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Steve Levy is a principal in the firm's Litigation Group. His practice focuses on complex litigation, including business disputes, the representation of banks, including their affiliated securities broker-dealers, and other commercial lenders, defense of consumer class actions, and defense of securities fraud claims. In addition, in the past several years, Mr. Levy has tried cases involving employment issues, commercial lease disputes, insurance broker malpractice claims and insurance coverage disputes, and several cases arising out of commercial bankruptcies, such as trials in which Goldberg Kohn's lender-client objected to the proposed use of the lender's cash collateral or sought the appointment of a receiver.
Mr. Levy speaks on consumer class action issues. He has been a panelist at the Chicago Bar Association's seminar The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: An Overview and has discussed class action litigation under the Act. Mr. Levy has also spoken at several Illinois Creditors Bar Association seminars dealing with class action issues. Mr. Levy has a national litigation practice, having litigated in courts throughout the country. He received his law degree at the University of Illinois where he was a member of the Order of Coif..
Representative Matters
Defending dozens of consumer class actions, including class actions asserting violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and violations arising out of banking and mortgage lending activities. In several of these actions, the courts denied class certification, and the cases were promptly settled for nominal amounts. Defending a finance company alleged to have controlled or aided and abetted its borrower in selling in excess of $100 million of subordinated notes in violation of the securities laws. Representing a brokerage in a case asserting that the brokerage's former employee was engaged in violation of the former employees' non-solicitation and confidentiality obligations. Defending a finance company at the District Court and Appellate Court levels on a case of first impression interpreting the Illinois Credit Agreements Act. Defending an underwriter of municipal bonds against a $32 million securities fraud claim brought by the buyer of the bonds. Defending a publicly traded company against claims of securities fraud and antitrust violations allegedly committed in connection with the client's purchase of a closely held corporation, in which the plaintiffs sought in excess of $30 million. The court dismissed the securities and antitrust claims with prejudice, and there is no current litigation pending between the parties. Defending three individuals who sold the stock of a closely held corporation to a publicly traded corporation and were later sued for securities fraud and related claims. The case settled at an early stage, before substantial litigation expenses were incurred, for approximately 10 percent of the plaintiff's claimed damages.
Obtaining a judgment of approximately $900,000 after trial on behalf of the purchaser of an insurance policy, against the broker who procured the policy, on the grounds that the policy was defective.
Education
University of Illinois, J.D., magna cum laude, 1988
Miami University, B.S., cum laude, 1985
Bar Admissions
Illinois
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth, Seventh and Ninth Circuits
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, including the Trial Bar
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
Articles
Principal Steven Levy Published in Documentary Credit World
The Seventh Circuit Broadly Interprets the Illinois Credit Agreements Act to Protect Providers of Commercial Credit.
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