Stephen Rinehart

Steve is a veteran commercial litigator with extensive experience leading the successful prosecution, defense, and management of complex disputes in the federal and state courts, at both the trial court and appellate levels, as well as providing strategic guidance and creative solutions to clients. His litigation experience encompasses, among other areas, professional-liability defense, federal securities laws, financial services, restrictive covenants, fiduciary duty, and RICO claims. Steve has also represented clients before the Attorney Grievance Committees the SEC, FINRA, the AICPA, and other regulatory bodies. 

Over the years, Steve has counselled and defended numerous accounting firms and individual accountants against claims of professional malpractice, fraud, securities law violations, and investigations by state and federal regulatory agencies. 

Before joining Elman Freiberg, Steve was a senior business litigation partner at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, and its predecessors, where he practiced for over 40 years. While there, Steve represented business enterprises of all stripes —from startups to Fortune 500 companies — as well as law firms, accounting firms and private clients. 

In addition to his extensive courtroom experience, Steve served as Assistant General Counsel and member of the Professional Responsibility Committee at Troutman Pepper. In those capacities he defended the firm in litigation, and advised the firm’s attorneys on professional ethics and standards of conduct, conflicts of interest, risk management and best practices. 

Steve is past President and an active member of the Board of Directors of the Children’s Law Center.