Steven E. Snow

Senior Counsel

Steve provides counsel to clients in complex civil trials including antitrust and trade practices, banking and consumer finance, intellectual property, employment and health care. He has over 100 reported federal and state court decisions to his credit, including a landmark constitutional case (Salve Regina College v. Russell) which he successfully argued to the United States Supreme Court. Steve has served as lead trial counsel in some of the region’s most notable civil cases, including precedent-setting antitrust, constitutional, and consumer class action litigation.

Practice Areas

Banking & Financial

Corporate & Business

Employment & Labor

Intellectual Property

Litigation & Disputes

Education

American University Washington College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude

Johns Hopkins University, The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, M.A.

Johns Hopkins University, B.A.

Bar Memberships

Rhode Island

U.S. District Court, Rhode Island

U.S. District Court, Massachusetts

U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals 3rd Circuit

U.S. Supreme Court

Professional Affiliations

Rhode Island Bar Association
Rhode Island Trial Lawyers Association
American Society of International Law
American Health Lawyers Association
American Bar Association
Massachusetts Bar Association
Federal Bar Association
Federal Board of Bar Examiners

Boards and Community Activities

Roger Williams University School of Law
- Adjunct Professor of Law
Bryant University Graduate School of Business Administration
- Adjunct Professor
Rhode Island for Community and Justice
- Director
Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island
Johns Hopkins University
- National Alumni School’s Committee
John Hopkins Alumni Association
Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra & Music School
- Board Member, Finance Committee

Representative Cases

Antitrust

Successful defense to challenge against exclusive dealing networks in prescription drug plans.
Successful defense of “most favored nation” provisions in provider agreements – case generally considered landmark in field.
Obtained permanent injunction on behalf of major retailer to enforce terms of antitrust settlement.
Successfully defended a bank against refusal to deal and boycott claims.

Banking and Insurance

Successful defense of consumer class action under Rhode Island Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
Successful defense of consumer class action concerning credit card practices.
Upheld arbitration clause defense in consumer class action.
Successful defense of consumer class action against mortgage servicer.
Successful defense of breach of fiduciary duty claim.
Successful defense of consumer class action.
Unusual defendant class action challenging legality of Massachusetts Attorney General’s regulations concerning certain lending activities.
Successful defense of insurer against claims of malicious prosecution and abuse of process in connection with major sting operation conducted by state police.
Successful defense of claims of mishandling trust assets.
Successful defense of shareholder derivative action against insurance company.

Constitutional Issues

Successful defense of a college in landmark case concerning the nature of relationship between College and students; U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal appellate courts are constitutionally required to review cases where state law provides rule of decision.
Landmark case before the Rhode Island Supreme Court removed the name of an official from ballot in special election occasioned by his resignation.
Successfully defended State in challenge to constitutional authority of prior Governor to bind State by executing compact with Indian tribe.
Successfully defended State in an equal protection and sex discrimination case.
Established rule that privilege against self incrimination can support negative inference in civil case.
Successful defense of an elected official in civil rights action.

Corporate/Commercial

Overturned adverse rulings in breach of contract and fraud action.
Action against title insurance carrier.
Successful defense of major warranty case.
Successful defense of securities fraud action.

Healthcare

Defense of consumer class action against health insurance plan.

Intellectual Property

Successfully defended and prosecuted a number of patent infringement claims.
Defense and prosecution of trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases.

Honors

AV Preeminent Rated from Martindale-Hubbell, highest possible rating on both legal ability and ethics based upon the confidential opinion of peers and judges
Consistently recognized as a top litigator by Chambers USA – America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and Benchmark: Litigation
Selected by his peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers in America as an expert in antitrust law and commercial litigation
Recognized by Super Lawyers as one of the Top 10 Lawyers in Rhode Island