Steven D. Wolens, a Partner at Diamond McCarthy, devotes his practice to complex class action and other litigation. Previously as a senior shareholder at Baron & Budd, P.C. for 20 years, Steve handled complex litigation involving toxic substances and class action. He has been the lead attorney in 3000-plus individual toxic tort cases in Illinois, Ohio, and 20 other states and a lead attorney representing the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Antonio in state and federal courts against online travel companies for non-payment of transient occupancy taxes.

From 1981 to 2005, he served as a member of the Texas House of Representatives. During his tenure, he authored landmark initiatives that became law including legislation governing partnerships and limited liability corporations, landmark ethics reforms, antitrust laws, and electric deregulation. (Click here to view legislative accomplishments.)

He was named six times as one of the "Ten Best Legislators" in the State by Texas Monthly magazine. "His intellectual purity - he cares about the principal, not politics - gives him near-absolute credibility on complex issues," the magazine wrote in its July 1993 issue; "Mesmerizing in debate, indefatigable in preparation, incisive in analysis, he is the House's most dreaded foe and most welcome ally." In 2003 through 2007, Steve was named to the Law & Politics Media, Inc. and Texas Monthly list of Texas Super Lawyers."

Education:

• Stanford University (B.A., with distinction, 1973)
• Southern Methodist University School of Law (J.D. 1976)

Bar and Court Admissions:

• Texas
• U.S. District Court for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas.
• Martindale-Hubbell: highest achievement professional rating - AV Peer Review Rated

Texas Legislature:

• Elected 1980, representing the Dallas area (1981 - 2005)
• Chairman of the House Business and Commerce Committee (1987 - 1992)
  (Oversaw regulatory and licensing agencies, workers compensation)
• Chairman of the House State Affairs Committee (1997 - 2002)
  (State Public Utility Commission, oversaw electricity and telephone regulation, state purchasing, ethics, abortion, gay marriage/adoption/rights, initiative and referendum, term limits)
• Chairman of the House Select Committee on Ethics (2003)
  (authored and passed complete revision of Texas ethics law)
• Significant Legislation:
• Author - HB 1606 (2003) - Omnibus Ethics Reform
• Sponsor - SB 7 (1999) - Texas Electric Deregulation
• Author - HJR 44 (1997) - Constitutional Amendment allowing home equity loans
• Sponsor - SB 5 (2001) - Texas Emissions Reduction Plan
• Authored & Sponsored - Texas Limited Partnership Act, SB 563 (1987); Limited Liability Corporations Act, HB 278 (1991) (became model for similar legislation in every state); Texas Revised Partnership Act, HB 273 (1993)

Awards and Honors:

• Ten Best Legislators (Texas Monthly; 2003, 1999, 1997, 1993, 1991, 1983)
• Texas Super Lawyers (Law & Politics Media, Inc. and Texas Monthly, 2003 - 2007)
• Outstanding Legislator of the 78th Texas Legislature (AARP Texas Chapter, 2003)
• Legislator of the Year (Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association, 2001)
• Legislator of the Year (National Retail Federation, 1999)
• Legislator of the Year (Texas Municipal League, 1999)
• Public Service Achievement Award (Common Cause; 1999, 1997, 1993, 1991)
• Legislative Crime Fighter of the Year (Greater Dallas Crime Commission, 1993 and 1991)
• Outstanding Legislator (Texas Business, 1983)

Notable Cases:

• Kochan v. Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corp., 242 Ill.App.3d 781, 610 N.E.2d 683, 182 Ill. Dec. 814 (Ill. App. 1993) appeal denied, 152 Ill.2d 561, 622 N.E.2d 1200, 190 Ill. Dec. 891 (1993), cert denied, 5100 S.1177, 114 S.Ct. 1219, 127 L.E.2d. 565 (1994).

Personal:

• Steve was born in Dallas and grew up in Corsicana, where his family founded the K. Wolens department stores. During high school, he served as a page in the U.S. Congress and worked in the Washington office of Congressman Olin Teague. He is married to the immediate former Mayor of the City of Dallas Laura Miller. They have three children.