Steven G. Churchwell
Practice Expertise
Areas of Practice
- Government & Regulatory Law
WSG Practice Industries
Profile
Steve Churchwell is a member of the Government Affairs and Regulatory Law practice group in Buchalter's Sacramento and Nashville offices. Mr. Churchwell represents corporations, trade associations, nonprofits, Indian tribes and public agencies in compliance matters, enforcement defense, internal investigations and related litigation.
He has practiced election and political law for more than 30 years. He advises clients on complex conflict of interest and government ethics issues.
Mr. Churchwell has experience representing industries that are subject to extended producer responsibility and sustainability laws.
He has many precedential appellate wins, including two 7-0 victories in the California Supreme Court in the areas of constitutional law and civil procedure.
His positions in government were:
General Counsel, California Fair Political Practices Commission
Chief Counsel, Cal-OSHA Appeals Board
Legal Counsel, Office of Administrative Law
Legislative Intern
Mr. Churchwell received the highest rating of AV® by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a Past President of the California Political Attorneys Association and helped develop methodology used by the Ethisphere Institute to annually rank the World's Most Ethical Companies. Mr. Churchwell was named by the National Law Journal to its "2013 Pro Bono Hot List" and was a national pro bono award winner while a partner at DLA Piper LLP. Mr. Churchwell was recognized as one of Sacramento Magazine's Top Lawyers for 2024 and was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer the past 13 years (2013 - 2026).
Steve serves on the Advisory Board for UCLA School of Law's Strategic AI for Legal Professionals program, an executive education initiative focused on helping attorneys understand and adapt to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession.
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He has practiced election and political law for more than 30 years. He advises clients on complex conflict of interest and government ethics issues.
Mr. Churchwell has experience representing industries that are subject to extended producer responsibility and sustainability laws.
He has many precedential appellate wins, including two 7-0 victories in the California Supreme Court in the areas of constitutional law and civil procedure.
His positions in government were:
General Counsel, California Fair Political Practices Commission
Chief Counsel, Cal-OSHA Appeals Board
Legal Counsel, Office of Administrative Law
Legislative Intern
Mr. Churchwell received the highest rating of AV® by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a Past President of the California Political Attorneys Association and helped develop methodology used by the Ethisphere Institute to annually rank the World's Most Ethical Companies. Mr. Churchwell was named by the National Law Journal to its "2013 Pro Bono Hot List" and was a national pro bono award winner while a partner at DLA Piper LLP. Mr. Churchwell was recognized as one of Sacramento Magazine's Top Lawyers for 2024 and was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer the past 13 years (2013 - 2026).
Steve serves on the Advisory Board for UCLA School of Law's Strategic AI for Legal Professionals program, an executive education initiative focused on helping attorneys understand and adapt to the evolving role of artificial intelligence in the legal profession.
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Bar Admissions
California
Tennessee
Supreme Court of the United States
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
Education
University of Tennessee College of Law, J.D. - Articles Editor of the Tennessee Law Review
Vanderbilt University, B.A., cum laude
Areas of Practice
- Government & Regulatory Law
Professional Career
Articles
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: Cal-OSHA Wins First Round in Major Court Challenge to its COVID-19 Emergency Regulation
Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Safety Rules to be Revised, CA.GOV, May 14 2021
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: COVID-19 Infection May Be an OSHA Recordable Work-Related Illness
In Invalidating Prop. 22, Court Overlooked Basic Constitutional Law
2022 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California "Major Donors"
A Trial Court Misinterpreted the 'Germane to a Common Theme or Purpose' Test in Holding That Prop. 22 Violated the Single-Subject Rule
New California Legislation Severely Restricts the Campaign Contributions of Developers to Local Elected Officials
2023 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California "Major Donors"
2025 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California "Major Donors"
Trump v. Slaughter: The Future of Independent Agencies and the Impact on the Entities They Regulate
Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Safety Rules to be Revised, CA.GOV, May 14 2021
Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: COVID-19 Infection May Be an OSHA Recordable Work-Related Illness
In Invalidating Prop. 22, Court Overlooked Basic Constitutional Law
2022 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California "Major Donors"
A Trial Court Misinterpreted the 'Germane to a Common Theme or Purpose' Test in Holding That Prop. 22 Violated the Single-Subject Rule
New California Legislation Severely Restricts the Campaign Contributions of Developers to Local Elected Officials
2023 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California "Major Donors"
2025 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California "Major Donors"
Trump v. Slaughter: The Future of Independent Agencies and the Impact on the Entities They Regulate
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