Introduction
Steve chairs the Advertising, Marketing and Trademark Law Group and is also a member and former co-chair of the firm’s Media & Entertainment Group. Recognized as one of the country’s leading advertising, trademark, and entertainment lawyers, Steve created the first Twin Cities practice of its kind in 1974.
His three decades of experience as an industry leader, ad agency executive, professional speaker, Hall of Fame drummer, and author give him a unique understanding of his clients and their business. Steve shares his creativity, insights, and legal expertise with hundreds of marketing companies and advertising, sales promotion, public relations, and design agencies of all sizes, and with many individual authors, songwriters, musicians, artists, television producers, and celebrities throughout the country.
Steve has been involved in the development and registration of over 3,000 trademarks in more than 50 countries. He has authored hundreds of articles on advertising law, spoken to hundreds of ad industry groups, and is nationally-known for a long history of volunteer leadership on important industry legal, ethical, and governmental issues.
Education
- J.D., William Mitchell College of Law, 1974
- B.A., University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communications, 1970
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1974
Practice Areas
Representative Experience
- Advertising Compliance
- Social Media Promotions
- Sweepstakes Compliance
- Trademark Searches, Registrations & Disputes
- Copyright Searches & Registrations
- “Green” Advertising
- Privacy Issues
- Domain Name Protection
- Network Clearance
- NAD/NARB Challenges and Other Ad Disputes
- Trade Secret Protection
- Agency-Client Agreements
- Celebrity & Talent Agreements
- Music License Agreements
- Trademark & Copyright Licensing Agreements
- Confidentiality & Nondisclosure Agreements
- Photo & Location Releases
- Errors/Omissions Insurance Review
- Client Seminars
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Speaker, Advertising Industry Legislative
- Speaker, Advertising Law: New Year, New Rules seminar, December 15, 2009
- Guest Lecturer, Honors Advertising Class,
- Guest Lecturer, Mass Communication Law,
- Author, “Copyright, Not Greed Behind AP Lawsuit,” Star Tribune Guest Editorial, November 7, 2009.
- Speaker, “Technotainment: Legal Issues on New Social Marketing Frontiers,” 2009 Midwest Intellectual Property Institute, September 24-25, 2009
- "Valspar Advertising Challenge Successful Before the National Advertising Review Board," Advertising Compliance Service, June 10, 2009
- Speaker, “User Generated Content, Viral, Guerrilla and Word of Mouth Advertising,” 2009
- Seminar Presenter, FAME, December 2008
- “Green Marketing: The Color of Money,” December 2008
- Speaker, “How Dare You Use My Trademark? Dos and Don’ts of Using Competitors’ Trademarks in Advertising,” 2008 Midwest Intellectual Property Institute, September 25-26, 2008
- “Home Depot to Pull ‘Rated #1’ Claims For Behr Paint,” Advertising Compliance Service, July 2008
- Seminar Presenter, Periscope Advertising, June 18, 2008
- Speaker, “The Perils of ‘Environmentally Friendly’ Advertising,” AAF National Conference 2008, June 8-14, 2008
- Speaker, Green Lights & Red Flags: FTC-BBB Rules of the Road for Advertisers, April 24, 2008
- Guest Lecturer, Mass Communication Law, University of Minnesota, November 8, 2007
- “Licensing Music: It’s Not the Same Old Song,” Create Magazine, September/October, 2007
Professional Activities
- National Advisory Board, University of Minnesota School of Journalism and Mass Communications
- Board of Trustees, William Mitchell College of Law
- Advisory Board, William Mitchell College of Law’s Intellectual Property Institute
- Director Emeritus, Children’s Cancer Research Fund
- Member, Administration Committee, Children’s Cancer Research Fund
- Director Emeritus, Better Business Bureau of Minnesota
- Counsel, Advertising Federation of Minnesota
- Trademark Counsel, American Advertising Federation
- Lecturer, University of Minnesota and St. Thomas University
- Member, Editorial Advisory Board, ADVERTISING COMPLIANCE SERVICE
- Member, Honorary Board, Advertising Federation of Minnesota
- Former member, National Advertising Review Board
- Former Chair, American Advertising Federation Ad Standards Committee and member of its Legal Affairs Committee
- Former Chair, Midwest Advertising Review Council
- Past president, Minnesota Advertising Federation; past Chair, Better Business Bureau of Minnesota; past Governor, American Advertising Federation Eighth District; former Program Coordinator, Four A’s Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies
- Past Board and Executive Committee Member, Greater Metropolitan Convention and Visitors Bureau
Honors & Distinctions
- Inductee, South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, 2009
- Minnesota “Super Lawyer (top 5%), last fifteen consecutive years
- Fortune Magazine, “America’s Premiere Lawyers” Award 2006
- Distinguished Service Award, Better Business Bureau, 2003
- Who’s Who Worldwide
- Who’s Who in American Law
- Honoree, “100 Who Make A Difference”,
- Leading Attorneys, American Research Corp.
- Award of Excellence, William Mitchell College of Law
- Silver Medal Award, Advertising Federation of Minnesota
- Medal of Merit, American Advertising Federation
- Torch of Truth Award, Better Business Bureau
- Distinguished Service Award, Minnesota Advertising Federation
- Good Neighbor Award, WCCO Radio
- Government Relations Award, Minnesota Advertising Federation