Steve's practice focuses on complex, high value business litigation for technology and financial services companies. Steve has substantial experience handling a variety of intellectual property and business disputes, such as patent and trademark litigation, trade secret claims, license agreement disputes, non-compete actions, shareholder disputes, partnership disputes, fiduciary duty claims, breach of contract and warranty actions, federal and state unfair trade practice claims and antitrust claims. Steve has handled litigation and arbitration proceedings in both state and federal courts and before various arbitration panels throughout the country, including Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Florida and California. In addition, Steve has appellate experience before a number of federal and state courts of appeal. Notable Experience · Steve successfully defended two private equity firms against claims totaling over $40 million arising out of their decision not to provide further financing to a portfolio company after declaring a "Material Adverse Effect." · He defended a national wireless telecommunications company in an arbitration proceeding against a terminated reseller who claimed that our client applied erroneous charges, failed to provide adequate services and intentionally drove it out of business. Also involved was a companion federal district court action alleging violation of the Sherman Act. · Steve led a team of litigators in litigation and arbitration proceedings in multiple jurisdictions to successfully pursue claims of breach of contract and unfair trade practices on behalf of a national distributor of membership buying programs against a former sales representative who attempted to avoid paying millions of dollars in over-advanced commissions and who violated non-compete and confidentiality provisions of the parties' contract. · On behalf of a leading financial services institution, Steve successfully litigated claims for breach of post-closing obligations and miscalculation of an acquisition premium arising out of an acquisition of a consumer credit card business. · Steve successfully represented a distributor of health and beauty aid products to retail stores against trademark infringement claims brought by manufacturers seeking to maintain an exclusive "salon only" policy. · Steve was successful in defending a manufacturer of fiber optic cable wrap products and its new employee against a request for a preliminary injunction brought by a competitor manufacturer who alleged breach of a non-compete agreement and trade secret violations. · He successfully prosecuted trademark claims on behalf of a manufacturer of chemical products against a competitor that re-labeled our client's products and sold them as its own. Steve obtained a Consent Judgment permanently enjoining the competitor from mislabeling any of our client's products, requiring destruction of all mislabeled products still in inventory and the payment of our client's attorneys fees. · Steve defended a dairy products manufacturer against Robinson-Patman Act and related antitrust unfair trade practices and contract claims asserted by a former distributor in the Federal District Court for the District of New Hampshire. · He successfully litigated "put" options on behalf of twenty-four limited partner investors from around the United States and three foreign countries against a California general partner and partnership, including obtaining an injunction freezing the assets of the partnership. · Steve defended a national office supply retailers against trademark claims brought by a manufacturer of premium writing products arising out of the alleged unauthorized sale of products with altered marks and lacking standard warranties. · Steve defended a dairy products manufacturer against Sherman Act claims arising out of a failed license agreement in the Federal District Court for the Central District of California. · He represents a manufacturing client in a number of purported class actions brought by consumers under the Massachusetts Unfair Trade Practices Act alleging that our client participated in a conspiracy to fix prices on polyester staple. · Steve represented a terminated distributor in pursuing resale price fixing claims in the Federal District Court for the District of Massachusetts. · He assisted a manufacturer of sporting equipment develop a minimum advertised pricing policy for its distributors and retail customers. · Steve represented a bottling company in a Federal grand jury investigation of alleged price fixing. · Steve successfully represented a U.S. based precious metals company in breach of warranty and contract claims against an Israeli jewelry company in simultaneous actions pending in Israel and the District of Massachusetts. · He successfully litigated claims for breach of post-closing obligations and miscalculation of an acquisition premium arising out of an acquisition of a consumer credit card business on behalf of a leading financial services institution in the Delaware Chancery Court. · Steve has successfully arbitrated disputes arising out of the termination of a merger agreement between accounting firms. · He successfully defended a real estate investment partnership in an arbitration proceeding against claims asserted by the terminated general contractor on a rehabilitation construction project for a twenty-five story office tower. Recent Speaking Engagements and Publications · "Suit Against Benchmark Shows Flip Side," quoted, Dow Jones Venture Capitalist Analyst, March 2005. · "Venture Capital Firms Under Attack For 'Down Round' Financings," co-author, · Securities Litigation & Regulation Reporter, 2003. News & Publications Besides Edwards Wildman Steve sits on the Board of Directors of Lawyers Clearinghouse for Affordable Housing and Homelessness, a legal services organization focused on the provision of pro bono legal services to the homeless and supporting the development of low income housing. October 7, 2010, EAPD Attorneys Selected For Inclusion in Super Lawyers 2010 June 9, 2009, Atlantic Tele-Network to Acquire Divestiture Properties from Verizon Wireless
Atlantic Tele-Network November 24, 2008, EAPD Attorneys Recognized in Super Lawyers 2008 Corporate Counsel Edition October 30, 2007, EAPD Attorneys Named Super Lawyers 2007 October 19, 2005, Steven Cowley Received the Pro Bono Award at Lawyers Clearinghouse Annual Meeting June 17, 2005, Edwards & Angell Partner, Steven Cowley, comments on venture capital liability insurance March 2005, Suit Against Benchmark Shows Flip Side
Dow Jone Venture Capital Analyst 2003, Venture Capital Firms Under Attack for 'Down-Round' Financings
Andrews Securities Litigation & Regulation Reporter Lawsuits Seeking to Impose Conflicting Duties Add to VC Woes Memberships · Boston Bar Association |