Bio

Stephen Best, a former state and federal prosecutor, is chair of the Firm's White Collar Defense, Investigations & Compliance Practice Group. Steve’s diverse practice focuses on representing clients in government investigations and enforcement proceedings, FCPA/anti-corruption compliance and defense, corporate governance, crisis management, and audit committee investigations. Steve is regularly called upon and has developed a strong reputation for achieving successful outcomes for clients in high-profile FCPA and insider trading cases across the country. He served as lead counsel in the successful defense of Mark Cuban against the SEC's highly publicized claims of insider trading. Steve is a skilled litigator and represents clients in both criminal and civil trials, and he has been lead chair on approximately two hundred jury trials and hundreds of bench trials. Client references in Chambers & Partners recently stated that Steve is “a very aggressive litigator, he's no-nonsense and he will basically fight to the death for his clients, he's someone that you would want to hire if you wanted to fight the government” and “[h]e has a keen sense of legal analysis and judgment…He is just an impeccable lawyer in every respect.” Steve's litigation acumen and skills, along with his deep understanding of government proceedings and investigations have also been mentioned by clients in Who's Who Legal: Business Crime Defence. In recent reports, clients commented that “Stephen Best is a 'bright and thorough litigator' who impresses with his 'complete and utter devotion to clients.' He is highlighted for his 'perfect judgement and analytical skill,' and his stellar track record in anti-corruption proceedings and investigations,” as well as, he “is renowned for his tremendous experience handling high-profile fraud investigations and insider trading allegations.” Over his extensive career, Steve has represented audit committees and independent special committees investigating whistleblower allegations of fraud and other corporate wrongdoing. He has a deep knowledge of complex accounting and SEC reporting issues, and anti-corruption compliance, with particular focus on government enforcement and regulatory matters, ethics, and compliance. Steve is a regular lecturer on criminal law and procedure to bar associations and state and federal law enforcement agencies. Steve was previously an instructor at the University of Virginia National Trial Advocacy Institute. Before joining Brown Rudnick, Steve served as the co-chair of the white-collar defense group at a large, multinational law firm based in New York, and prior to that, was a prosecutor for almost ten years serving as an Assistant U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. and an Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Fairfax, Virginia. Currently, and along with many of the below-listed matters, Steve represents the Special Claims Committee of the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico tasked with investigating and prosecuting potential claims against third parties in its massive restructuring case, including an action to declare void more than $6 billion of bond debt.