Steven J. Joffee

Steven Joffee is a trusted advisor and lead litigation counsel to numerous leading national and international companies. His clientele spans various industries, including technology, healthcare, pharmaceuticals, communications, financial services, real estate, manufacturing, and state and federally regulated sectors. He also represents developers, property owners, and other key stakeholders.

Steve efficiently and effectively manages client’s outside counsel needs, such as intellectual property, data privacy and cybersecurity, advertising, labor and employment, corporate and transactional, mergers and acquisitions, health and regulatory, real estate, litigation, and tax.

Steve is a skilled trial and appellate litigator who has consistently prevailed in high-stakes and complex disputes.

Recognized for extensive experience with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), California Invasion of Privacy Act (CIPA), Electronic Communications Privacy Act (ECPA), Florida Security of Communications Act (FSCA), and other state equivalents, Steve advises companies of all sizes and industries on privacy compliance, data governance, data breaches, and consumer data protection issues. His practical approach helps organizations effectively manage regulatory obligations while supporting business objectives. He also counsels and guides clients with mitigating privacy and cybersecurity risks.

Steve is a skilled and experienced trial and appellate litigator who has consistently prevailed in high-stakes and complex disputes in courts throughout the country. He has tried several cases to successful jury verdicts and has succeeded in numerous cases, class actions, and appeals involving data privacy and cybersecurity, general business disputes, intellectual property, products liability, eminent domain, construction defects, employment issues, and constitutional rights.

As Managing Partner of Michael Best’s Utah offices and a member of the firm’s Management Committee, Steve leads efforts related to growth and development across the state and nation. He also plays a key role in establishing enduring client relationships and optimizing the efficiency of legal deliverables across the firm.

Prior to joining Michael Best, Steven practiced in the litigation group at WilmerHale’s Washington D.C. Office. After graduating from law school, Steven served as a judicial law clerk to Judge Scott Matheson, Jr., of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit and to Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant of the Utah Supreme Court.

Steve was part of the team of attorneys who prevailed before the U.S. Supreme Court in the precedent-setting case AOSI v. U.S. Aid. Thanks to the team’s efforts, the Court held that the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits the federal government from placing conditions on federal funding to private organizations that require the organization to adopt and publicly profess a viewpoint that mirrors the government’s view but is not held by the organization itself.

He also prevailed in Evans Development v. Salt Lake City Corporation, in which the Utah Supreme Court held that a condemning authority had exceeded the limits of its authority to take property through the exercise of eminent domain power.

Steve’s other notable representative experience includes:

Prevailed in a multi-billion-dollar breach of contract dispute between an aerospace company and the U.S. government.

Successfully defended against several privacy-related class action and arbitration claims, involving claims under California, Illinois, Florida, and New York privacy statutes.

Prevailed at trial and on appeal to the Utah Supreme Court in a high-profile case in which a city challenged the constitutionality of the Utah State Legislature’s creation of a government-run logistics and distribution corporation.

Defended against and obtained highly favorable settlements in class action disputes arising from data breaches.

Successfully defended an insurance company against multimillion-dollar claims alleging breach of contract and tortious interference, obtaining a settlement shortly after finishing opening statements in a jury trial.

Achieved a unanimous jury verdict awarding a property developer nearly $2 million in just compensation in an eminent domain case.

University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law

Juris Doctor (J.D.)

2010

Brigham Young University - Idaho

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

2007