Senior Counsel

Stephen D. Raber

Stephen Raber Photo

Steve Raber focuses on trial work, arbitration, and civil litigation all over the United States.  He has significant experience as lead trial counsel in a variety of matters, including products liability, real estate, and business disputes.  He also defends clients in consumer class action cases. Chambers USA describes Steve as “a preeminent trial lawyer.  He is really effective at cross examination.”  “He’s very thoughtful and quick on his feet.”  He has not only “a mastery of the facts but also a brilliant way of translating complicated issues for juries.”  The Legal 500 describes Steve as “skillful in the courtroom.”  He “is highly approachable, responsive, and respectful – with a refreshing lack of ego and a fun sense of humor.  He is also extremely gifted as a litigator and strategic defense counsel.”  

Steve is a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the premier legal association in America composed of the best of the trial bar from the United States and Canada.  The College thoroughly investigates each nominee and selects only those who have demonstrated the highest standards of trial advocacy, ethical conduct, integrity, professionalism, and collegiality.

Steve also is a Fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers.  The Academy includes 500 active trial lawyers in the United States as well as Fellows from 30 other countries. Fellowship in the Academy is by invitation only. Trial lawyers become Fellows only after a rigorous vetting process, which includes both peer and judicial review. They must have distinguished themselves through careers defined by exceptional trial skills, professionalism, and integrity.  The Academy’s mission is to protect and promote the Rule of Law.

Representative Experience

Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Steve's experience includes:

  • Trial and appellate counsel for the former President and Defense Minister of a Latin American country in the first-ever civil trial in the United States against a former head of state of a foreign country.  The National Law Journal named Steve its 2018 “Winning Litigator” for his work on this case.
  • Trial counsel for Merck in the Vioxx litigation.  His team won the first defense verdict in Humeston v. Merck, a case featured in The National Law Journal as one of its “Top Defense Wins of 2005.”  Steve tried two additional Vioxx cases in Los Angeles Superior Court in which the court declared a mistrial after the jury was deadlocked 7-5 in Merck’s favor. The San Francisco Daily Journal described the outcome as a surprising win for Merck because it occurred in a court referred to as a “plaintiff lawyer’s playground.”  
  • Pro-bono counsel for 17 veterans who alleged that their statutory and Due Process rights were violated when the Veteran’s Administration caused unreasonable delays in adjudicating their appeals for service-related disability benefits that had been denied.  The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled in favor of Steve’s clients, abolishing the unfair legal standard for mandamus claims that had been applied for more than 20 years in favor of a new standard that should make it easier for veterans to force VA action.  Martin v. O’Rourke, 891 F.3d 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2018); Mote v. Wilkie, 976 F.3d 1337 (Fed. Cir. 2020).
  • Senior counsel for Merck in the Januvia litigation in federal MDL (Southern District of California) and California state coordinated (Los Angeles Superior Court) proceedings. In 2021, both  courts separately granted summary judgment victories for Merck based on preemption and general causation.
  • Lead counsel for a global chocolate company in a California consumer class action relating to international supply chains.  The district court dismissed the Complaint.  Steve then argued the appeal in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed the judgment in favor of Steve’s client.
  • Lead counsel for Genentech in litigation involving Raptiva, a prescription biologic treatment for moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis that was voluntarily withdrawn from the market.  In the 10 bellwether cases selected for trial, the California state court granted summary judgment for Genentech in 7 cases and dismissed another case. These rulings led to a favorable global settlement of the litigation.
  • Lead counsel for Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in a consumer class action lawsuit in the Northern District of California.  The court rejected claims that the labeling of certain Wrigley products was misleading and dismissed the case with prejudice, holding that the claims were expressly preempted by FDA regulations.  Gustavson v. Wrigley Sales Co., 2014 WL 60197 (N.D. Cal. Jan. 7, 2014).
  • Lead trial counsel for a Virginia real estate developer in a dispute over development rights to the Stafford Marketplace in Stafford, Virginia.  After a week-long trial, the court ruled in favor of Steve’s client, clearing the way for him to develop a 780,000 square foot shopping center and residential project.  Garrett Dev. Corp. v. Staffordborough-Reston LLC, Chancery No. 00-591 (Cir. Ct. Stafford County).
  • Lead trial counsel for a chemical manufacturing company in a case brought by five landowners who alleged that the company had contaminated their groundwater.  The plaintiffs claimed damages and remediation costs in excess of $100 million.  The trial court entered judgment in favor of Steve’s client following a jury trial in Baldwin County, Alabama.  The Alabama Supreme Court affirmed the favorable judgment.  

Education

Recognitions

Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Fellow, International Academy of Trial Lawyers

“Products Liability & Mass Torts (Nationwide),” Chambers USA, 2008-2025

"Top 100 Lawyers"

“500 Leading Litigators in America,” Lawdragon, 2023-2025

"Winning Litigator," The National Law Journal, 2018

Admissions

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