Overview
(September 30, 2025, Los Angeles) – Steptoe LLP is pleased to announce that Corey Laplante, a nationally recognized litigator with deep experience in AI-driven business strategy, complex commercial litigation, and cross-sector partnerships, has joined the firm. He joins as a partner in Steptoe's Commercial Trials & Litigation Group in Los Angeles.
Corey brings a unique blend of litigation experience and executive leadership to Steptoe. He joins the firm after serving as General Counsel – and ultimately President, Co-CEO, and Board Director – at Mixhalo Corp., a venture capital and private equity-backed technology company that delivers real-time, AI-powered audio experiences at major live events. At Mixhalo, Laplante led legal and commercial strategy through multiple major financing rounds, strategic partnerships and key enterprise deals – including major music residencies with Grammy-winning artists and deals with teams and leagues across all of the major US sports. He also spearheaded the company's strategic pivot into AI-powered foreign language interpretation, driving significant revenue growth and expanding the company's footprint as it partnered with producers of some of the world's largest, most impactful, enterprise conferences.
Before joining Mixhalo, Corey was a litigator at Wilkinson Stekloff and Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom. He served on multiple high-profile trial teams, representing Fortune 500 clients in multi-billion-dollar disputes in the sports, consumer products, and financial services industries.
"Corey's background as a seasoned litigator and business leader makes him a strong addition to our team," said firm chair Gwen Renigar. "His ability to align legal strategy with business outcomes, particularly in areas like AI, corporate governance, data, and regulatory risk, supports our strategic goals in California and beyond. He brings valuable insight to clients navigating legal challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies, evolving regulatory frameworks, and commercial strategy."
At Steptoe, Corey will help to expand the firm's litigation capabilities in California, particularly in the sports & entertainment and AI sectors. He will also advise clients on legal strategy with a focus on business operations, governance, and risk.
Corey joins a growing roster of high-profile lateral hires who reflect Steptoe's commitment to innovation across practices. Recent additions include Matt Galvin, Christian Auty, Michel Paradis, Jonathan Drimmer, Yousuf Aftab, Claire Rajan, Cáitrín McKiernan, and others who bring deep proficiency in AI, enforcement, and/or global risk.
"I'm thrilled to join Steptoe and help grow its litigation platform in California," said Corey. "The firm's reputation for excellence and its entrepreneurial spirit make it the ideal place to build a practice that bridges courtroom advocacy and strategic business insight."
Steptoe’s award-winning Commercial Trials & Litigation Group has received accolades from Chambers USA, The Legal 500, The Lawyer, and Global Arbitration Review. The group is recognized for its skill in resolving complex, cross-border disputes through a multidisciplinary approach. The team represents clients across a wide range of industries including energy, telecommunications, manufacturing, retail, financial services, healthcare, insurance, transportation, and natural resources, and regularly manages matters involving breach of contract, fraud, fiduciary duties, and business torts.
Corey is a Fulbright Scholar. He holds a J.D. from UC Berkeley School of Law and a B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Maryland, College Park.
About Steptoe
In more than 110 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, Houston, London, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, DC. For more information, visit www.steptoe.com.
