Steven M. Richard

What do you focus on?

I handle a broad array of commercial, higher education, privacy and civil rights cases, using more than 20 years of pretrial and courtroom experience to help clients achieve practical and cost-effective solutions. I also have extensive experience in higher education law, handling a wide array of matters for colleges and universities.

Complex Commercial Litigation

I represent diverse institutional clients, including financial service organizations and governmental bodies, in trials, arbitration, appeals and other dispute resolution procedures. With my Masters in Business Education, I understand clients’ business needs and operations and use such knowledge to develop comprehensive litigation strategies. Also, I have a deep understanding of cybersecurity and electronic discovery, and I frequently write and present on the topics.

Higher Education Law

I represent institutions of higher education in matters relating to student discipline, civil rights claims, tenure issues and copyright matters. My practice has included both the development of proper policies on campuses and litigation of cases on behalf of colleges and universities.

Employment

I represent employers in matters involving claims under federal and state employment statutes, as well as constitutional and contract claims. I have successfully defended employers before juries in cases raising claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Pro Bono

I also devote my practice to the pro bono representation of our veterans, including successfully presenting claims for benefits relating to PTSD claims and exposure to Agent Orange.

What do you see on the horizon?

Title IX compliance issues will remain a subject of national concern and debate in Higher Education Law. In judicial and administrative proceedings, complaints are increasingly challenging institutional policies and procedures to prevent and remediate alleged sexual discrimination in education. Educational institutions will face vexing issues as they apply evolving interpretations of the law to the particular realities of their campuses.

Publications

• “Domestic Transaction Test Applied to Private Action under CEA,” Pretrial Practice & Discovery, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, March 2, 2015
• “Picking the Right Summary For Your Electronic Evidence,” E-Discovery Connection, DRI Electronic Discovery Committee newsletter, Volume 9, Issue 3, December 2014
• “Are Insurance Investigative Documents Work-Product-Protected?” Pretrial Practice & Discovery, American Bar Association Section of Litigation, Vol. 23, No. 1, Fall 2014
• “Will Remote Trial Testimony Become More Accepted In Civil Trials With Enhanced Technology?” SideBAR, Summer 2014
• “What Links in an E-Mail Chain Must Be Disclosed,” DRI For the Defense, April 2014
• “Who Speaks for the Organization at a Deposition?” Providence Business News, June 2013
• “When defendants can win by losing a case,” Providence Business News, November 2012
• “Sorting through Electronic Discovery Haystack,” Providence Business News, September 2012

Speeches & Presentations

• “Title IX: Compliance and Regulatory Session,” Boston Bar Association 2020 Higher Education Virtual Legal Conference, Webinar, July 22, 2020
• “Title IX and Fundamental Fairness Challenges—What Lies Ahead” (Moderator), Boston Bar Higher Education Legal Conference, Boston, MA March 2020
• “Balancing the attorney-client privilege and the need for disclosure in a breach response,” IAPP Global Privacy Summit, Washington, DC, April 2016