Steven S. "Steve" Scholes

Steven S. "Steve" Scholes

Chicago, IL recognized lawyers icon Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2019
McDermott Will & Schulte

259 Best Lawyers awards

McDermott Will & Schulte logo

Awarded Practice Areas

Criminal Defense: White-Collar Litigation - Securities

Biography

Steven (Steve) S. Scholes is the global head of McDermott’s Litigation Practice Group. His practice focuses on SEC investigations, shareholder litigation, including class and derivative actions, and internal investigations. Steve is an experienced trial lawyer, and he has tried civil, criminal and administrative cases in federal and state courts. He regularly represents clients before the Securities and Exchange Commission, state securities regulators and self-regulatory organizations, such as the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and stock, options and futures exchanges. He has served as the global operations partner for the Firm’s Litigation Practice Group and the partner-in-charge of both the Chicago Trial Department and the Firm’s SEC Defense Group.

Read full biography: https://www.mwe.com/people/scholes-steven-s/

McDermott Will & Schulte

259 Best Lawyers awards

McDermott Will & Schulte logo

Overview

  • University of Illinois Chicago, John Marshall Law School, J.D., graduated 1985
  • University of Illinois Chicago, John Marshall Law School, J.D., graduated 1985

Client Testimonials

Steve Scholes is the lead lawyer in my defense in a complex white-collar matter. Steve is nationally known for his skill, is on the Firm’s management committee and the global head of the litigation practice. All that said, I receive a level of client care, insight, devotion, attention, forethought, and service on a par with any firm I retained corporately as CLO/GC. Quite simply, I don’t know how he does it, but he does. And, in a case of this complexity, other lawyers look to him for leadership. Finally, Steve is a first-class human being with a devotion and engagement that goes beyond the attorney/client relationship and fees.

Awards & Focus

Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2023 - Litigation - Securities Lawyer of the Year Badge - 2020 - Litigation - Securities
Named "Lawyer of the Year" by Best Lawyers® for:
  • Litigation - Securities, Chicago (2023)
  • Litigation - Securities, Chicago (2020)
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2026 for work in:
  • Criminal Defense: White-Collar
  • Litigation - Securities
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Commercial Litigation
  • Litigation - Regulatory Enforcement (SEC, Telecom, Energy)

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