Stephen represents trustees, debtors, creditors, and committees in bankruptcy and commercial litigation. His experience includes cases of all sizes and types–from representing a major creditor in the American Airlines chapter 11 bankruptcy to facilitating out-of-court workouts for small businesses. Stephen has also successfully prosecuted and defended appeals before the Ninth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel and the state appellate courts in Oregon and California. Before joining the firm, he clerked for two Oregon bankruptcy judges, worked as a bankruptcy and commercial litigation attorney at a large international law firm, and served as general counsel for a respected national non-profit research organization.

In addition to his work in the areas of insolvency and commercial law, Stephen has a long history of cutting-edge research and advocacy concerning the intersection of consumer law and the criminal justice system. His focus in this area includes financial exploitation of justice-involved people, telecommunications in correctional facilities, and privatization of correctional activities. Stephen’s work includes regulatory advocacy before the Federal Communications Commission, state utility agencies, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Postal Regulatory Commission.

Stephen has also volunteered for a variety of boards and committees seeking to improve Oregon's legal system. He is the chair-elect of the Debtor-Creditor Section's Executive Committee. He has previously served as a member and chair of the Oregon State Bar’s Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee (2017-2021) and the Client Security Fund Committee (2015-2017). He was also a member of the board of directors of the U.S. District Court of Oregon Historical Society from 2015 to 2020.

Stephen grew up in Washington, D.C. and currently lives in Southeast Portland. He is an amateur Oregon history buff and curates an ever-growing collection of antique postcards.