Steven Pavsner

Principal

“I have 48 years of experience in litigating complex civil cases, but when my clients have to make important decisions in their cases, I don't make the decisions for them. I give them the advice they need to make the best decisions for themselves.”

A principal in Joseph, Greenwald & Laake’s Civil Litigation Practice Group, Steve Pavsner has over four decades of experience in litigating a wide range of complex civil cases, including business litigation and professional negligence cases, such as medical, nursing home, legal, architectural, accounting and engineering malpractice. Steve is particularly passionate about his work in the area of legal malpractice. He believes the law is a noble profession, and takes it personally when attorneys betray their clients’ trust.

Steve is also a well-known products liability litigator, and was plaintiffs’ trial counsel in Howard v. Ford Motor Company, a class action involving millions of consumers and some 22 million vehicles that resulted in the first-ever state court-ordered recall imposed on a carmaker. The case ultimately was resolved in a settlement with an estimated value of more than a billion dollars. He also won a unanimous decision in Amaya v. Schuster, when the Maryland Supreme Court decided that Maryland’s wage payment laws provided more protection to wage earners than federal law. Steve also taught highly regarded courses in medical liability and trial advocacy at the Washington College of Law of American University for nine years.

Most of Steve’s clients are referrals from former clients and lawyers who know him and the quality of his work.

  • District of Columbia
  • Florida
  • Maryland
  • Pennsylvania
  • US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • US District Court for the District of Columbia
  • US District Court for the District of Maryland
  • US Supreme Court

  • Georgetown University, JD, 1975
  • Princeton University, BA, cum laude 1972

  • Top Attorney 2023, Bethesda Magazine – MoCo360
  • Super Lawyers 2024
  • Maryland and DC SuperLawyers, 2007–present
  • Recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America by U.S. News and World Report

  • American Association for Justice
  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • Prince George’s County Bar Association
  • Montgomery County Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association
  • Pennsylvania Bar Association
  • Florida Bar Association
  • DC Trial Lawyers Association
  • Maryland Trial Lawyers Association

  • “Medical Liability & Public Health,” Washington College of Law, American University
  • “Advocacy in the Hi-Tech Courtroom,” Washington College of Law, American University
  • “Medical Malpractice Litigation,” University of Pennsylvania
  • “Evidence in Civil Litigation,” U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Legal Education
  • Class Action Litigation Summit, Fulcrum Information Services
  • International Health Policy Forum, Washington College of Law, American University
  • “Product Liability in the District of Columbia,” DC Bar CLE
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