Overview
(January 4, 2023 Washington, DC) — Steptoe & Johnson LLP today announced the expansion of its commercial litigation practice with the addition of three new attorneys, Eric Berman, Dan Blynn, and Steve Freeland. All three join the firm as partners in the Washington, DC office.
"Eric, Dan, and Steve's experience litigating matters for companies of all sizes in front of the FTC, the DOJ, and state attorneys general will allow us to continue to meet the needs of our clients in advertising and consumer protection spaces, and address the increased government enforcement activity we see," said Steptoe Chair Gwen Renigar. "These intersections of regulation, government affairs, business, and the courts are where Steptoe stands out and Eric, Dan, and Steve fit well in that space."
Eric Berman represents businesses, tax-exempt organizations, and executives in high-stakes government investigations, regulatory proceedings, and litigation involving the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), state attorneys general, and the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as the US Postal Service, and Postal Regulatory Commission. His practice focuses on consumer protection/advertising, nonprofit, postal, and antitrust issues. Much of his state AG practice involves representing charities and professional fundraisers, who benefit from his extensive experience with federal and state charity regulators.
Dan Blynn focuses his practice on false advertising and telemarketing litigation, and complex consumer class actions in federal and state courts. Dan represents clients in advertising substantiation investigations, and inquiries from the FTC and state attorneys general, and counsels them on a variety of advertising and telemarketing-related matters. Dan's clients include Fortune 100 companies, fashion retailers, security monitoring companies, dietary supplement companies, solar and traditional energy companies, calling and text messaging platform providers, and a wide range of other large and small businesses.
Steve Freeland focuses on solving complex litigation challenges that businesses face in the areas of advertising, consumer protection, telemarketing, telecommunications, and intellectual property. Steve also handles FTC investigations and enforcement actions involving advertising and marketing issues, consumer class actions, and state attorneys general investigations involving antitrust issues. He has represented major consumer product companies, retailers, online merchants and service providers, affiliate marketers, non-conventional education providers, fundraisers, automotive industry companies, and trade associations.
Berman commented: "I'm excited to bring my practice to Steptoe, so that my clients will benefit from such an outstanding commercial litigation and government investigations team. This is an exciting next step in my career, and I look forward to drawing on all the resources and insights the firm has to offer to deliver quality results for Steptoe clients."
Blynn commented: "I am looking forward to working with the firm’s deep trial bench, to defend our clients nationally. The firm’s extensive regulatory experience is also a benefit to us and our clients."
Freeland added: "Steptoe provides our practice with a strong brand and footprint. I am thrilled to be able to enhance our platform with the firm’s talented roster of practitioners and trial lawyers from across the US."
About Steptoe
In more than 100 years of practice, Steptoe has earned an international reputation for vigorous representation of clients before governmental agencies, successful advocacy in litigation and arbitration, and creative and practical advice in structuring business transactions. Steptoe has more than 500 lawyers and other professional staff across offices in Beijing, Brussels, Chicago, Hong Kong, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
The diversity of the firm is a critical factor in its success. The firm’s Chair is a woman; the firm’s elected Executive Committee has a majority of women members; the majority of Steptoe's nine offices are managed by women; and the majority of Steptoe’s practice groups have women as leaders. The firm's eight-person professional business services leadership is equally diverse, with women, women of color, and LGBTQ+ individuals comprising half the c-suite.
