Prior to joining Foley Hoag, Steven’s experience includes:

Insurance Recovery Litigation Experience

• Successfully argued motion for judgment on the pleadings for vacuum manufacturer, which established coverage for defense of false advertising claims and attendant patent infringement, and claims under commercial general liability insurance policies.Indian Harbor Ins. Co. v. SharkNinja Operating LLC, No. N20C-02-014 PRW CCLD (Del. Super. Ct. Nov. 19, 2020).
• Lead appellate counsel for policyholder in advertising injury coverage action involving the use of a deceased athlete’s name to advertise and market running shoes and apparel. The case resulted in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court unanimously overruling the trial court and finding that insurers breached their duty to defend in a case of first impression.Holyoke Mut. Ins. Co. v. Vibram USA, Inc., 106 N.E. 3d 572 (Mass. 2018).
• Representation of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority against property insurers to successfully recover repair costs associated with the ceiling collapse in the Central Artery and Third Tunnel Project, or “Big Dig” project in Boston.
• Counsel to network communications company in litigation involving coverage under primary and excess D&O policies for costs incurred defending against various actions brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission. This action ultimately concluded with settlements in excess of US$50 million.
• Trial counsel for an agricultural cooperative and food processing corporation in litigation to recover defense costs under a commercial general liability policy. Matter settled after jury verdict secured in Massachusetts Superior Court in favor of policyholder.
• Representation of a multi-tier marketing company in litigation involving recovery of defense costs under D&O policy. Settlement resulted in recovery of defense costs for civil and administrative proceedings and costs of settlement of underlying claims.
• Lead counsel for composite decking manufacturer in connection with insurance coverage dispute with manufacturer’s commercial general liability (“CGL”) insurers. Representation resulted in favorable settlement for policyholder and contemporaneous settlement of underlying matter after defeat of insurers’ motions for summary judgment.
• Lead counsel for a clinical research organization in connection with insurance claims arising from an arbitration matter involving contract, fraud and other tort claims. Despite significant coverage disputes, the underlying dispute was resolved with full coverage of defense costs and costs of settlement in an amount exceeding US$25 million.

Insurance Recovery Negotiation and Counseling

• Insurance recovery counsel to national developer in connection with construction and wrongful death claims arising from partial collapse of parking garage. Representation resulted in settlement of underlying matters, recovery of defense costs, and significant recovery of client’s property damages.
• Representation of defense contractor in connection with E&O, D&O, and property insurance issues, including claims, renewals and captive insurance issues.
• Counsel to mutual fund complex in connection with various insurance coverage disputes under D&O and E&O policies.
• Representation of various hedge funds and mutual fund complexes in connection with procurement of D&O, E&O and cyber liability policies.
• Counsel to investment adviser in connection with successful settlement of multi-million dollar trade error claim under “Cost of Corrections” coverage of E&O policy.
• Representation of clinical research organization in connection with various multimillion-dollar insurance claims, including D&O, E&O and CGL claims.
• Counseling on a wide variety of cyber insurance matters, including policy review and renewal issues and claims assessment issues, in the investment management, accounting, real estate, banking, manufacturing, healthcare and retail industries.
• Representation of a technology company in connection with denied coverage claims under an E&O policy. The settlement of this matter covered the entirety of more than US$1 million of defense costs incurred in the underlying matter without resort to litigation.
• Counsel for non-profit media organization that resulted in coverage for defense costs and investigation costs in excess of US$2 million under the company’s D&O policy prior to initiation of coverage litigation.
• Counsel for non-profit arts organization in connection with employment practices liability claim involving wage and hour class action claims and multi-million property insurance claim involving significant water damage to a landmark museum.
• Counsel for natural food company in connection with product recall and business interruption claim, which was resolved favorably prior to litigation.

General Commercial Litigation Experience

• Representation of Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (“RIRRC”), the quasi-public agency responsible for the solid waste disposal for the State of Rhode Island, in multiple actions against various entities arising from widespread corruption involving the former commissioners and executives of the corporation. These various actions were favorably resolved for RIRRC and resulted in the recovery of approximately US$17 million from a variety of sources.
• Lead trial counsel for a national bank in litigation concerning construction loans and personal guaranties. Judgment in favor of the bank in the amount of US$14 million, plus interest and attorneys’ fees. Affirmed on appeal to the Massachusetts Appeals Court.
• Lead counsel for telecommunications company in a lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York to enforce obligations under an asset purchase agreement. The action concluded within four months of filing the complaint with the recovery of the entirety of the amount owed and attorneys’ fees.
• Representation of closed-end mutual funds in derivative action brought in the Business Litigation Session of the Superior Court of Massachusetts against funds, trustees and adviser arising out of redemption of auction rate preferred securities. The action concluded with dismissal of all claims.
• Counsel to mutual fund complex and related defendants in putative class action brought in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The class action alleged various claims, including breach of fiduciary duty and claims under the Investment Company Act based on alleged failure of funds to participate in securities class actions in which the funds were putative members. The action was resolved within months of filing after the court granted defendants’ motion to dismiss all claims.

HONORS: 

• Best Lawyers, Litigation - Commercial Litigation (2024-2027)

INVOLVEMENT

• Boston Bar Association
• Co-Chair, Financial Services Section, Boston Bar Association
• Past Insurance Committee Chair, Financial Services Section, Boston Bar Association
• Board of Directors, Concord-Carlisle Youth Soccer (Youth Sports Organization – September 2025 - present)
• Prior service on Board of Directors, 51 Walden, Inc. (Performing Arts Organization, Concord, Massachusetts – June 2022 through June 2025)

• “Insurance Coverage for Investment Managers,” Boston Bar Association (November 2020)
• “Insurance Consent to Settle Clauses: Dangers for Insureds and Exposure for Insurers,” Strafford CLE Webinar (April 2020)
• “A Case Study: Cyber Insurance and Incident Response,” Federal Reserve Bank of Boston (December 2018)
• “Insurance Coverage for Government Investigations,” Boston Bar Association (March 2018)
• “D&O Issues for Financial Institutions,” Boston Bar Association, (May 2016)
• “Cybersecurity Developments Affecting Asset Managers,” Boston Bar Association (December 2015)
• “Insurance Coverage for Government Investigation,” Boston Bar Association (September 2014)
• “Financial Institution Bonds: Claims Trends and Practical Tips,” The Spofford Group Banking Summit (May 2014)