Stephen R. Halpin III is a litigation associate in Hughes Hubbard’s Washington, D.C. office. Steve represents clients in complex, high-stakes disputes, including in civil and criminal matters and challenges to administrative agency determinations. Steve has assisted a broad array of clients, including the government of a major U.S. trading partner, a publicly traded energy company, a media executive in high-profile corporate litigation, a former sports official facing federal fraud charges, a federal government agency investigating a large bank failure, and a cybersecurity company challenging the constitutionality of a federal statute. Steve crafts legal arguments for clients litigating significant motions in state and federal trial courts. Steve also litigates appeals and advises clients contemplating appellate proceedings.
Steve serves on the firm’s Pro Bono Committee and is also a member of the Discretionary Panel of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. The Fourth Circuit appoints lawyers from the Discretionary Panel to represent indigent litigants in civil rights, habeas corpus, and ancillary criminal matters, among others.
Previous Experience
Prior to joining the firm as an associate, Steve clerked for the Honorable Robert B. King of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. During law school, Steve interned for two federal district court judges: the Honorable Joseph R. Goodwin of the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia and the Honorable Richard J. Leon of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. Steve also served as a research assistant to Civil Procedure & Jurisdiction expert A. Benjamin Spencer.
Recognition
2017 – 2019 Capital Pro Bono High Honor Roll, sponsored by the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia
Professional Activities
Member, American Bar Association
Member, Federal Bar Association
Court Admissions
United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
United States Court of International Trade
Supreme Court of Virginia
District of Columbia Court of Appeals
Highlighted Matters
Representation of publicly traded energy company in federal class-action securities litigation
Representation of former sports official in appeal of conviction for conspiracy to commit honest-services wire fraud
Representation of corporate executive in high-profile litigation relating to merger of two media companies
Representation of U.S. federal government agency investigating large bank failure
Representation of federal government of major U.S. trading partner in proceedings before U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Court of International Trade, and binational review panels constituted under NAFTA
Representation of defendants in putative class action filed in federal district court alleging violations of civil RICO and state usury laws in connection with lending operations conducted by Native American entities
Representation of cybersecurity company in federal court of appeals challenging constitutionality of federal statute banning government use of company’s products
Provided advice to D.C. advocacy organization on whether potential legislative reforms related to gun safety would be consistent with Second Amendment
Representation of state prisoner in federal court of appeals on motion for authorization to file second or successive habeas petition in federal district court; subsequent representation of state prisoner in federal district court on habeas petition, including serving as first chair at evidentiary hearing
Representation of Virginia resident charged with possession with intent to distribute narcotics after warrantless vehicle search
