An Atlanta native, Steve attended Grady High School and graduated from Georgia State University. He put himself through night law school and opened his own firm more than 30 years ago, first honing his courtroom skills by handling hundreds of court-appointed cases.
A Buckhead resident and former NYO coach, Steve has probably represented more teens and students in the Buckhead area than any other Atlanta attorney. He is also familiar with the area schools, many of the private school headmasters and their policies.

Additionally, he has extensive familiarity with the Atlanta Municipal Court, where most Fulton County and City of Atlanta arrests originate, as he is former chair and current member of the Atlanta Judicial Nominating Commission that interviews and recommends candidates for judicial appointment to that court.

He is married to Hon. Diane E. Bessen, a Judge with State Court of Fulton County and has two college-aged children.