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STEVEN A. LEWIS
Lewis & Bacon
1050 Fulton Avenue, Suite 125
Sacramento, California 95825
Tel. (916) 485-5005
Fax: (916) 485-5119
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LEGAL EXPERIENCE
Founder and principal of Lewis & Bacon, A Professional Corporation, February 1982 to the present. Rated a.v. in Martindale Hubbell, 1985 to present.
Associate at Long & Levit, San Francisco, California, October 1976 through January 1982. Declined partnership to establish law firm in Sacramento.
United States Federal Energy Administration (Department of Energy), Office of Exceptions and Appeals, Washington, D.C., September 1974 through August 1976.
Admitted to practice before all courts of the State of California (January 1975), and the United States District Courts for the Northern (October 1976) and Eastern (April 1981) Districts of California; Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (March 1987).
MAJOR EMPHASIS IN PRACTICE
Advice to and representation of attorneys including: risk management, malpractice avoidance, and ethics consultations; representation of attorneys in State Bar proceedings, legal malpractice and malicious prosecution cases; fee disputes; disqualification motions; and service as an expert consultant and witness.
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY ASSOCIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES
California State Bar Association
California State Bar Association Standing Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct, Member 2002-2007, Vice Chair 2004-2005, Chair 2005-2006, Special Advisor 2006-2007
Adjunct Professor of Law, University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, 1999 to present, Civil Pre-Trial Litigation
Sacramento County Bar Association
American Bar Association, Member Center for Professional Responsibility, National Legal Malpractice Data Center
Settlement Judge Pro Tem, Sacramento County Superior Court (1990 to present)
Arbitrator, Sacramento County Superior Court (1990 to present)
Legal Services of Northern California, Sacramento Advisory Committee (1997-1998)
Shalom Day School, Sacramento, Board of Trustees (1988-1995), President (1993-1995), Past President Trustee, Search Committees for Head of School (1989, 2002)
Hillel at Davis and Sacramento, Board of Trustees (2004 to present), President (2007-present)
Congregation B'nai Israel, Sacramento, Rabbinic Search Committee (1994-1995); Religious School Instructor (1997-2000), Religious Practices Committee (1999-2001)
EDUCATION
University of California, Davis, Martin Luther King, Jr., School of Law, Juris Doctor degree awarded June 1974.
University of California, Santa Barbara, Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science awarded June 1971, with honors. Dean's honor roll; Blue Key academic honor society.
PRESENTATIONS AND SEMINARS
Panelist: Hot Topics in Risk Management, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Web seminar only 2008)
Panelist: Ethics and Technology in the Legal Profession, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, San Diego 2008)
Panelist: Ethics Update: The Latest Recent Developments and Proposed New Rules from the California Rules Revision Commission, CEB (San Francisco, Sacramento 2007)
Panelist: Recent Developments Affecting the Law of Lawyers, State Bar of California (Anaheim 2007)
Panelist: Forming and Reforming the Attorney-Client Relationship, State Bar of California (Anaheim 2007)
Panelist: Practice Planning for Lawyers: How to Plan for Everything from an Unexpected Injury to a Well-Deserved Retirement, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento, South San Francisco, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles 2007)
Speaker: Ethics 4 Government Lawyers, California State Department of Health Services (Sacramento 2007)
Speaker: Conflicts of Interest, San Joaquin County Bar Association (Stockton 2007)
Panelist: Ethics Update: Recent Developments and Proposed New Rules from the California Rules Revision Commission, CEB (Sacramento, San Francisco 2006)
Panelist: Walking the Ethics Tightrope, Ethics Update 2006 - Recent Developments in the Law of Lawyering, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento, Moraga, San Francisco, Los Angeles (x2), San Diego, Costa Mesa, Santa Barbara, Burbank, Fresno, San Jose, Glendale, Sherman Oaks 2006)
Panelist: Recognizing and Responding to Conflicts of Interest, State Bar of California (Monterey 2006)
Panelist: Recent Significant Developments Affecting the Law of Lawyers, State Bar of California (Monterey 2006)
Speaker: Do It Yourself Risk Management Strategies: A Survival Guide for Lawyers (Workshop), Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, San Diego, Concord, South San Francisco, Santa Clara 2006)
Speaker: Ethics Awareness, Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters of the Sacramento Valley (Sacramento 2006)
Speaker: Bridging the Gap: Legal Ethics for New Attorneys, Bar Association of San Francisco (San Francisco 2006)
Moderator: Whither/Wither Goes the Corporate Attorney-Client Privilege? Legal Malpractice & Risk Management Conference (Chicago 2006)
Panelist: Issues at Formation of the Attorney-Client Relationship, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (San Jose, San Francisco, Ontario, Woodland Hills, Fresno, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, Sacramento 2005)
Panelist: Walking the Ethics Tightrope: Lawyerlaw 2005, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (San Jose, San Francisco, Ontario, Woodland Hills, Fresno, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, Sacramento 2005)
Panelist: Recent Significant Developments Affecting the Law of Lawyers, State Bar of California (San Diego 2005)
Panelist: How to Collect Your Fee and Avoid a State Bar Complaint, State Bar of California (San Diego 2005)
Speaker: Expanding Duties to Non-Clients, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Moraga 2005)
Panelist: California Legal Ethics: Confidentiality in the Spotlight, Lorman Education Services (Sacramento 2005)
Moderator and Panelist: Attorney-Client Fee Agreements and Conflicts of Interest, Ninth Annual Statewide Ethics Symposium, State Bar of California Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct (Los Angeles 2005)
Panelist: New Rules in the Ethics Game: Lawyerlaw 2004, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (Costa Mesa, Fresno, Los Angeles Downtown, Moraga, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara, West Los Angeles, Woodland Hills 2004-2005)
Panelist: How to Survive the Practice of Law and Live to Tell the War Stories, State Bar of California (Monterey 2004)
Panelist: Suing and Defending the Professional, Continuing Education of the Bar - California (Sacramento 2004)
Panelist: Walking The Ethics Tightrope: Lawyerlaw 2003, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (Fresno, Moraga, Sacramento, Santa Clara, South San Francisco 2004)
Panelist: How to Collect Your Fees and Avoid a State Bar Complaint, State Bar of California (Anaheim 2003)
Panelist: Recent Significant Developments Affecting the Law of Lawyers, State Bar of California (Anaheim 2003)
Panelist: Methods for Identifying and Avoiding Conflicts, State Bar of California (Anaheim 2003)
Panelist: Walking The Ethics Tightrope, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (Dana Point, Fullerton, La Jolla, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, Pasadena, San Diego (2), Santa Monica 2003)
Panelist: Walking The Ethics Tightrope, Elimination of Bias and Substance Abuse in the Legal Profession, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (San Diego, Fresno, Monterey, Costa Mesa, Culver City, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Woodland Hills, Moraga, San Francisco 2002-2003)
Speaker: Technology 2002 A Double-Edged Sword; Ethics, Loss Prevention and the Internet, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (Ontario, San Diego, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, Fresno, Santa Clara, South San Francisco, Sacramento 2002)
Speaker: Core Values and Conflicts of Interest, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (San Diego, Costa Mesa, Los Angeles, Moraga, San Francisco, Sacramento, 2002)
Panelist: Walking the Ethics Tightrope: Lawyerlaw 2001, Lawyers Mutual Insurance Company (Los Angeles, Santa Clara, Sacramento, Monterey, South San Francisco, Fresno, 2001-2002)
Panelist: Recognizing and Avoiding Conflicts of Interest, Continuing Education of the Bar • California (Sacramento, San Francisco, 2001)
Panelist: The 21st Century Law Office: Running a Successful Law Practice in the New Economy, Continuing Education of the Bar • California (San Francisco, Sacramento, 2001)
Panelist: Walking the Ethics Tightrope: Lawyerlaw 2000, Juggling the C's, Cash, Competence, Conduct, Confidentiality & Conflicts of Interest, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey, Chico, Santa Clara, 2000-2001)
Panelist: Do You Want to Give Your Former Client A Million Bucks?, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, Monterey, Fresno, Chico, Santa Clara, 2000-2001)
Panelist: Ethics 2000, Northern California Association of Defense Counsel Annual Meeting (2000)
Panelist: How (Not) 2Be Sued, A Client Relations Seminar, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Lake Tahoe, Chico, Santa Clara, Costa Mesa, Palm Springs, 2000)
Panelist: Walking the Ethics Tightrope: Lawyerlaw 1999, Recent Developments Affecting the Law of Lawyers and How They Practice, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company and San Fernando Valley Bar Association (Woodland Hills, 2000)
Panelist: Getting in and Getting Out: Avoiding Malpractice in the Representation Process, Continuing Education of the Bar • California (Sacramento, State Bar Convention San Diego, 2000)
Speaker: Walking the Ethics Tightrope: Sex, Lies and Fiduciary Duties, Elimination of Bias in the Practice of Law, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Monterey, San Francisco, Sacramento and San Diego, 1999-2000)
Panelist: California Legal Ethics, Lorman Education Services (Sacramento 1999, 2000, 2001)
Panelist: Walking the Ethics Tightrope: Lawyerlaw 1998, Recent Developments Affecting the Law of Lawyers and How They Practice, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (San Diego, Sacramento, Fresno, South Lake Tahoe and San Francisco, 1998-1999)
Panelist: Securing Fees and Avoiding Client Disputes, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Los Angeles, San Diego, Berkeley, Costa Mesa, Fresno, Santa Clara, Chico, Sacramento, South Lake Tahoe and Monterey, 1998)
Panelist: Client Relations Workshop, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Bakersfield, Fresno, Sacramento, Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Ventura, Chico and Monterey, 1997)
Panelist: The Legal Malpractice Paradigm, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento 1996)
Speaker: Law Practice Management: Current Developments and Client Relations, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (San Diego, Los Angeles, Costa Mesa, Ontario, Santa Barbara, Fresno, Sacramento and Oakland 1995)
Speaker: Ethical Pitfalls for the Personal Injury Attorney: How to Avoid Becoming a Defendant in a Legal Malpractice Case, Capital City Trial Lawyers Association (Sacramento 1995)
Panelist: Don't Become Roadkill on the Information Highway: Protecting and Preserving Client Confidences, Association of Defense Counsel of Northern California (San Francisco 1994)
Speaker: Preventing Legal Malpractice in the Specialities: Litigation, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (Sacramento 1994)
Panelist: Recent Developments in Insurance Law: The Tripartite Relationship Between Insurer, Insured and Counsel, Lorman Education Services (Sacramento 1993, 1994)
Speaker: Preventing Legal Malpractice, Sacramento County Bar Association, Small Law Practice Section (Sacramento 1991)
Panelist: Avoiding Malpractice in California: Guidelines for Professional Responsibility, Continuing Education of the Bar (Sacramento 1990)
Panelist: Preventing Legal Malpractice: A Practical Guide for Attorneys, Sacramento County Bar Association and Home Insurance Company (Sacramento 1989)
Panelist: Avoiding and Defending Legal Malpractice in Real Property Practice, Continuing Education of the Bar • California (Sacramento 1985)
Speaker: Loss Prevention: How to Avoid Malpractice Claims (various law firm retreats and educational programs)
PUBLICATIONS
Author: Fletcher v. Davis, A Dramatic and Ill-Advised Departure from Decades of California Jurisprudence, Should Not Be Extended to Require Rule 3-300 Compliance for Charging Liens In Contigency Fee Contracts, State Bar of California Committee on Professional Responsibility and Conduct, Ninth Annual Statewide Ethics Symposium Program Materials (April 2005)
Author: Business Transactions with Clients: Is a Lawyer with Business Dealings with a Client Protected if the Client Relies on Independent Counsel, California Bar Journal (April 2004)
Author: Core Values and Conflicts of Interest, Lawyers’ Mutual Insurance Company (June 2002)
Author: Go Forward into the 21st Century, but Be Careful out There - Ethics, Loss Prevention and the Internet, California Bar Journal (February 2002)
Author: The Practice and Perils of Making Special Appearances, Lawyers' Mutual (December 2000)
Co-Author: Earning and Keeping Your Fees, California Bar Journal (August 1998)
Co-Author: The Millennium Bug: A Crisis for Your Clients . . . And You, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (1998)
Author: Client Screening: Keeping the Bugs Out of Your Practice, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (1997)
Author: Professional Responsibility: Keeping Law on a High Plane, University of California, Davis, School of Law, King Hall Counselor (1996)
Author: The Unique Role of Insurance Defense Counsel, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (1995)
Author: Effective Client Relations -- A Key to Building a Successful Practice and to Reducing the Risk of Malpractice Claims, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (1995)
Author: The Inadvertent Disclosure and Receipt of Confidential Information; Dangerous Curves on the Information Highway, Northern California Association of Defense Counsel (1994)
Author: The Tripartite Relationship Between Insurer, Insured and Counsel, Lorman Education Services (1993, revised and updated 1994)
Consulting Editor: Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company, Three Volume MCLE Self-Study Program (1992)
Author: Effective Client Relations: A Key to Building a Successful Practice, Sacramento County Bar Association Docket (1990)
Consulting Editor: Preventing Legal Malpractice: California Case Studies, Blumberg, Stephen M. and Baughman, William S. (1989)
Author: Avoiding Claims of Malpractice by Non-Clients, Malicious Prosecution, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (1986)
Author: Pitfalls of Association and Referral, Lawyers' Mutual Insurance Company (1985)
PUBLISHED APPELLATE OPINIONS
Sacramento Brewing Co., Inc. v. Desmond, Miller & Desmond (1999) 75 Cal.App.4th 1082, 89 Cal.Rptr.2d 760
Hensley v Caietti (1993) 13 Cal.App.4th 1165, 16 Cal.Rptr.2d 837
Miller v. Elite Insurance Co. (1980) 100 Cal.App.3d 739, 161 Cal.Rptr. 322
Transit Casualty Co. v. Spink Corp. (1979) 94 Cal.App.3d 124, 156 Cal.Rptr. 360
Williams v. Coombs (1986) 179 Cal.App.3d 626, 224 Cal.Rptr. 865
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