Biography
Steven is a top-rated attorney serving clients across the State of Minnesota for more than ten years. He is an experienced litigator, counselor, and mediator, who finds practical solutions for difficult problems faced by his clients. Steven advocates for clients in probate and civil litigation cases, including related matters such as trust and estate litigation, construction and business disputes, guardianship and conservatorship implementation and actions involving real property. Steven also serves as a mediator in family, probate, and civil disputes.
Steven is a former Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Judge Thomas M. Neuville (Rice County - Retired). He is a member of the Board of Trustees for Mitchell Hamline School of Law. Prior to practicing law, Steven served as an assistant to a U.S. Congressman, and later, held various advisory positions for State and Federal candidates and Officeholders. Steven has been recognized as a Rising Star in 2019 and 2020, and a Super Lawyer since 2021.
Steven resides in Woodbury, Minnesota with his wife and three young children.
Practice Areas
- Trust and Estate Litigation
- Civil Litigation
- Probate and Estate Planning
- Mediation
- Real Estate
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 2009
- North Dakota, 2009
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 2019
- U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 2019
- United States Supreme Court, 2022
Education
- Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Certificate in Dispute Resolution
- Hamline University School of Law, St. Paul, Minnesota
- J.D.
- Honors: magna cum laude
- Hamline University, Saint Paul, Minnesota
- B.A. - 2003
- Major: Political Science
Honors
- AV Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubble Peer Review Ratings
- Minnesota Super Lawyers
- Minnesota Super Lawyers - Rising Star
Professional Associations
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Governing Council, Member, 2017 to 2024
- The Supreme Court of Minnesota Board of Continuing Legal Education, Member, 2021 to Present
- Trustee, Mitchell Hamline School of Law, 2023 to Present
- American Bar Association (ABA), House of Delegates, Member, 2015 to 2017
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Judiciary Committee Member, 2017 to Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Fifth District Ethics Committee, Investigator, 2017 to Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA), Greater Minnesota Section, Council Member, 2016 to Present
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Delegate to the American Bar Association House of Delegates, 2015 to 2017
- Fifth District Bar Association, President, Vice President, Treasurer, 2013 to 2016
- Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA) - Fifth District, President, Vice President, Treasurer, 2013 to 2016
- City of Cottage Grove, MN, Planning Commissioner, 2007 to 2012
- City of Cottage Grove, MN, Chairman, 2009 to 2011
- City of Cottage Grove, MN, Vice-Chairman, 2011 to 2012
Past Positions
- Honorable Judge Thomas M. Neuville, Judicial Law Clerk
- Assistant to U.S. Congressman John Kline, Legislative Assistant
- J. Scott Braden, P.A., Attorney / Shareholder, 2012 to 2020
- Third Judicial District, Law Clerk, 2010 to 2012
Pro-Bono Activities
- Ethics Investigator, Fifth District, 2012 to Present
- Southern Minnesota Regional Legal Services (SMRLS), Volunteer Attorney, 2012 to Present
- Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL), Member of the Board of Directors, 2020 to Present
- Minnesota Youth Ski League (MYSL), Coach, 2020 to 2023
- Five Oaks Community Church, Member of Governing Board, 2013 to 2019
- St. Thomas School of Law, Mentor, 2016 to 2017
- Karen Organization of Minnesota (KOM), Board of Directors, Member, 2009 to 2016
- Vice-Chairman of Public Relations Committee Organization supporting Burmese refugees living in Minnesota June 2009 to December 2016, 2009 to 2016
- Rice County Conciliation Court, Referee, 2019 to 2023
Representative Cases
- Highly contested family trust involving farmland and equipment. Significant pre-trial litigation and motion hearings, which were resolved in client’s favor.
- Multi-year and multi generation litigation contesting a decedent’s will and trust, resulting in favorable settlement for client.
- Multi-week trial defending challenge to a decedent’s will, trust, and non-probate transfers resulting in judgment in favor of client.
- Proceeding to protect emotionally and financially exploited person. Contested trial involving expert and lay witnesses leading to appointment of Guardian and Conservator. Multiple post-trial hearings resolved in Petitioner’s favor.
- Secured emergency and general guardianship for children after the tragic death of their parents, resulting in general guardianship and conservatorship and third party custody for client.
- Successful appeal of the dismissal of client’s complaint.
- Collected from judgment debtor who covertly transferred real property to avoid collection by fraudulent transfer.
- Reopened four-decade old Court Order in Estate to correct legal description of real property, which allowed current beneficiaries to sell property and to collect proceeds.
Classes & Seminars
- Presenter: Understanding Partition Actions, 2024 Family Law Institute
- Presenter: Civil Practice in Minnesota State District Court Deskbook Seminar, 2024
- Presenter: Minnesota CLE Litigating Probate and Trust Disputes in 2022
- Presenter: Trust Issues? 2022 MSBA Agricultural and Rural Law Institute
- Panelist: Delicate Issues in Asset Distribution, 2022 Elder Law Institute
- Minnesota State Bar Association – Greater Minnesota Practice Section – The Greatest Practice, Presenter – Webcast, April 15, 2021
- The Probate Process from Start to Finish, National Business Institute, 2017 to 2018
- Guest Lecturer: Access to Justice Coalition, St. Thomas School of Law, 2017 and 2018
- Minnesota Lawyers Mutual Family Law Webcast, Presenter – Minneapolis, MN - August 20, 2015
Published Works
- One Size Does Not Fit All – Blended and nontraditional families raise the stakes for creating and managing estate plans | Bench&Bar of Minnesota
- AIA Standard Contract Documents: A Positive Step Towards Fair, Transparent, and Collaborative Resolution of Disputes on Construction Projects
- Editor: Prefiling Considerations, Minnesota State District Court Civil Practice Deskbook 2023 Update.