Steven M. Zager was named one of the top 10 trial lawyers in the country in 2007 by The National Law Journal (“Winning: Successful Trial Strategies From Some of the Nation’s Top Litigators,” June 18, 2007). Mr. Zager serves as the global head of the firm’s intellectual property practice and is a member of the firm’s management committee and the firm's partnership admission committee.

Practice & Background

Mr. Zager has an international litigation practice. He has handled cases in fourteen states and the District of Columbia, and has represented clients in a dozen different countries.

Mr. Zager has been recognized by The American Lawyer as one of the top 45 lawyers in America under the age of 45. In 2002, he was named the top civil defense lawyer in Texas by Texas Lawyer. Recently, Best Lawyers New York named him a leading lawyer for both intellectual property and commercial litigation (2011 and 2012). In addition, Chambers USA has repeatedly recognized Mr. Zager for litigation (2008, 2009, 2010), describing him as “an impressive trial lawyer” and recognizing him for “his ability to command a courtroom.”

Before joining Akin Gump, Mr. Zager served as the litigation practice chair and office managing partner for another national law firm.

Mr. Zager is a frequent author and lecturer.
Representative Matters

Mr. Zager represents plaintiffs and defendants in civil cases. During the course of his career, he has represented clients in civil cases across the country, including:

one of the world’s largest chemical companies in the prosecution of a trade secret case in Houston that ended in a verdict that was identified by The National Law Journal as one of the 10 largest verdicts in America in 2006
a trade association in a trial in San Jose against a member who violated rules and procedures in a high profile case in the entertainment industry
a medical products company in patent trials in Memphis, Denver and Oklahoma City over spinal and cardiac patents
a memory company in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a major national telecommunications company in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a group of telecommunications companies in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a software company in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a group of major telecommunications companies in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a major international automaker in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a major international computer chip maker in patent litigation in the Eastern District of Texas
a leading medical products manufacturer in patent litigation in the Western District of Tennessee, the Northern District of California and the Western District of Texas
a leading chemical company in litigation relating to its acquisition
a leasing company in national class action litigation and in responding to a Texas attorney general’s investigative demand
one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies in the defense of national mass tort and consumer class action litigation in Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia and the District of Columbia
one of the nation’s largest banks in the defense of a $400 million case in Houston involving international monetary transactions that ended in a take-nothing jury verdict
an international medical products manufacturer in its prosecution and defense of patent litigation in San Francisco and Memphis
one of the nation’s largest hospital companies in the defense of a $150 million antitrust case in Houston
a well-known computer manufacturer in the defense of consumer class action, patent and trademark litigation in Boston and Beaumont
the board of directors of a national public broadcasting company in a Sarbanes-Oxley investigation
a consumer product company in its defense of patent infringement litigation in Houston
one of the largest diversified financial services companies in a $100 million claim in connection with the construction of a luxury resort in Dallas
a bank holding company in litigation arising out of the largest bank failure in American history in Houston
a well-known professional athlete in contract litigation in Dallas
a well-known recording artist in contract litigation in Houston
a major national telecommunications company in the defense of a national consumer class action in Houston
a national home improvement products retailer in the defense of consumer class action and patent litigation in Houston and Tyler, TX
the appeal of a consumer class action under the Telephone Consumer Protection Act to the Texas Supreme Court for a national wireless carrier.

Community Involvement

Mr. Zager is involved in community, civic and charitable activities that include being:

elected to the American Board of Trial Advocates
a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
a member of the Intellectual Property Section of the American Bar Association
a member of the Intellectual Property Owners Association
served as an officer or director of the State Bar of Texas, the Houston Bar Association, the Austin Bar Association, the Houston Volunteer Lawyers Program and Legal Services of Central Texas
served on the board of the Vanderbilt University School of Law
served on the board of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
served on the board of the Alley Theatre
served on the board of the KLRU in Austin, Texas
served on the board of the Houston Nature Center and Arboretum
served on the board of the Montgomery Bell Academy in Nashville, Tennessee.

Awards & Accolades

Selected as a “2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Intellectual Property” by American Lawyer Media and Martindale-Hubbell
Ranked by Best Lawyers in America as a leading lawyer in Commercial Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation and Patent Litigation
Ranked by Best Lawyers New York as a leading lawyer for both Intellectual Property and Commercial Litigation in 2011 and 2012
Recognized in a peer-review survey as a Texas “Super Lawyer” each year since 2003
Ranked as “AV Preeminent” in Business Litigation in LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell’s peer review ratings
Recognized in a peer-review survey as a New York Metro “Super Lawyer,” 2003-2009, 2011-2014
Recognized as one of Houston’s top trial lawyers by H Texas magazine
Recognized as one of New York’s “Legal Elite” by Avenue magazine
Recognized as a Lawdragon in the 2010 edition of Lawdragon magazine
Elected by his peers to the American Board of Trial Advocates
Received the Professionalism Award from the Texas Center for Legal Ethics
Received the Frank Scurlock Award for Outstanding Pro Bono Service from the State Bar of Texas.

Speaking Engagements

Panelist at the FTI Consulting Conference “Changing Elements in Chemicals Industry Litigation”
Spoke on “Use of Experts at Trial” at the 6th Annual Advanced Patent Litigation Course “Taking Patent Cases to Trial in Texas” at the Hyatt Hill Country Resort.