MICHAEL D. STEGER
Since Michael D. Steger started practicing law in 1993, he has sought to help solve his clients’ problems and expand their business opportunities. Whether in business transactions, litigation and other disputes, or counseling behind the scenes, he has focused on providing value to the individuals, companies and other entities that he has served.
From 1993 to 2000, Mr. Steger practiced law in Los Angeles, California, concentrating on litigation in state and federal court. He handled all aspects of litigation for clients ranging from individuals and partnerships to Fortune 500 companies. Mr. Steger was responsible for a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including entertainment, intellectual property, employment, bankruptcy, real estate, business and construction disputes.
In 2000, Mr. Steger became in-house counsel for STF Productions, Inc., the producer of Fox’s “America’s Most Wanted‚” and the syndicated “Final Justice,” where he also handled business and legal affairs for other Fox entities. In these roles, his portfolio included handling entertainment, media, intellectual property, Internet, litigation and employment matters for the programs, as well as union issues and other business negotiations.
To provide cost-effective solutions using his legal skills and experience in both private practice and as a corporate counsel, Mr. Steger founded his own law firm in 2005. He continues to advise and represent clients on entertainment, media, intellectual property, and employment and labor matters, as well as civil litigation and business formation and corporate matters. In 2010, New York Enterprise Reports named him the Best Intellectual Property Attorney for Growing Businesses in the New York region.
Mr. Steger is a member of the City Bar of New York (Entertainment Law Committee, and formerly Trademarks and Unfair Competition Committee, and Copyright Committee); the American Bar Association’s Litigation Section where he is Co-Chair of its Solo and Small Firm Litigation Committee and was Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Litigation Committee (2018-2021), Communications Law Forum, Entertainment and Sports Law Forum, and the GP/Solo Section. He is a member of the New York, California, Virginia and District of Columbia Bars. Mr. Steger is admitted to practice before the federal courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the Central and Northern Districts of California, the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Steger has written two law review articles on First Amendment issues: “Slicing the Gordian Knot: A Proposal to Reform Military Regulation of the Press,” University of San Francisco Law Review (1994), and “A Cautious Approach: Racist Speech and the First Amendment at the University of Texas,” Journal of Law and Politics (1992). He was also a contributor to “Advising and Defending Corporate Officers and Directors‚” published by California Continuing Education of the Bar (1998). A noted speaker on entertainment, intellectual property and media law issues, he has made presentations for the National Press Club, American Bar Association, the New York State Bar Association, SCORE NYC, Gotham City Networking, the Virginia Bar Association, District of Columbia Bar, and Washington Metropolitan Corporate Counsel Association.
Mr. Steger received his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he was the Notes Editor of the Journal of Law and Politics. He also received both his M.A. (Foreign Affairs, 1993) and his B.A. (Foreign Affairs, Minor in History, 1989) from the University of Virginia.
He lives in New York with his wife and daughter.
