Stephen J. Pollak
Areas of Practice
Stephen Pollak’s practice consists of representing clients in trial and appellate litigation of complex civil cases at all levels of the federal courts and before federal departments and agencies. His fields of concentration include antitrust, constitutional, and labor law, civil rights, ERISA and legal ethics. He also represents individuals under investigation for possible violation of federal criminal laws, as well as lawyers and law firms against whom complaints have been lodged with Bar Counsel. Mr. Pollak is currently serving as Special Master for the Vitamins Antitrust Litigation pending in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
Professional Activities
Mr. Pollak also serves as a mediator and arbitrator. Since 1989, he has been a member of the Panels of Mediators appointed, respectively, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Pollak is a member of the American Arbitration Association Panel of Mediators and Panel of Commercial Arbitrators, and a member of the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution’s Washington, D.C., Panel of Distinguished Neutrals. He serves as a training consultant in mediation for the Office of Dispute Resolution of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mr. Pollak served as President of the District of Columbia Bar (1980-81) and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Bar for four years. He served as Chair of the Bar’s Public Service Activities Committee (1989-95) and was the leader in reorganization of the Bar’s pro bono activities. Mr. Pollak is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Bar Foundation, and a member of the District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission.
Mr. Pollak served as a member and Chair of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (1984-90, 1994-96), responsible for selection of the Chief Judges of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as well as presentation to the President of candidates for nomination as judges of those...more » Mr. Pollak also serves as a mediator and arbitrator. Since 1989, he has been a member of the Panels of Mediators appointed, respectively, by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and by the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Mr. Pollak is a member of the American Arbitration Association Panel of Mediators and Panel of Commercial Arbitrators, and a member of the CPR Institute for Dispute Resolution’s Washington, D.C., Panel of Distinguished Neutrals. He serves as a training consultant in mediation for the Office of Dispute Resolution of the U.S. Department of Justice.
Mr. Pollak served as President of the District of Columbia Bar (1980-81) and was a member of the Board of Governors of the Bar for four years. He served as Chair of the Bar’s Public Service Activities Committee (1989-95) and was the leader in reorganization of the Bar’s pro bono activities. Mr. Pollak is presently a member of the Board of Directors of the District of Columbia Bar Foundation, and a member of the District of Columbia Access to Justice Commission.
Mr. Pollak served as a member and Chair of the District of Columbia Judicial Nomination Commission (1984-90, 1994-96), responsible for selection of the Chief Judges of the District of Columbia Court of Appeals and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia as well as presentation to the President of candidates for nomination as judges of those courts.
Mr. Pollak is President of the Historical Society of the District of Columbia Circuit and Director of its Oral History Program. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America. less »
Publications/Presentations
In law school Mr. Pollak was Managing Editor of the Yale Law Journal and received the Jewell Prize for highest second-year grades, and Second Prize for Best Student Contribution to Yale Law Journal (1955-56), titled the “Expatriation Act of 1954.”
Professional Experience
Mr. Pollak was a partner at Shea & Gardner prior to its combination with Goodwin Procter in 2004, and served as chair of its Executive Committee from 1993-1996. Prior to joining Shea & Gardner, Mr. Pollak served in the U.S. Department of Justice and the White House from 1961 through 1969. Among his governmental positions were Advisor to the President for National Capital Affairs (1967) and First Assistant and Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Civil Rights Division (1965-67, 1967-69) and Assistant to the Solicitor General (1961-64).
Bar and Court Admissions
Mr. Pollak is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia.
Honors and Awards
Mr. Pollak has received the following awards: the Justice Potter Stewart Award from the Council for Court Excellence of Washington, D.C. (2006); the Daniel Webster Distinguished Service Award from the Dartmouth Club of Washington, D.C. (2005); the Thurgood Marshall Award for Service in the Public Interest from the District of Columbia Bar (2001); and the Servant of Justice Award from the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia (1994).
Education
LL.B., Yale, 1956 (cum laude; Order of the Coif)
B.A., Dartmouth College, 1950 (Phi Beta Kappa)
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