Practice areas: Employment Litigation, Business Litigation, Employment & Labor; view more
Licensed in Minnesota since: 2009
Education: William Mitchell College of Law
Steve is a partner at Santi Cerny, PLLC, located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He has been in private practice for over fifteen years. Steve provides services to clients in the areas of civil litigation, employment law, and business law, in addition to providing outside general counsel services to companies in a variety of industries. Steve has been recognized by his peers and Minnesota Super Lawyers® as a top-rated attorney.
CIVIL LITIGATION
Steve represents clients in federal and state courts, before administrative agencies, and in arbitration. He has substantial experience in all aspects of the litigation process, including representing clients through summary judgment, trial, and appeal. Steve has a unique focus in handling matters that involve temporary restraining orders and injunctions.
In the area of employment litigation, Steve represents clients in matters involving claims of discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation, and wrongful termination under federal, state, and local employment laws, common law, and in contract disputes, including non-competition and non-solicitation disputes.
Steve also represents companies, shareholders, directors, officers, and executives in business disputes, including owner and shareholder disputes, and in matters involving alleged negligence, mismanagement, breach of fiduciary duties, defamation, breach of contract, and business torts.
EMPLOYMENT LAW
Steve provides business owners and human resources professionals with advice and counsel in all areas of employment law and the employer/employee relationship, including on compliance with federal, state, and local laws, preparing employment agreements and separation agreements, implementing and administering policies and procedures, and navigating discipline and termination issues. He provides employers with management training and conducts, and assists employers in conducting, internal investigations. Steve also advises individuals on employment law matters.
BUSINESS LAW
Steve provides a variety of business and corporate law services to clients, including entity selection, incorporation, contract drafting and negotiation, owner and investor agreements, mergers and acquisitions, protection of intellectual property, succession planning, and general business matters.
GENERAL COUNSEL
Steve serves as outside general counsel to clients providing a comprehensive approach to managing the legal needs of a business, identifying and mitigating risks, integrating and collaborating with senior management, and providing insightful and strategic advice and counsel. Steve works with clients in a variety of industries, including information technology, professional services, manufacturing, printing, retail, lodging, transportation, healthcare, and restaurant and food services.
Steve graduated from William Mitchell College of Law with honors, served as an Assistant Editor of the William Mitchell Law Review, participated in moot court where he won regional and national awards, and he has since taught at Mitchell Hamline School of Law as an Adjunct Professor.
Practice areas
Employment Litigation: Defense, Business Litigation, Employment & Labor: Employer, Business/Corporate, Civil Litigation: Defense, Closely Held BusinessFocus areas
Business Formation and Planning, Business Organizations, Contracts, Employment Discrimination, Employment Law - Employer, Limited Liability Companies, Non-Compete Agreements, Partnership, Retaliation, Sexual Harassment, Sub-chapter S Corporations, Trade Secret, Wage & Hour Laws, Whistleblower, Wrongful Termination
- 30% Employment Litigation: Defense
- 20% Business Litigation
- 20% Employment & Labor: Employer
- 10% Business/Corporate
- 10% Civil Litigation: Defense
- 10% Closely Held Business
First Admitted: 2009, Minnesota
Professional Webpage: http://santicerny.com/steven-m-cerny/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Minnesota State Bar Association, Civil Litigation Section & Labor & Employment Law Section
- American Bar Association, Litigation Section & Labor & Employment Law Section
- Ramsey County Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
Special Licenses / Certifications
- Minnesota Supreme Court
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota
- United States Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
- United States Supreme Court
Pro bono / Community Service
- Adjunct Professor, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- Coach, Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot court, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- Volunteer, Pro Se Project, Federal Bar Association
- Mentor, Alumni-Mentor Program, Mitchell Hamline School of Law
- Avvo Rated Attorney
- Rider, Bike MS: C.H. Robinson Worldwide MS 150 Ride
Educational Background
- William Mitchell College of Law, Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, 2009
- William Mitchell Law Review, Assistant Editor
- Burton Award—Best Motion Practice Memorandum
- Ruby R. Vale Interschool Corporate Moot Court – Quarter-Finalist, Donald E. Pease Best Brief Award
- Dean's List
- University of Minnesota, Bachelor of Arts, cum laude, Political Science & Psychology, 2006
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- Speaker, Keys to Success and Wealth, and Legal Pitfalls to Avoid, MONEY Bootcamp, Winner’s Edge Consulting Seminar, Eden Prairie, Minnesota, 2017
- Speaker, Employment Law Series: Minnesota's New Marijuana Laws and How They Affect Employers, Minnesota CLE, 2014
- Speaker, The Practical Realities of Practicing Closely Held Business Law: What You Didn’t Learn in Law School, The MSBA’s New Lawyers Section, 2013
- Speaker, Investment & Securities Fraud Seminar, Thompson Hall Seminars, 2013
- Speaker, Social Media & Litigation, Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts & Media, 2011
- Author, The Intersection Between Social Networking & Litigation: Discovery & Authentication of Social Media Evidence, Reynolds Courts & Media Law Journal, 2011
Honors
- Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2025
- Top Lawyers, Minnesota Monthly, 2025
- Super Lawyers, Super Lawyers, 2024
- Top Lawyers, Minnesota Monthly, 2024
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2022
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2021
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2020
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2019
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2018
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2017
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2015
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2014
- Juris Doctor, Cum Laude, William Mitchell College of Law, 2009
- Dean's List, William Mitchell College of Law
- William Mitchell Law Review, Assistant Editor—Volume 35, Staff Member—Volume 34, William Mitchell College of Law
- Ruby R. Vale National Corporate Appellate Moot Court Donald E. Pease Best Brief Award, William Mitchell College of Law
- Ruby R. Vale National Corporate Appellate Moot Court Quarter-Finalist, William Mitchell College of Law
- William Mitchell Corporate Appellate Moot Court Champion, William Mitchell College of Law
- Neil Hamilton Academic Scholarship, William Mitchell College of Law
- Burton Award—Best Motion Practice Memorandum, William Mitchell College of Law
Industry Groups
- Health Care
- Information Technology
- Lodging
- Manufacturing
- Printing
- Restaurant And Food Service
- Retail
- Service Firms
- Transportation
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2024 - 2026
- Rising Stars: 2014 - 2022