Steven Owens’ practice focuses on complex commercial and real estate litigation. He has practiced in state and federal courts, handling breach of contract, defamation, eminent domain, negligence, misrepresentation, trespass and fraud matters.
In addition to his general commercial litigation practice—which involves disputes covering a wide range of business-related litigation issues—Steven has acted as the lead associate in several high-profile cases in multiple states involving defamation claims and anti-SLAPP issues at both the trial and appellate court level.
Steven also has experience with disputes involving land use, real property and construction issues, including disputes involving statutory eminent domain and inverse condemnation, title matters (including lien and ownership priority), easements, encroachments, adverse possession, and condominium and cooperative disputes.
He also has experience with suits involving governmental entities at the state, local and federal levels, addressing issues such as Jones Act and Customs violations, ultra vires conduct, mandamus relief, ad valorem property taxes, and sovereign immunity.
Work Highlights
- Kelcy Warren, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors of Energy Transfer LP, in his lawsuit against Texas gubernatorial candidate Beto O’Rourke alleging that Mr. O’Rourke maliciously defamed Mr. Warren by falsely asserting that Mr. Warren committed crimes in making a legal donation to Mr. O’Rourke’s opponent’s campaign.
- Alaksan Reefer Management and Kloosterboer International Forwarding, shippers of frozen fish from Alaska, in securing a pathbreaking preliminary injunction in the District of Alaska enjoining the U.S. government from assessing penalties for alleged Jones Act violations while the legality of already assessed penalties is adjudicated.