lawyers before New Hampshire’s Professional Conduct Committee, and was successful in challenging the process by which the New Hampshire Bar Association summarily suspends attorneys who are charged with criminal offenses. In re Reiner’s Case, 872 A.2d 1038 (N.H., September 7, 2005).
Recipient, American Jurisprudence Award in Criminal Law and Evidence. Listed in Who's Who in American Law, 1990-1993. Listed in Best Lawyers in America, Criminal Defense and First Amendment, 1991-2001. Law Clerk to Honorable Hugh H. Bownes, U.S. District Court for New Hampshire, 1974-1976. Legal Counsel to: U.S. Senator John Durkin, 1976-1977; N.H. Chapter of American Civil Liberties Union, 1989-1992. Assistant U.S. Attorney, 1977-1980. Lecturer, New Hampshire Bar Continuing Legal Education, Civil and Defense Trial Issues, 1984-2001. National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, 1988-2001.