(Through Heath Law, P.C.)
saheath@heathsteinbeck.com
(213) 335-6241
Steve’s practice spans business litigation, corporate matters, and general counsel responsibilities. He has more than 18 years of experience representing entrepreneurs, public and private companies, executives, and investors in sectors including entertainment, fashion and beauty, financial services, healthcare, media, real estate, and food and beverages. He has represented clients in court and arbitration in more than a dozen states, and in disputes involving contracts, real estate, fraud and fiduciary claims, partnership and founder rights, unfair competition, trade secrets, trademark and copyright, employment, and joint ventures.
Steve received his law degree, with honors, from the University of Durham in England. He obtained his master’s degree in international relations, focusing on international law and security studies, from the University of Chicago. Steve was a founding director of a non-profit dedicated to helping kids deal with loss and grief, and has provided pro bono legal services at Los Angeles-area homeless shelters. He is a member of the Association of Business Trial Lawyers, and the American, Beverly Hills, and Irish-American Bar Associations. Steve is admitted to practice law in California and New York, and numerous federal courts across the nation.
Representative matters:
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- Co-lead counsel in obtaining $31 million judgment, including $8 million in punitive damages and a permanent injunction, for an aviation company in a fraud and breach of fiduciary duty lawsuit against a former employee following a seven-day bench trial in San Diego.
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- Obtained dismissal of lawsuit brought in Commercial Division of the Supreme Court of the County of New York against an investor in a collection of diamonds worth more than $25 million, including the celebrated ‘Ocean Dream.’
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- General counsel to pioneering hair extensions and cosmetics company for more than a decade; from its initial start-up to eventual acquisition based on nine-figure valuation.
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- Represented attorney and minority owner of the World Surf League in complex partnership dispute; secured successful resolution on confidential terms through arbitration and mediation.
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- Lead trial counsel in federal court action over manufacturing and merchandising rights to classic 1960s racing car, involving complex contractual, estate, and successor liability issues.
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- Represented media personality in dispute with former attorney over multi-million-dollar settlement of prior litigation; negotiated successful resolution while preserving confidentiality obligations securing the settlement.
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- Obtained $2.5 million judgment for Dubai-based promoter of boxing event in lawsuit arising out of media company’s breach of distribution agreement.
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- Secured seven-figure settlement for a British Virgin Islands investment company in a green energy real estate dispute filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
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- Back-to-back victories in SAG-AFTRA ‘step-up’ compensation arbitrations on behalf of two motion picture production companies.
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- Represented attorney in successfully defeating challenge to ‘sweat equity’ ownership of highly-successful fashion brand.
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- Obtained six-figure judgment in Southern District of Texas for Australia-based manufacturer of ‘back to school’ consumer products in dispute with former U.S. distributor.
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- Secured highly-favorable resolution for former CEO of Singapore-based media company in fraudulent transfer action filed in Los Angeles Superior Court relating to luxury real estate in Pasadena.
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- Secured dismissal of all claims against motion picture production company brought by screenwriter in San Francisco Superior Court; dismissal subsequently upheld in California Court of Appeal.
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- Lead trial counsel for Canadian technology company in arbitration against irrigation products manufacturer arising out of a three-year, multi-phase contract for development of wireless irrigation technology.
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- Secured highly-favorable resolution of federal employment discrimination lawsuit brought in Michigan federal court against motion picture production company; following discovery and investigation, lawsuit was settled for less than 2% of plaintiff’s initial demand.
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- Represented Beverly Hills-based independent film financing company in international fraudulent transfer case against London-based film producer arising out of multi-million dollar slate financing dispute. Involved proceedings in Los Angeles Superior Court and parallel insolvency proceedings in federal court in Louisiana and the High Court of England & Wales.
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- Represented accountant before U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in appeal of judgment from Oregon federal court. Lawsuit arose out of a dispute between investors in a telecommunications company, and judgment included potentially career-ending findings of misconduct by accountant. In the course of the appeal, obtained rare relief in the form of a court order permanently sealing all court records referencing the accountant’s alleged conduct. That order allowed the client to resolve an ongoing accountancy board investigation with no finding of wrongdoing or impact on the client’s license.
