Steven M. Kushner is a trial lawyer with an emphasis in business disputes, business torts and intellectual property. Mr. Kushner began trying cases with the DeKalb County Solicitor’s office prosecuting misdemeanors in 1991 as a third year law student. Since graduation, Mr. Kushner has been representing multi-national and domestic companies, as well as individuals, in commercial disputes through mediation, arbitration and trials in state and federal courts throughout Georgia and the U.S.
In the Business/Commercial area, Mr. Kushner represents and advises both local and national clients in resolving contract disputes and business torts, including actions to enforce, and actions seeking relief from, restrictive covenants, the protection of trade secrets, shareholder disputes and commercial landlord and tenant matters. Mr. Kushner also represents creditors in bankruptcy matters, including adversary proceedings.
In the Intellectual Property area, Mr. Kushner assists his clients in protecting their copyrights and trademarks, and prosecuting and defending against infringement.
Mr. Kushner has also represented plaintiffs in national Multi-District Litigation in product liability cases and defended claims against doctors, nurses and healthcare providers in § 1983 cases brought by or on behalf of inmates in state and county correctional facilities.
Mr. Kushner was admitted into the undergraduate honors program at the University of Michigan in 1985. Upon graduation in 1989 with a B.A. in English Literature, Mr. Kushner entered the Emory University School of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1992. While at Emory, Mr. Kushner was awarded the American Jurisprudence Book Award for Oral Advocacy and, upon the University’s nomination, was listed in Who’s Who Among America’s Colleges and Universities for 1992. Mr. Kushner served as the Director-in-Chief of the Emory Moot Court Society and was selected a National Member of the Order of Barristers.
Mr. Kushner has attained the Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, indicating very high to preeminent legal ability and very high ethical standards, as established by confidential opinions from members of the Bar.
Mr. Kushner has been included in Georgia Trend’s Legal Elite for 2006, 2007, 2009 and 2013. Mr. Kushner has also been included in Super Lawyers for the 2005 through 2020 editions and has been listed in the Top 100 lawyers in Georgia for each consecutive year since 2008. Most recently, Mr. Kushner has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© since 2015 in the field of Commercial Litigation.
Mr. Kushner is a Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society, a member of the Trial Law Institute and Diversity Law Institute, and is a Barrister, Order of Veritas and Order of Certus.
Mr. Kushner lives in Virginia-Highland with his wife and daughters. Mr. Kushner served on the Board of Directors of the Virginia-Highland Civic Association from 1999 through 2003 and as its President from 2001 through 2003. Mr. Kushner is also active in The Temple (Board of Trustees, Nominating Committee, Security Committee), AIPAC (Atlanta Executive Council, National Council, NLN Atlanta Vice Chair), and JELF (Board of Directors, Finance Committee). Mr. Kushner’s other interests include endurance sports, including triathlon, Tough Mudder, GoRuck Challenge, and adventure races, functional fitness, basketball, martial arts, golf and tennis.
