Steven M. Silverberg

Trusted by agencies, executives, and public figures alike, Steve is the attorney clients call when their dispute is headed for trial—or when they want to avoid one.

Steven M. Silverberg is a veteran trial lawyer and seasoned federal litigator whose practice centers on complex civil rights, employment, and commercial disputes. Known for his command of federal courts and ability to navigate high-stakes, high-profile matters, Steve represents clients ranging from major metropolitan agencies and transportation providers to media companies, financial institutions, and prominent individuals.

A leading voice on civil rights and Fourth Amendment litigation, Steve has defended public officials in hundreds of federal cases involving wrongful arrest, excessive force, overturned conviction, and other high-stakes claims—often where government policies and practices themselves are on trial. His experience, along with bylines in the New York Law Journal and Bloomberg Law and his teaching at Rutgers University, has established him as a trusted authority on litigation and strategy in this field.

In the private sector, Steve handles significant employment, partnership, and commercial disputes involving allegations of breach of contract, fraud, restrictive covenants, and defamation. He crafts strategies that protect clients’ interests while managing business and reputational risk. High-profile public figures turn to Steve for his discretion, judgment, and ability to protect their interests both in court and under public scrutiny.

Alongside his representation of corporations and management, Steve selectively represents individuals in employment-related disputes. His background defending management provides a rare vantage point when advocating for employees seeking to resolve sensitive workplace matters efficiently and effectively.

Across all forums—trial, arbitration, and mediation—Steve is known for his strategic judgment, persuasive advocacy, and record of results. He has resolved hundreds of disputes through negotiation, drawing on his courtroom experience to identify leverage points and secure efficient settlements. When settlement isn’t possible, he brings extensive first-chair trial experience and an unflinching command of the federal litigation process.

Steve also conducts sensitive internal investigations—an area of growing demand among clients seeking efficient and discreet assessments of potential risk. He applies the same discipline and fact-finding rigor that defines his courtroom work to uncover the truth and guide clients through critical decision points before litigation arises.

Before entering private practice, Steve spent seven years with the New York City Law Department, where he led hundreds of matters in federal court and supervised complex civil rights and law enforcement litigation.

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

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