Steve R. Zahn

Counsel

757.687.7589

More ways to contact Steve R. Zahn

Additional Languages: German

Steve has both trial and in-house counsel experience and assists clients with all aspects of consumer litigation and regulatory compliance.

Overview
Representative Matters
Awards

Steve helps clients in the consumer financial services sector comply with the increasingly complex regulatory landscape and defends against single-plaintiff and complex, multiparty litigation. In addition to handling all aspects of their litigation matters, he advises clients on pre-litigation and risk mitigation strategies.

Steve’s diverse background includes serving as in-house counsel for a leading digital debt collections platform and a publicly traded debt purchaser and servicer. He also has years of experience in private practice in areas ranging from regulatory compliance matters to state and federal litigation.

  • As client, assisted outside counsel in transferring multiple class actions and single plaintiff TCPA claims to the Panel for Multi-District Litigation.
  • Assisted outside counsel in successful negotiations of Wage Act, California PAGA, and WARN Act class claims.
  • Successfully negotiated partial settlement of NC class action to eliminate one sub-class and make it harder to remaining sub-class to obtain class certification.
  • Solo chaired multiday bench trial in which the court granted an injunction permanently barring former employee from misappropriating trade secrets.
  • Solo jury trial defending grocery chain from allegations of improper termination.
  • Virginia Beach Public Schools, Volunteer of the Year
Overview

Steve helps clients in the consumer financial services sector comply with the increasingly complex regulatory landscape and defends against single-plaintiff and complex, multiparty litigation. In addition to handling all aspects of their litigation matters, he advises clients on pre-litigation and risk mitigation strategies.

Steve’s diverse background includes serving as in-house counsel for a leading digital debt collections platform and a publicly traded debt purchaser and servicer. He also has years of experience in private practice in areas ranging from regulatory compliance matters to state and federal litigation.

Representation Matters
  • As client, assisted outside counsel in transferring multiple class actions and single plaintiff TCPA claims to the Panel for Multi-District Litigation.
  • Assisted outside counsel in successful negotiations of Wage Act, California PAGA, and WARN Act class claims.
  • Successfully negotiated partial settlement of NC class action to eliminate one sub-class and make it harder to remaining sub-class to obtain class certification.
  • Solo chaired multiday bench trial in which the court granted an injunction permanently barring former employee from misappropriating trade secrets.
  • Solo jury trial defending grocery chain from allegations of improper termination.
Awards
  • Virginia Beach Public Schools, Volunteer of the Year

Top areas of focus

  • Lead Hampton Roads, Class of 2005
  • Board member, Habitat for Humanity, 2005-2009
  • Board member, Alanton Baycliff Recreation Center, 2004-2022
  • President, Baycliff Civic League, 2017
  • Associate general counsel, TrueAccord Corp., 2022-2024
  • Managing counsel – compliance and litigation, PRA Group, Inc., 2011-2022

Education

  • Texas Tech University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 1998, editor, Law Review; Board of Barristers
  • Washington and Lee University, B.A., cum laude, 1989, distinguished military graduate

Bar Admissions

  • Virginia

Court Admissions

  • Virginia State Courts
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
  • Supreme Court of the United States
  • U.S. District Court, District of Colorado
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Indiana
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Missouri
  • U.S. District Court, District of Nebraska
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Virginia
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Virginia
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Nebraska

Clerkships

  • Hon. W. Royal Furgeson, U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas, 1998-1999

Languages

  • German
  • Certified Receivables Compliance Professional
  • Virginia Notary