| Admitted | 1980, Pennsylvania; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania; U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit |
| Biography | Stephen C. Baker is a nationally known litigator and a partner and a leader of the firm's Life Insurance & Annuities Practice Group. He represents major insurance company groups in business litigation, regulatory, coverage and claims matters. He serves both property and casualty and life, health and accident insurers. For several life carriers and a BGA, he is national counsel for secondary market issues. In his secondary market work, Steve advises insurers on exposures stemming from viaticals, life settlements, non-recourse premium financing and stranger-originated life insurance (STOLI) transactions. His practice assists clients in resolving complex legal issues in marketing, underwriting and administering high face value life insurance policies. Steve is an experienced trial lawyer. In his 29-year career, he has spent an aggregate of more than a year on trial. His insurance practice is widely known for client-driven, innovative service. Service initiatives developed by Steve include a fixed-fee second opinion for serious cases, money-back guarantees on certain results and creating a client profit center for a carrier out of a complex of environmental claims. His insurance industry practice includes insurance, reinsurance, broker and agency issues, and direct commercial litigation. In addition to his national profile as an insurance litigator, Steve has substantial experience litigating and trying other types of complex commercial litigation. His commercial trial experience includes products liability, securities, unfair competition, occupational injury and other mass tort cases. For instance, Steve tried an occupational injury mass tort case in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia County that was the longest trial in Pennsylvania's history. Steve's client was the only party to leave the courtroom without owing money to the plaintiff. Steve also serves as general outside counsel to a wide range of entities, including a nationally prominent telecommunications company and a school for blind and handicapped children. Representative Recent Achievements. Steve's representative achievements include: National Representation of Life Insurers - Provides counsel, analyzes claims, and defends litigation nationally for several life insurers. Defeated Constitutional Challenge to Statute - Represented group of insurers in defending a New Jersey action raising a constitutional challenge to an insurance-related statute. The case was dismissed. Unbroken String of Defense Verdicts - As regional liability defense counsel, responsible for an unbroken three-year string of defense verdicts. Making the Law on Forum Non Conveniens - Prepared successful petition for certiorari and brief on merits in landmark U.S. Supreme Court case. In General. Steve is a member of the American Bar Association and the Philadelphia Bar Association. In addition, he is a director at the Royer-Greaves School for the Blind and has served as the trial team coach at The Episcopal Academy. Member: American Bar Association; Philadelphia Bar Association. |