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Our Team Steven Kapustin

Steven Kapustin is a partner at the firm’s Philadelphia office and has served for over 50 years as a neutral arbitrator. He has primarily served as Chair or Sole Arbitrator in American arbitration proceedings and court-ordered arbitration, including rulings on numerous professional separations (physicians, accountants, lawyers), franchise, real estate, shareholder, partnership, aborted business sales, commercial collection, manufacturer’s specifications, and electrical supply contracts disputes.

Steve has extensive prehearing experience in ruling on information disclosure issues, preliminary injunctions, and numerous rulings relating to financial evaluations. He is also a state-certified mediator for commercial cases and participates in private mediation, serving as a judge pro tem for Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas, Commerce Court.

Represented business clients in complex commercial matters:

  • Franchise disputes involving petroleum distribution and gas stations, restaurants, dental offices, health foods, schools, printing, tanning salons, auto repair, painting, business brokers, and postal machines relating to termination, territorial restrictions, restrictive covenants, product acceptability and pricing, and trademark and trade dress abuse.
  • Licensing, franchise and business opportunities, and statutory treatment of these entities.
  • Distribution and salesman disputes relating to territory, pricing, and intra-company competition.
  • Shareholder and partnership disputes relating to real estate and its management, proper allocation of expenses, real estate development rights, and sewer access.
  • Business dissolution and rights being divided – trademarks, intellectual property, and future development rights.
  • Commercial leasing disputes/rights in development concerning warehouse space.
  • Rights to chemical formulations and sales thereof.
  • Evaluation of and disputes concerning losses suffered by new businesses with no history of profitability because of the premises’ destruction, anti-competitive conduct, and/or tortious interference.
  • Restrictions on future employment of professionals as opposed to their clients’/patients’ rights to seek their advice.
  • Professional breakups.
  • Computer fraud and abuse.
  • Age and sexual discrimination cases.
  • Successor liability cases where it is alleged that entities are hiding assets.

Steve has lectured before professional associations, accountants’ groups, and local and state bar associations on franchise, trial examination, and ethics issues.

Steven enjoys reading about historical events that were treated as foot notes in his education like the Teapot Dome scandal, reconstruction after the American Civil War, and the Balfour Declaration. He is a confirmed beach bum who loves to have his friends and family visit him at his place “down the shore.”

  • Featured, “2016 Top Laterals/New Partners.” The Legal Intelligencer (March 22, 2016).
  • Featured, “People in the News.” The Philadelphia Inquirer (October 12, 2015).
  • Featured, “People in the News.” The Legal Intelligencer (July 24, 2015).
  • Included in the list of Pennsylvania Super Lawyers by Philadelphia Magazine
    (2006-2021)
  • Rated as an “AV” Preeminent Attorney Martindale-Hubble®

Certifications:

  • Certified Mediator, South Carolina
  • Judge Pro Tempore, Philadelphia Commerce Court
  • Philadelphia Bar Association
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Law & Liberty Lecturer