Steven G. Madison has tried over 75 cases to verdict. In addition to Fortune 500 companies and CEO's, he has represented the Mayor of Los Angeles, the Sheriff of Los Angeles County, the Los Angeles City Attorney, Los Angeles City Councilmembers, Los Angeles Police Commissioners and Chiefs of Police, and numerous other individuals and companies. Mr. Madison's practice is concentrated in the areas of civil, administrative and criminal trials, investigations and litigation. He is Co-Chair of the firm's White Collar Practice and Environmental Practice. He is also a Fellow in the American College of Trial Lawyers, an honor attainable by no more than 1% of the attorneys practicing in each state, and is also a Litigation Counsel of America Fellow and Member, America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys.
Mr. Madison Is a member of United States Senator Alex Padilla’s Central District of California Judicial Evaluation Commission.
Before joining the firm, Mr. Madison served as Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California, Criminal Division. He was an Assistant Division Chief, Criminal Division, and served as Acting Chief of the Criminal Division from time to time and, occasionally, as acting United States Attorney. Mr. Madison was an Adjunct Professor teaching Trial Advocacy and Evidence at the University of Southern California Law School for a decade. He served as a Lecturer and Group Leader for the United States Attorney General's Trial Advocacy Program from 1992 to 1996, and has been a NITA (National Institute for Trial Advocacy) Instructor since 1996. He received the Director's Award for Superior Performance from the Attorney General for his successful prosecution of Congressman Walter Tucker on charges of extortion and tax fraud. He has served as the director of all of the firm’s in-house trial advocacy trainings for associates (two training programs are given each year)for many years.
- Represented a Boeing engineer indicted criminally for theft of trade secrets allegedly used to win $1 billion government contracts; all charges dismissed before trial.
- Represented an international energy company in seeking business interruption insurance coverage for losses resulting from over 200 terrorist bombings of an oil pipeline in Colombia; jury held losses were covered and case subsequently settled.
- Represented a law firm sued by two former partners seeking to share in contingent fee won years after former partners left.
- Represented a national health insurance carrier sued for canceling coverage of thousands of California realtors; the motion for injunction to reinstate coverage was denied.
- Represented an international waste management company in a wrongful death action alleging that waste companies have a duty to ensure that homeless persons are not sleeping in dumpsters.
- Represented a New York capital management firm in a federal court trial in Michigan arising out of the alleged breach of a $30 million capital commitment.
- Represented the largest health plan in California in a 40-day trial arising out of an enforcement proceeding brought by the Department of Managed Health Care; the court rejected virtually the entirety of the Department's case.
- Represented the largest health plan in California in an enforcement proceeding in which the Department of Managed Health Care sought to require California health plans to cover Viagra and other sexual dysfunction drugs. Court held Department lacked legislative authority for such requirements; the decision was upheld on appeal in KFHP v. Zingale.
- Prevailed in a 9-day court trial arising out of alleged real estate joint venture, on grounds that the lawyer alleging the agreement had violated the rules of professional conduct.
- Represented former students of Chapman Law School who sued for fraud and statutory violations; tuition refunds and costs were ordered to be paid.Successfully defended a financial institution in a three-week jury trial in a lender liability case brought by a small business.
- Represented the CEO of a French investment bank in a US Attorney's office and Federal Reserve investigation arising out of the failure of the Executive Life Insurance Company.
- Represented Texaco, Inc., in an environmental investigation conducted by a combination of federal, state and local agencies.
- Represented a Waste Management employee in connection with a highly-publicized investigation and indictment regarding the construction of a waste disposal site; charges were ultimately dismissed.
- Represented a French banker in an investigation arising out of the takeover of MGM/United Artists by Giancarlo Paretti and the subsequent collapse of the studio, resulting in billions of dollars of losses.
- Conducted numerous internal investigations for corporate clients.
- Represented an attorney charged with seven felonies in an insurance fraud investigation; obtained a dismissal of all charges.
- Represented a truck driver employee of a corporate client charged with vehicular manslaughter; charges reduced to reckless driving and ultimately dismissed.
- Represented a restaurant chain charged with multiple misdemeanor violations regarding sale of alcohol; all charges dismissed and liquor licenses retained.
- Represented a City Manager under investigation by City Police Department; District Attorney rejected prosecution with statement that City Manager "should never have been even a suspect."
- Represented major HMO's in investigations and litigation being conducted by the California Department of Managed Health Care.
- Represented a national bank in a False Claims Act case brought by United States; the government accepted the bank's nominal settlement offer the first morning of trial.
- Represented a movie producer in a securities fraud investigation conducted by the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
- Represented several witnesses in a political corruption investigation of a sitting Los Angeles City Councilman.
- Represented a City Councilmember in a criminal environmental investigation arising out of waste water spill during an El Niño storm; government determined the Councilmember was only a witness, not a subject or target.
- Represented the subject of a federal investigation of political corruption in Orange County; no charges were filed.
- Lender Liability & Other Banking Financial Institution Litigation
- Class Action Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Domestic U.S. Arbitration
- Environmental Litigation
- Government Contracts Litigation
- Health Care Litigation
- Real Estate Litigation
- Securities Litigation
- Investigations, Government Enforcement & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice
- Data Privacy & Security
- International Arbitration
- Boston College Law School
(J.D., cum laude)- Boston College Law Review:
- Staff Member
- Staff Member
- Boston College Law Review:
- University of Southern California
(M.P.A., with honors) - University of Santa Clara
(B.A)
- The State Bar of California
- United States District Court:
- Central District of California
- Northern District of California
- Southern District of California
- Eastern District of California
- District of Michigan
- United States Court of Appeals:
- Ninth Circuit
- Federal Circuit
- D.C. Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
- United States Court of Federal Claims
- Recognized by Lawdragon 500 as a Leading Litigator in White Collar, Civil & Criminal Investigation, Litigation, 2023-2025
- Best Lawyers, Commercial Litigation (2023-2024)
- Best Lawyers, Criminal Defense: White-Collar (2023-2024)
- Ranked by Who's Who Legal for Investigations, 2019, 2024.
- Firm Memorandum: DOJ Announces Change to Guidelines Regarding Corporate Cooperation, (December 2018).
- Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America
- Member, America’s Top 100 Criminal Defense Attorneys
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Member, American Bar Association, LA County Bar Association
- Member, Chancery Club
- Pasadena City Council member, 1999-present (served as Vice Mayor and chair of numerous committees)
- Commissioner, Burbank Hollywood Airport Commission, 2009-present (former President)
- Boardmember, Rose Bowl Operating Company 2020-present
- Former Adjunct Professor of Evidence and Trial Advocacy, University of Southern California Law Center
- Former Judge Pro Tem, Los Angeles Municipal Court