Overview
Steven M. Silverberg is a seasoned litigator and first-chair trial attorney with a focus on matters in federal courts. He routinely litigates employment actions and complex commercial and business disputes on behalf of clients in the media, hospitality, healthcare, and financial services industries.
Steve has a breadth of experience handling high-value and high-profile impact litigation and frequently represents prominent public figures and institutions in cases that receive national media attention. He zealously executes litigation strategies that simultaneously achieve positive results in the courtroom and favorably portray his clients in the press. At the same time, Steve appreciates the importance of negotiated resolutions where possible and has settled more than 200 matters in advance of trial.
Steve also handles a robust public sector practice, frequently defending government entities and their employees in all phases of litigation. His diverse practice includes strategic litigation intended to effect societal change as well as the defense of individual clients facing allegations of employment discrimination, constitutional torts, and professional malpractice.
Outside of the courtroom, Steve conducts efficient and effective internal investigations in advance of or as an alternative to litigation. His highly sensitive investigations have ranged from inquiries into allegations of workplace misconduct to an evaluation of a global financial institution’s operations controls in advance of securities fraud litigation. In all cases, Steve develops and implements investigative strategies that meet agreed-upon timetables and account for budgetary considerations.
Steve is also an educator. He is an adjunct professor at the Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice, and he has taught CLE courses on trial presentation and settlement negotiations.
Prior to joining Hoguet Newman Regal & Kenney, Steve spent seven years with the Office of the Corporation Counsel for the City of New York. As an assistant unit chief in the Special State Law Enforcement Defense Unit, he provided comprehensive oversight for more than 450 actively litigated civil matters. He also served as an assistant corporation counsel in the Special Federal Litigation Division, where he served as lead counsel for over 150 cases in federal court.
He previously served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Kiyo A. Matsumoto of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and as a congressional intern for the Honorable Russ Carnahan, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Missouri.
Recognition
New York Law Journal "Rising Star"
Leadership
Federal Bar Council, First Decade Committee
CLE Instructor (negotiations, depositions, civil rights, trial advocacy)
Rutgers University School of Criminal Justice, Adjunct Professor
Experience
Experience
Represented client who was prevented from accepting an executive position with a multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate as a result of his former employer’s bad faith threats to enforce restrictive covenants.
Conducted pre-litigation internal investigation into major global financial institution’s recordkeeping and payment practices.
Secured multi-million-dollar judgment on behalf of a leading apparel firm in connection with its claim for insurance coverage arising from stolen merchandise under a Marine Cargo insurance policy.
Represented a national communications and media company in connection with their pursuit of insurance coverage arising out of a high-profile defamation and invasion of privacy claim brought by a former professional wrestler.
Litigated multiple class actions alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act on behalf of a major transportation agency and its subsidiaries. Secured summary judgment in an action alleging discrimination based on the maintenance of elevators in the subway system, and a complete victory in a suit seeking an injunction directing the installation of subway and railroad platform barriers.
Investigated workplace harassment claim and advised executives regarding best practices.
Defended government employees accused of constitutional violations and professional malpractice.
Successfully prevented deposition of a high-ranking government official on the grounds that the request was unduly burdensome given his position and lack of personal knowledge regarding the underlying litigation.
Secured summary judgment for public sector agency and its employees who were sued for First Amendment retaliation, false arrest and malicious prosecution under the Fourth Amendment, and a due process claim under Fourteenth Amendment concerning procedures and processes for the suspension of employees under a Collective Bargaining Agreement.
News
News & Insights
Admissions
Admissions
- Bar of the State of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit
Practice Areas
Service
- Judicial intern for the Honorable Kiyo A. Matsumoto in the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- Congressional intern for the Honorable Russ Carnahan, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives
Education
Washington University in St. Louis, (B.A. 2007)
- Dean’s List
Brooklyn Law School (J.D. 2010)
- Cum Laude
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Brooklyn Journal of International Law, Associate Notes and Comments Editor