--- title: Steven W Schlesinger date: 2023-06-12T20:27:00-04:00 author: Mary Katherine (MK) Terrell canonical_url: "https://www.kelleydrye.com/people/steven-w-schlesinger" section: Team Members --- ![](https://d3iuizmsm2hayf.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/Bio-Photos-1200x1200/Schlesinger_Steven.webp?auto=compress%2Cformat&crop=focalpoint&fit=crop&fp-x=0.5&fp-y=0.5&h=1200&q=80&w=1200&s=4f9817af4291747389c2ea63d94c8c70) # Steven W Schlesinger Associate Email Address email hidden; JavaScript is required Location [ New York ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/locations/new-york) Phone number (212) 808-7740 - [ Download vCard ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/index.php?p=actions/vcard/default/index&vcard=DGX6UX1jze2FNLoeZaX66PHWurP-bsFyztkuF817VwQvHNUhm8mHkaLGf8VMyg4aXyCTljxSYW7_VYckjvMQwQWiyHhwFlHUtSACsu66HRHvwFt9d1LrSjBSupouSULl4zwseF6YSjw7HxnoZZly8tEhgbppLY9zT3pdd4uFvmkQcMQo2aU1s2YxaQ-5w8SmmT3Tw0JpVlyEd28QTVgb9oRPMY7Nq1ygAI54dxwQDi1D_5dFWqUN4qOYqb9SaVnOI6PlbhIIcVSqRQXMmbdkG48qWvewEe-uJT6gDJ8ibpWROJISp2ze9pvEXntWUID5_MA2AyMf3XJD3HBOhBRnp61DXyGtVDbwvhGrC5ilLxHM9ZCX0WGAkJpk6D0ch03krro3X5Z1amvCXLxdJypWFJLt_pAF09_Q7mPqz9-2gO--0V1pHi_k6TqA6KcQTfwADSnyCieB_FSsSuzzPf9SyJqcyCJlPbenIo84dVYKvPmbfJE590NDS0KKJIHPSyUDJtKpf5uIFOOh9wJGV7zm2jlMqpTlk6kas2MdbFSV9ST11LkAt6bUSYZiWv3VpEJZe9-9QLzD7FuQmNIxp6-9g-CZXE2r9-1SgFmhPSbTRpjX-vSoXFUssLVnbmSWTESekn2w2GYmvKodv5YUT3n4WSFR9vq3sWE_E9zyxCqcOdboRCeGyiVlu1XdYxYY0gfKak-Z-Mj_GMS7krD87xEvskGfIa-rL16joJYfuflAe64DiHwYexNAO_CFWqlC_HG98LUIo8-a0kPFIYvUOezl5x8pK01-CUtvqbuzsuYjZO5Q3dpRJiJjxwDmNszZcI0b-U94Sf7QNkfXlUGE2phJr_YWWSftAwLDIAX-biB-VsAzYAy5cF9NaRplJHTPEzfvLoptKAiimj4UuQdY7aeo30lJq_xigVUtebfD4FLPDrQaDQbCPSamTiE8aQWABCOO9OnTOFUL2_3c9dYMd7ShaF0xGBE24CnVtIIPUNb1OXzbc1qpI8ojUdVlkrC1G9twW3lxHhwZKZBKCjZ5ZWpLA4feaV5NJ0YLwK0in5tJTZng19iBrxhaFa81FAhrQ-P07MgxAsqeuQ6NEJf7H6mnzD0IDQrCuw-U5Tfq4FGPgAdyt6h3G9eR7NColz-D7hW5GK3McWRlRBXqA8yoiTR-fmrqkEfOn9aqbvkkokJpf4_hi0rMsZMrbuYNDgVmSpjK) - Share this entry - - - - - [ View entry pdf ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/cdn.kelleydrye.com/content/uploads/pdf-snapshots/steven-w-schlesinger-20260629122921.pdf) - About - Experience - Community Steven W Schlesinger focuses his practice on litigation and dispute resolution. He manages various stages of complex litigation matters, including appeals, motions to dismiss, summary judgment, and discovery phases. Steven’s experience includes representing financial institutions, insurers, pharmaceutical and real estate companies, and other clients in commercial and manufacturing disputes. Additionally, Steven focuses on legal issues and developments concerning artificial intelligence, cryptocurrency, information technology, social media, and intellectual property. He has an active pro bono practice comprised of parole, immigration asylum, offender rehabilitation, and domestic dispute defense representations. #### **Commercial Litigation** Lead investigator and trial counsel in successful defense of life insurance company in action filed by institutional, secondary owner of a life insurance policy attempting to enforce a misstatement of age in a Holocaust survivor’s life insurance application. The court denied plaintiff’s request for declaratory relief in full after a three-day bench trial. *Wilmington Trust, N.A. v. Segal, and John Hancock Life Insurance Company of New York, Case No. 1:21-CV-01540-PKC-TAM.* Member of a team representing a pharmaceutical manufacturer in a breach of contract lawsuit under New York law that resulted in a favorable settlement of the claims. Member of a team representing cosmetic industry company in a manufacturing contract dispute under New York law. Member of a team representing a commercial real estate company in a breach of contract lawsuit regarding a claimed investment banking fee, and separately, in connection with pursuing remedies relating to a defaulted mezzanine loan, resulting in summary judgment against the debtor. Member of a team representing a client in litigation concerning corporate subterfuge and the conversion of cryptocurrency assets. Member of a team representing a client in litigation concerning a commercial dispute over company ownership and control under Delaware law. #### **Antitrust Litigation** Member of a team representing a generic pharmaceutical company in an antitrust multi-district litigation involving allegations of country-wide price fixing schemes. Member of a team defending a financial institution in a long-disputed New York state antitrust action that resulted in an affirmance of dismissal of claims on appeal. #### **Products Liability** Member of a team representing a generic pharmaceutical company in products liability cases involving Ranitidine throughout the U.S. #### **Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights** Member of team serving as counsel to an ad hoc group of governmental claimants in the bankruptcy proceeding of a fire safety company, including investigating claims against affiliates, and negotiating the recovery and disposition of assets. #### **Pro Bono** Trial counsel for a domestic violence survivor, successfully defending against claims of malicious prosecution and abuse of process brought by her former spouse in the Eastern District of New York Federal Court. After eight years of self‑representation, Kelley Drye & Warren LLP assumed the matter pro bono, expedited trial preparation, and secured a unanimous defense verdict after a four‑day jury trial. *Hercsky v. Evans, Case No. 2:17-CV-4199.* Obtained dismissal of two contempt charges in New Jersey Superior Court for pro bono client facing unsubstantiated complaints. Member of a team that secured a grant of asylum for an El Salvadoran refugee fleeing lifelong violence due to their sexual orientation. The five year-long case faced multiple shifts in venue, among other complicated procedural matters. Assisted a pro bono client in takedown efforts of an illicit deepfake video from a major social media platform. The deepfake video falsely depicted the client and was used by scammers to solicit fraudulent donations from unsuspecting members of the public. Obtained a favorable plea deal in New Jersey Superior Court for a pro bono client facing contempt and other criminal charges. Mentoring Youth Through Legal Education (MYLE), constitutional law debate coach Pay It Forward Life, altruistic umbrella distribution network, founder New York registered marriage officiant ### Related Services - [Blockchain and Cryptocurrency](https://www.kelleydrye.com/industries/blockchain-and-cryptocurrency) - [Commercial Litigation](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/commercial-litigation) - [Generic Pharmaceuticals](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/generic-pharmaceuticals) - [Life Insurance, Annuity and Health Insurance](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/life-insurance-annuity-and-health-insurance-litigation) - [Litigation](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/litigation) - [Technology](https://www.kelleydrye.com/industries/technology) - [Toxic Torts and Products Liability](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/toxic-torts-and-products-liability) - [White Collar, Investigations and Compliance](https://www.kelleydrye.com/practices/white-collar-investigations-and-compliance) ### Education Fordham University School of Law, J.D., 2022 Dean’s List; Fordham Intellectual Property, Media & Entertainment Law Journal; Archibald R. Murray Public Service Award, cum laude; Intellectual Property & Information Law concentration Kollel Ayshel Avraham Rabbinical Seminary, Rabbinical Ordination, 2018 Touro University, Lander College of Arts and Sciences, B.A., 2017 magna cum laude, Dean’s List; Psychology ### Admissions New York, 2023 New Jersey, 2022 Texas, 2023 Pennsylvania, 2023 ### Courts U.S. Court of Appeals–Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals–Second Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals–Fourth Circuit U.S. District Court–Southern District of New York U.S. District Court–Eastern District of New York U.S. District Court–District of New Jersey U.S. District Court–Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court–Eastern District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court—Middle District of Pennsylvania U.S. District Court–Southern District of Texas Article [ ![](https://d3iuizmsm2hayf.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/Listing-rectangles/Articles_Listing.svg) ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/articles/the-right-to-data-encryption) October 3, 2022 [ ](https://www.kelleydrye.com/viewpoints/articles/the-right-to-data-encryption)