Berman Tabacco is proud to announce that Steven Groopman has been elevated to the position of Partner effective January 1, 2022.
Steve started with the firm in 2015 and has represented the firm’s clients in a host of cases, spanning many practices areas. From securities litigation and stockholder derivative suits to ERISA healthcare litigation and consumer protection class actions, Steve has excelled at strategic and creative thinking in complex, cutting-edge matters, obtaining hard fought victories for our clients and the classes they represent.
Recently, Steve was a key member of the litigation team that secured a $186.5 million settlement on behalf of a class of individuals who took out high interest rate loans from American Web Loan (“AWL”). AWL is an online lender alleged to have circumvented state and federal law, including RICO, usury laws and other laws against high-interest lending to make loans of between $300 and $2,500 that carry annual interest rates as high as 726%. The $186.5 million settlement provided $86 million in cash recovery for the class, cancellation of $100.5 million worth of outstanding class period loans and other significant non-monetary and injunctive relief.
Currently, Steve is litigating two significant derivative actions. First, Steve is pursuing claims to hold vaccine manufacturer Emergent BioSolution’s board and top executives responsible for the Company’s alleged failure to implement safety and sterility measures, which resulted in the destruction of millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccines. Second, Steve is litigating a derivative action concerning Walmart’s role in the opioid crisis, having allegedly sold massive amounts of controlled substances without the necessary compliance systems mandated by the Drug Enforcement Agency pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act.
“We congratulate Steve on his new role as Partner,” said Boston Managing Partner Kathleen M. Donovan-Maher . “Steve’s expertise, quick legal mind and passion for helping others have been a tremendous asset to our firm. We look forward to his continued success.”
Partner Nathaniel Orenstein added, “Steve instantly recognizes ways in which our clients are impacted by corporate malfeasance, identifies creative and effective ways for our clients to protect their rights, and works tirelessly on their behalf.”
Prior to joining Berman Tabacco, Steve served as a law clerk to the Hon. Dickinson R. Debevoise on the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Earlier in his career, Steve worked as an associate at a litigation and white-collar defense boutique law firm in New York.
Steve was named a Rising Star by New England Super Lawyers magazine (2017-2021).