Partner
Stephen W. Miller

Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., cum laude
- University of Notre Dame, B.A.
Clerkship
- Hon. Jack Zouhary, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
Admission
- District of Columbia
- New York
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
Steve Miller is an experienced litigator focusing on complex criminal and civil litigation, as well as internal and governmental investigations.
Steve has represented clients in government investigations and complex disputes for more than a decade. With deep experience in federal and state courts, Steve has represented large corporations with international operations, smaller business entities, and individuals when they needed a fierce advocate in the courtroom.
When it is possible and in their best interests, though, Steve is adept at keeping his clients out of the courtroom. He has extensive experience guiding and advising companies and individuals involved in government investigations and complex commercial disputes, with a history of achieving favorable resolutions.
Prior to joining HWG, Steve was a litigation associate at Cravath, Swaine & Moore and an attorney at the National Center for Law and Economic Justice, a New York based non-profit organization, representing public benefits recipients in class action litigation.
Read More+Education
- University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., cum laude
- University of Notre Dame, B.A.
Recognition
- Selected for inclusion in the Washington D.C. Super Lawyers list for Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Rising Star (2018 – 2024)
- Named to the Capital Pro Bono Honor Roll (2015, 2016, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024)
Representative Experience
Government Investigations and Criminal Defense
- Represented, including at trial, corporate executives and other individuals in federal wire, bank, and tax fraud prosecutions.
- Represented and successfully advocated to avoid indictment for corporate executives and other individuals in criminal investigations relating to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Swiss Bank Program, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and alleged price fixing.
- Assisted current and former elected officials responding to grand jury investigations, avoiding indictment.
- Successfully resolved federal regulatory investigations and enforcement actions of telecommunications and technology companies, including matters related to a variety of the FCC’s Universal Service Fund programs (Lifeline, Affordable Connectivity, Rural Healthcare, and E-Rate), the FCC’s foreign ownership rules, and allegations of providing unauthorized service.
Civil Litigation
- Secured significant financial settlements for plaintiffs in civil rights action that also led to significant changes in local law enforcement’s use of no-knock warrants.
- Represented an attorney in a week-long disciplinary trial with a favorable result.
- Successfully resolved a multi-year civil False Claims Act case brought against a telecommunications company.
- In pro bono representation, achieved protection in the United States under the Convention Against Torture for an immigrant mother and child.
- Regularly defends against enforcement of burdensome subpoenas and document demands on parties outside of an underlying litigation, including a litigation finance entity in responding to and fighting discovery aimed at the financer relating to a funded case.
Appellate Litigation
- Defended the federal subsidies provisions of the Affordable Care Act in King v. Burwell.
- Advocated for a fundamental right to marriage encompassing same-sex couples in Obergefell v. Hodges.
- Argued that the rescission of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals was arbitrary and capricious and thus unlawful in Department of Homeland Security v. Regents of the University of California.
- Argued the unconstitutionality of overly vague federal criminal laws in McDonnell v. United States.
Professional and Community Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- American Bar Association, Member, 2010-present
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, Member, 2022-present
Pro Bono and Community Involvement
- Led HWG’s pro bono team that successfully represented several female public defenders from Afghanistan who were targeting by the Taliban for their work with the United States, achieving immigration relief and resettlement in the United States.
Firm Involvement
- Attorney Hiring Chair, 2019-present
Publications and Presentations
Publications
- “Avoiding Legal Ethics Landmines in Preindictment Meetings,” Law360 (July 2024)
Presentations and Lectures
- “White Collar Triage,” (Presenter) HWG Webinar (May 2016)