• University of Florida, B.A., with high honors
  • Phi Beta Kappa

• University of Florida College of Law, J.D., with high honors
  • Order of the Coif

• Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Appellate Practice
• United States Supreme Court
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, District of Columbia, and Federal Circuits
• United States District Court, Northern, Middle, and Southern Districts of Florida
• All Florida Courts

• Business Today, Top 10 Influential Florida Appellate Lawyers, 2023
• Tampa Magazine, Top Lawyer in Tampa for Appellate Practice, 2023
• Best Lawyers®, “Lawyer of the Year” for Appellate Practice in Tampa, 2010
• The Best Lawyers in America©, Appellate Practice, 2007-2025
• The Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Litigation, 2007-2025
• Chambers USA (Band 1)
• Florida Super Lawyers, Top 10 Lawyers in Florida, 2016 & 2022-2024
• Florida Super Lawyers, Top 100 Lawyers in Florida, 2008-2024
• Florida Super Lawyers, Top 50 Lawyers in Tampa Bay, 2013-2024
• Florida Super Lawyers, 2006-2024
• Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section Chair’s Recognition Award
• Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section’s Adkins Award, 2012
• Brevard County Legal Aid, Recognition for Outstanding Pro Bono Service, 2017
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, Hall of Fame, Inducted 2014
• Florida Trend’s Legal Elite, 2005-2022
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating

• American Academy of Appellate Lawyers
• Appellate Practice Section of The Florida Bar
  • Member of the Executive Committee
  • Former Chair of the Section
  • Former Chair of the Publications and Continuing Legal Education Committees
  • Current lecturer for Appellate Board Certification Review Course
  • Former faculty member of The Florida Bar’s Appellate Advocacy Workshop
• Hillsborough County Bar Association
  • Appellate Practice Section
  • Marital & Family Law Section
• Florida Appellate Court Rules Committee
  • Former Chair
• The Committee on Standard Jury Instructions in Civil Cases
  • Member 2014-2019
  • Former Chair of Errors and Omissions Subcommittee
• City, County and Local Government Law Section of The Florida Bar
• Florida Justice Association
  • Former Secretary of the Appellate Practice Section
• Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Historical Society
• Ferguson-White American Inn of Court (Master of the Bench)
• Florida Bar Foundation Fellow
• Florida Supreme Court Historical Society
  • Member of the Board of Trustees
• Second District Court of Appeal Historical Society
• American Health Law Association

• “Florida Civil Appellate Practice,” Advanced Appellate Practice and Appellate Certification Review Seminar (Annually, 2007-2025)
• “Better Error Preservation in Civil Law,” CLE Committee of The Florida Bar, The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section, The Florida Bar Criminal Law Section, and The Florida Bar Trial Lawyers Section’s “Look Out Below! Blunders, Landmines, and the Consequences of Poor Attorney Performance in the Preservation of Record Error,” Florida Bar President’s Showcase CLE (June 11, 2021)
• “Bonds and Stays in Appeals,” Martin County Bar Association CLE (January 28, 2021)
• “Antitrust Basics for the Credit Professional,” National Chemical Credit Association Webinar (October 22, 2020)
• “West Palm Beach Stormwater Utilities Update,” Florida Stormwater Association’s Annual Conference (June 20, 2019)
• Appeals from Administrative Agency Action,” The Florida Bar’s Advanced Administrative Law Topics Seminar (May 31, 2019)
• “Emerging Trends in the Practice of Law,” The Florida Bar’s District Court of Appeal Judges Conference (September 6, 2018)
• “Seeking Appellate Review of Land Use Decisions,” The Florida Bar’s 41st Annual Local Government Law in Florida (May 10, 2018)
• “What Lies Beneath? Latent Defects in Pipe Construction: A 6-year Story of Construction Litigation Told from the Trenches,” The Florida Bar’s City, County and Local Government Law Section’s Annual Meeting (May 12, 2017)
• “Sweating the Small Stuff: A Debate Over The Little Things That Can Make Your Good Appeal Great,” The Hillsborough County Bar Association’s Appellate Practice Section CLE: An Appellate Medley: Diverse Perspectives on Appellate Advocacy (April 5, 2017)
• “Mistakes I have Seen or Made,” The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section Monthly Telephonic CLE (August 16, 2016)
• “Confronting a PCA,” The Florida Bar Appellate Practice Section Monthly Telephonic CLE (August 21, 2012)
• “Stormwater Utility Assessments: A discussion of how sovereign immunity becomes both sword and shield in the recent City of Gainesville stormwater utility assessment litigation,” FMAA Seminar (July 21, 2012)
• “Practicing Before the Supreme Court Seminar,” (June 9, 2011)
• “Federal Interlocutory Appeals—Jurisdiction and Procedure,” (May 1, 2009)
• “Florida Civil Appeals: Preservation of Error,” Clearwater Bar Association (May 20, 2010)
• “Florida Civil Appeals: Preservation of Error,” Tampa Bay Trial Lawyers Association (January 21, 2010)

• “The New Year Ushers in Significant Appellate Rule Amendments,” 29 Lawyer (Hillsborough County Bar Association) 18, March/April 2019
• “Supreme Court Procedures and Practices,” Chapter Author, Florida Appellate Practice Guide
• “Seeking Appellate Review—How to Perfect Your Appeal,” 81 Florida Bar Journal 20, April 2007
• “Federal Law Appellate Update,” The Record (Florida Bar’s Appellate Practice Section), Winter 2006
• “Confronting a PCA: Finding a Path Around a Brick Wall,” 23 Stetson Law Review 367, Winter 2003
• “Forum Selection—The Art of Removal and Remand,” 72 Florida Bar Journal 11, December 1989

Steve serves on the Advisory Committee for Social Venture Partners (SVP), an organization of Tampa Bay professionals and business entrepreneurs dedicated to supporting local non-profits.  Using a venture capital model, SVP’s partners select non-profits to support, providing not only grants and financial assistance, but also furnishing the expertise and direct support of its partners.  In addition to his leadership role on SVP’s Advisory Committee, Steve also Chairs its Governance Committee.

Steve was an active supporter of Hillsborough Achievement and Resources Center (HARC), an organization that for 60 years served the developmentally disabled community in Hillsborough County.  He was a long-time board member and served as president of its operating board of directors and Chair of its development foundation.  Steve helped to oversee the transition of HARC’s facilities and clients to the Sunrise Group, a national organization serving the developmentally disabled.  This transition assured that HARC’s 60-year legacy of service to its clients and families continued without interruption.