Area of Emphasis
Steve Silverman is a shareholder in the Litigation, Employment and Labor, and Energy and Natural Resources groups of Babst Calland. His practice focuses on commercial litigation, with an emphasis on restrictive covenants and theft of trade secret cases involving departing employees. Mr. Silverman represents both employers and employees in such matters but primarily advises employers on unfair competition, employee raiding and non-competition agreements. In particular, he regularly provides guidance relating to these matters involving multi-state work forces in various jurisdictions in the financial services, tech, healthcare, and manufacturing industries.
Additionally, Mr. Silverman drafts and implements restrictive covenants and confidentiality programs to protect against employee defections and to best position clients in the event of litigation. He also routinely provides risk management advice to employers to identify and safeguard trade secrets that often are otherwise overlooked or insufficiently protected.
Mr. Silverman frequently advises technology providers in business negotiations and disputes. He also litigates cases in the energy industry, including oil and gas matters involving a wide range of issues.
Background
Mr. Silverman graduated cum laude in 1989 from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law, where he served as Managing Editor of the University of Pittsburgh Journal of Law and Commerce. He also graduated with honors in 1986 from Franklin and Marshall College.
Memberships and Affiliations
Mr. Silverman is admitted to practice before all Pennsylvania and Ohio courts, the United States District Courts for both the Western and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third, Sixth and Tenth Circuits. He has also been specially admitted to practice before many other state and federal courts throughout the United States. Mr. Silverman is a member Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Ohio and American Bar Associations. He has previously served on rules advisory committees for both the Western District of Pennsylvania and the Allegheny Court of Common Pleas regarding electronic discovery. Mr. Silverman also serves as the Chairman of the Allegheny County Personnel Hearing Board.
Mr. Silverman received an AV Preeminent certification rating in a survey of his peers conducted by the Martindale Hubbell Law Directory. He has been recognized in The Best Lawyers of America® for Information Technology Law (formerly titled the Cyber Law Section) since 2005 and Commercial Litigation since 2013. Mr. Silverman was also named the Best Lawyers® 2015, 2017, 2024 and 2026 Information Technology Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Pittsburgh, Pa. He was selected over multiple years to the Pennsylvania Super Lawyers list (Thomson Reuters) for Civil Litigation Defense.
