The Law Office of Stephen Rubin was established in 1988 to provide the highest level of personal involvement and legal service to valued clients. In the ensuing years, the philosophy has not altered but the number of clients has expanded in step with the increasing legal complexity and declining business morality facing companies of all sizes. Today, my practice has evolved into dual components.
Counseling
My commercial practice includes general business counseling, contract and license preparation, corporate matters, intellectual property (patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets and domain names), antitrust, and federal administrative and regulatory representation. I have represented clients in mergers and acquisitions (including Hart-Scott-Rodino filings) and in financial transactions. Among my clients are privately-held technology companies, including cutting-edge videogame developers located in Virginia, California, New York, and Washington; growers and shippers of agricultural products and agricultural trade associations in California, Texas, Hawaii and Mexico; a Florida property investment and management firm; and a large manufacturer with plants in several states. Other clients are located in Canada, Mexico, England, France and Holland.
Litigation
In litigation matters, I have appeared in federal courts throughout the nation and in the state courts of the District of Columbia, Florida, and New York. I am, or have been, lead counsel in suits involving federal and state antitrust law, patents, copyrights and trademarks, unfair competition, defamation, fraud, breach of contract, real estate foreclosure, bankruptcy, and civil RICO. I have represented clients in government investigations and before regulatory agencies. In the field of antitrust law, I have also been retained as an expert witness and to conduct compliance programs and in-house seminars.
I was appointed Special Master by Judges Merryday and Moody of the Middle District of Florida in a case involving patent construction and the scientific validity of government regulations. I have been appointed to mediate in a patent trial. I have participated in a number of other mediation and arbitration proceedings.
I also lecture on topics related to intellectual property, antitrust, business practices, and government regulation before attorney and business groups.
BAR ADMISSIONS
State
Commonwealth of Virginia
District of Columbia
State of Florida
State of New York
State of California
Federal
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Courts of Appeal for the Second, Fourth, Seventh, Eleventh, District of Columbia and Federal Circuits
United States District Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia, District of Columbia, Southern and Middle Districts of Florida, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; Northern District of California
MEMBERSHIPS
American Law Institute
American Bar Association
Virginia State Bar
District of Columbia Bar
The Florida Bar
New York State Bar Association
International Game Developers Association
HONORS AND AWARDS
Martindale Hubble AV rating
Fellowship, German Marshall Fund of the United States
PRIOR PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
1987 to 1988, partner, Shea & Gould (Washington, D.C., Miami, New York City). I maintained a wide-ranging corporate and litigation practice, including supervision of approximately 30 commercial cases in federal and state courts, and regulatory and lobbying activity.
1982 to 1987, managing partner of the Washington office, Holland & Knight (Washington, D.C., Miami, Tampa). I headed Holland & Knight's antitrust and trade regulation practice and developed a strong trademark and copyright practice. I also was an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University during this period.
1972 to 1982, tenured professor of law, University of Florida (Gainesville). Among courses I regularly taught were antitrust and trade regulation, patents, trademarks and copyrights, administrative law, civil procedure and trial practice, and broadcast regulation. Between 1974 and 1976, I concurrently served as an Administrative Law Judge by special appointment of the Florida Attorney General. In 1976-1977, I received a German Marshall Fund Fellowship to engage in research and reside in Europe. Publications resulting from this year abroad include editorship of the treatise The Competition Laws of Western Europe and the United States, and the book Regulating the Professions, co-authored with economist Roger Blair. I also have lectured at the London School of Economics and the Escuela Libre de Derechio in Mexico City. Among other appointed positions I have held, I was a member of the Attorney General's Special Committee to Study the Florida Antitrust Laws, which drafted the Florida Antitrust Act of 1980, and was vice-chair of the Florida Governor's Advisory Committee for New Technology.
1970 to 1972, appellate attorney, Antitrust Division, United States Department of Justice (Washington, D.C.).
1969 to 1970, law clerk, Hon. Harry E. Kalodner, United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (Philadelphia).
EDUCATION
University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1966 (Economics)
Columbia University, J.D., 1969
PUBLICATIONS
Rubin (contributing author), Introdution to Game Development (Charles River Media, 2005) Chap. 7.5–“Intellectual Property Content, Law and Practice”; and Chap 7.6–“Content Regulation.”
Rubin (United States Editor), The Competition Laws of Western Europe and the United States (Kluwer/West Publishing).
Rubin, Enforcement of Trademarks and Trade Names (The Florida Bar, 1991)
Ferguson, Rubin and McDonald, Florida Franchising Law and Practice, Chap. III (The Florida Bar, 1984).
Blair & Rubin, “Regulating the Professions” (D.C. Heath, 1979).
Mills & Rubin, Energy: The Power of the States (Center for Governmental Responsibility, 1975).
Rubin, Antitrust Presumptions: Some History About Prophesy in The Conglomerate Corporation (Gunn & Hain, 1981).
Rubin & Chapple, “Risk Management: Legislative Relief for Municipalities,” 10 Urban, State and Local Law 1 (1986).
Rubin, “A Preface to Regulatory Reform,” 32 U. Fla. L. Rev. 843 (1980).
Rubin & Malet, “State Initiatives In Antitrust Investigation,” 4 J. Corp. L. 513 (1979).
Rubin, “Agenda for a Public Service Commission,” 103 Public Utilities Fortnightly 13 (June 7, 1979).
Rubin, “Rethinking State Antitrust Enforcement,” 26 U. Fla. L. Rev. 653 (1974).
In addition, I have prepared course outlines for professional seminars and continuing education programs, and I have contributed a number of articles for such publications as The National Law Journal.
