Steven graduated from the Columbia University School of Law in 1989, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and Articles Editor of the Columbia Journal of Environmental Law. Before joining Sive, Paget & Riesel, he served as Deputy Assistant Chief, Environmental Law Division of the Office of the New York City Corporation Counsel where, among other things, he was responsible for the ongoing Clean Water Act permitting of the City’s sewage treatment plants. Steven is an experienced litigator, having tried cases in New York State Courts, United States District Courts and administrative proceedings before the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Public Service Commission, and the Board of Education. With a specialization in Environmental and Commercial Law, Steven represents corporations, individuals, local municipalities and government agencies and has significant experience with toxic tort, Superfund, SEQRA, employment law and litigation.  In addition to litigation, Steven  counsels clients on environmental issues in real estate transactions and Brownfields redevelopment, including negotiating and obtaining approval of Brownfield Cleanup Agreements Under New York State’s Brownfields Cleanup Act, overseeing consultants in hazardous material and oil spill site cleanups and assisting in obtaining City approvals for redevelopment of sites with “E” designations under the New York City Zoning Resolution.   He also provides advice to private and public clients regarding environmental impact review under the National Environmental Policy Act and the New York State Environmental Quality Review Act.  He also helps ensure ballot access through representation of New York State candidates and committees concerning campaign finance and other requirements of federal and New York state election law. Steve also coordinates recruitment for the firm.

Areas of Practice:
Environmental Law and Litigation
General Litigation
Development and Land Use
Municipal Law

Affiliations:

• Chair, Environmental Litigation Committee, A.B.A. Business Law Section
• N.Y.C. Bar Association, Environmental Law Committee. 1997-2000
  State Legislation Committee, 1990-1991; Connecticut, 1989; New York, 1990; Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1990; Second Circuit. 1999; District of Columbia, 1991.

Published Works
Steven has written various articles on environmental law and litigation, including:

• Contribution Under CERCLA: Judicial Treatment After SARA, 14 Colum. J. Envtl. L. 267 (1989)
• States, Citizens and the CWA: State Administrative Enforcement and the Diligent Prosecution Defense, 4 N.Y.U. Envtl. L.J. 211 (1995)
• Liability For Passive Disposal Against Prior Owners Under CERCLA, N.Y.L.J., 9/28/94
• SEQRA and Land Use (N.Y. Zoning Law & Practice Update, October 2000); Retail Development and the Environmental Review Process (Practicing Law Inst. 1999)
• Clean Air Act Conformity Regulations: Pitfalls To Developers, The New York Environmental Lawyer (Winter 1999) He also authored a chapter on New York Environmental Law contained in the New York Law and Practice Guide (West 1999).
  
  Steven has also lectured widely on environmental law topics at conferences and symposia held by the American Bar Association and the New York State Bar Association.
  

Education:

• Columbia University school of Law (J.D. 1989)
  Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar
• State University of New York at Albany (B.A. 1985, summa cum laude)