Steven M. Kaplan is the founder of Kaplan Levenson P.C. He focuses his practice on Litigation, Intellectual Property & Entertainment, Business Transactions and Real Estate. Mr. Kaplan has over 30 years of experience in litigating cases through jury verdict, arbitrations and appeals in commercial, contract, construction, employment, intellectual property and real estate matters. He also drafts and negotiates licensing agreements, in addition to leases and agreements effecting the use, financing and ownership of real estate transactions of many varieties. Mr. Kaplan also has substantial experience representing banks and other financial institutions in enforcing loan, equipment lease and other financial obligations, including in the context as creditors in bankruptcy proceedings. While Mr. Kaplan’s client base is quite diverse, he has particular experience in the businesses of apparel, home furnishing, toys and other consumer products, retail, and food distribution. His experience in licensing, marketing, product development and real estate has made him a highly valued part of his client’s organizations on both litigation and non-litigation matters, and he is frequently utilized as “outside general counsel” by his clients.
Outside of his law practice, Mr. Kaplan is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Englewood Hospital’s Health Foundation, where he also serves as the Chairman of the Resource Development Committee and a member of the Nominating & Governance Committee. He has served as the First Vice President of the Board of Directors of the Montammy Golf Club in Alpine, NJ. He also sits on the advisory board for the Sports Medicine program at the Bergen County Technical School in the Northern Valley, NJ School district.
Education
Bachelor of Business Administration, Cum Laude, School of Government and Business Administration at George Washington University, Washington, D.C.; 1989
J.D., Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, NY; 1992
Member of the Moot Court Team
Admissions
New York
New Jersey
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court, District of Wisconsin
U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
United States Court of Claims
Awards and Memberships
Mr. Kaplan has achieved Martindale Hubbell’s highest rating of AV in an evaluation of his skills and ethics by other members of the bar and the judiciary. He has been nominated as among the “Top Lawyers” in Bergen County by 201 Magazine and Bergen.com. KL was also selected as the 2014 Corporate International Magazine IP Law Firm of the Year in New York. He is a member of the American Bar Association (Intellectual Property Section), New Jersey Bar Association, New York State Bar Association and New York County Lawyers Association. He also has served as a legal expert for the Crier Today show on Court TV.
