ABOUT STEVEN R. BAKER, ESQ.
Steve brings substantial legal experience to his clients. He is a dedicated legal professional with a broad, rich background in litigation and transactional law. He is committed to delivering valuable legal services to individuals and businesses.
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EDUCATION
Steve is a cum laude graduate from Whittier Law School, with an exceptional academic record and extensive practical experience in both the business world and legal marketplace. As part of his professional journey, Steve’s pre-law experience includes working with Fortune 500 companies and serving clients from diverse industries such as biomedical, biotech, pharmaceutical manufacturing, business and computer services, electronics/e-commerce/internet products, financial services/securities, publishing, and telecommunications.”
WORK EXPERIENCE
Throughout his career, Steve has held various legal positions, including:
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Of Counsel: Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC, he specializes in Litigation and transactional work, municipal law (representing cities and townships), real estate disputes, and corporate defense, among other areas.
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Of Counsel: Miller Johnson & Schroeder, PLC, he handled Litigation and Transactional Work, real estate disputes, corporate defense, and various real estate agreements and transactional matters.
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Steve has also contributed to various law firms in California, including serving as an independent contract attorney resulting in extensive experience in a variety of litigation and transactional work in diverse practice areas.
​Steve has also authored content in the field of agriculture law and co-hosted a radio program focusing on trade secrets.”
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PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND CERTIFICATION
Steve is licensed to practice law in California and Michigan. He is also admitted to the U.S. 9th
Circuit Court of Appeals, as well as several U.S. District Courts in California.
​He brings a wealth of knowledge, practical experience, and dedication to the table. He is
committed to providing exceptional legal services to his clients in various fields, with a strong
emphasis on integrity, expertise, and compassion. You can trust him to handle your legal matters
with the utmost professionalism and care.
STEVEN BAKER, ESQ.
COMPLETE WORK EXPERIENCE:
*Fahey Schultz Burzych Rhodes PLC, Lansing, MI, Of Counsel: 11/1/22 – 10/31/23: Litigation & transactional work: municipal law (representing cities and townships re: ordinance disputes, code enforcement, counsel for application/amendment of ordinances), real estate disputes, defense of corporate clients, construction contract disputes; real estate transactional (purchase agreements, easement agreements, private road agreements), municipal (cities, townships) governance.
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• Miller Johnson & Schroeder, PLC, St. Joseph, MI, Of Counsel: 1/2021 – 6/30/22: Litigation & transactional work: real estate disputes (easements, trespass, quite title, land contracts), defense of corporate clients, construction contract disputes; real estate transactional (real estate purchase agreements, easement agreements, counsel to condominium associations and property managers, landlord-tenant disputes/evictions, parcel divisions/mergers), corporate governance, entity formation, mergers of non-profit entities, counsel for public school academy.
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• Hoffman Legal Corp, Mission Viejo, CA, Associate Attorney: 12/2018 – 1/2021: Litigation & transactional work: business & commercial disputes, contracts, employment, intellectual property, elder abuse & trust related issues, probate litigation.
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• Zieve, Brodnax & Steele, LLP, Irvine, CA, Litigation Associate: 7/2018 – 11/2018: Litigation work involving residential lenders, loan services, and foreclosure trustees in wrongful foreclosure lawsuits, and lis pendens & title related matters.
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• Law Office of Glenn Stern, Glendora, CA, Contract Attorney: 2/2016 – 10/2017 Extensive preparation of complaints, written discovery, meet & confer letters, and motions for cases. involving employment law, elder abuse, business disputes, trust related disputes.
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*Interisk Limited, Newport Beach, CA, Litigation Consultant & Outside Counsel: 12/2013 –2/2016: Legal issues analysis and consultation in support of national insurance expert witness in complex litigation involving insurance coverage, fraud, brokerage, and related issues.
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• Law Office of George Straggas (now Straggas Law), Irvine, CA, Contract Attorney: 03/2007 – 10/2013: Litigation and transactional work. Extensive preparation of complaints, written discovery, meet & confer letters, and motions for cases involving business disputes, contract disputes, employment law litigation (wage & hour, meal-rest periods, discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, retaliation, and defense work for same).
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• Hoffman Legal Corporation (fka: Greenwald & Hoffman, LLP), Santa Ana, CA, Contract Attorney: 11/2012 – 8/2013; Litigation and transactional work. Extensive preparation of complaints, written discovery, meet & confer letters, and motions for cases involving business- commercial litigation, commercial collections, constitutional rights related disputes, contracts, real estate & lease disputes, trust & elder abuse disputes, trademarks, and corporate governance activities.
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• The Wolf Firm, Irvine, CA, Contract Attorney: 9/2011 – 6/2012: Litigation and transactional work. Extensive preparation of complaints, written discovery, meet & confer letters, and motions for cases involving commercial loan disputes, commercial collections, and employment law.
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• Baker & Mendlovitz, P.C., Lakewood, CA, Principal & Managing Attorney: 2010 – 2011 (entity dissolved): General practice litigation and transactional work involving: Business & commercial litigation, business entity formation & governance, trademarks, contracts, trusts & estates, probate matters & litigation.
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• Malcom & Cisneros, Irvine, CA, Contract Attorney: 2009 – 2011: Litigation work involving residential lenders, loan services, and foreclosure trustees in wrongful foreclosure lawsuits, and lis pendens & title related matters, extensive preparation of motions filed in both state and federal court.
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• Shippey & Associates, APC, Fullerton, CA, Of Counsel: 2007 – 2009: Transactional work and extensive preparation of documents involving real estate, trusts-wills, anti-trust, contracts, trademarks, entity formation, corporate governance, patents, and corporate buy-sell and stock purchase agreements for closely held companies.
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• Borton, Petrini & Conron, Bakersfield, CA, Attorney Associate: 1/2006 – 1/2007: Transactional and Litigation work involving: Commercial law, entity formation, bankruptcy, contracts, unfair competition, mechanics & producers’ liens, trademarks, construction defects, insurance defense, copyright, trade secrets, trustee litigation, real estate, and water rights. Extensive preparation of complaints, written discovery, meet & confer letters, and motions, depositions.
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Hunt & Associates, Paso Robles, CA, Attorney Associate: 8/2005 – 12/2005: Transactional and Litigation work involving: Small businesses, homeowners associations, individuals; business & commercial law, entity formation, bankruptcy, contracts, unfair competition, producer’s liens, trademarks, construction defects, real estate, and employment law. Extensive preparation of complaints, written discovery, meet & confer letters, and motions.
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• Biomedical Market Newsletter, Inc., Costa Mesa, CA, Director of Marketing & Sales: 4/1993 – 8/2005: Sales & marketing of printed & electronic publications, and electronic industry news service to medical product manufacturers, law firms, and industry associations throughout the United States.
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
Whittier Law School, Costa Mesa, CA, Juris Doctor, July 2001
- Graduated cum laude
- Top 20% of class
- Intellectual Property Law Certificate
- Law School Intellectual Property Society
- Dean’s List
- Honor Roll
- Dean’s Merit Scholarship
- General Merit Scholarship
- Center for Computer-Assisted Legal Instruction (CALI) Excellence for the Future Award
for receiving highest grades in following classes: Licensing & Technology Transfer,
Antitrust & Intellectual Property, White Collar Crime
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, Bachelor of Science - Biology
• Toastmasters International
• Dale Carnegie Course in Effective Speaking and Human Relations
• Xerox Account Development Strategies, Interpersonal Selling Skills, and Professional Selling Skills
WORK EXPERIENCE HIGHLIGHTS
• Successful Motion for Costs awarding all requested Anti-SLAPP fees and costs.
• Successful analysis of client’s commercial lease resulting in discovery of viable non-breaching options to get clients out of same where clients were in a building that became infested with toxic mold and rodents with non-cooperative landlord.
• Successful litigation team achieving dismissal via MSJ of 18 causes of action against seven defendant clients.
• Successful in convincing plaintiffs’ counsel to take Motions to Compel further discovery
against clients off calendar after filing of clients’ Oppositions to same.
• Successful motions/demurrers in both state and federal court whereby lenders, trustees, and loan services were dismissed from foreclosure actions by borrowers.
• Successfully represented Central Coast wine grape vineyard as creditor in Chapter 11 proceedings.
• Successfully defended physician against former HMO on issues of misappropriation of trade secrets, solicitation of former patients, and breach of contract resulting in a non-monetary settlement.
• Successfully mediated and settled construction defects claims against business client.
• Contributing writer of Agriculture Law Newsletter (e.g., “The Business of Wine Can
Sometimes Yield Unwanted Legal Tonnage”)
• Co-hosted radio program on “Identifying and Protecting Trade Secrets.”
• Managed large, multi-state territories including coordination, hiring,
PROFESSIONAL LICENSES AND CERTIFICATION
• Michigan Bar Association (December 2018)
• All Courts of the State of California (June 2002)
• United States Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
• United States District Court – Central District of California
• United States District Court – Eastern District of California
• United States District Court – Northern District of California
• Securities Licenses (inactive): Series 3, 7, 63
• Variable Contracts (inactive)
• Fire & Casualty Insurance Agent (inactive)
