Reg Steer is a broadly experienced trial lawyer who defends and prosecutes complex cases and provides antitrust advice to the firm’s clients. Mr. Steer is a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers and is listed in the peer-review survey Northern California Super Lawyers.
Mr. Steer has successfully defended cases involving claims of antitrust violations, fraudulent business practices, securities violations, products liability and breach of contract.
Examples of noteworthy antitrust cases include defending a major bookstore chain in a series of highly publicized federal antitrust price discrimination cases and a consumer class action challenging as price-fixing an agreement concerning the operation of the client’s Web site; defending a manufacturer of the building material oriented strand board in nationwide class actions alleging conspiracy to restrict supply and fix prices; defending an international oil company’s dual distribution system for selling gasoline; defending various cases challenging clients’ product distribution policies; defending a nitrogen fertilizer manufacturer against price-fixing claims; and defending a client accused of price-fixing in the market for natural gas.
Mr. Steer also recently defended a product liability case against a client accused of selling defective water heaters; securities and derivative actions against a utility; a civil RICO action concerning working conditions in Saipan garment factories; a dispute concerning the limitations on information that credit card receipts may contain; and a variety of contract and trade secret actions.
Mr. Steer has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict, including a defense verdict for a major oil company in a 12-week jury trial in California state court in a class action involving service station operators who claimed $2.75 billion for breach of contract and violation of state unfair practices law. He also tried to verdict a 10-week jury trial for a client claiming insurance coverage in a complex, multi-policy case which resulted in a large award to his client.
Mr. Steer has been a contributor to the ABA Antitrust Section’s Rule of Reason Monograph, has taught on the subject of Robinson-Patman law and has taught a trial skills program for public benefit lawyers sponsored by the American College of Trial Lawyers.
Mr. Steer received his B.A. in 1966 and his J.D. cum laude in 1969 from the University of Minnesota, where he was a member of the Minnesota Law Review. He served in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps from 1969 to 1973. He is a member of the State Bar of California, the American Bar Association and the San Francisco Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit, all California district courts and a number of other U.S. district courts.