Practice Areas: Appellate, Insurance Coverage, Business Litigation; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 2000
Education: St. Mary's University School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2023 
Selected to Rising Stars: 2009 - 2010 Details
At Cunningham Swaim, LLP, Steven D. Sanfelippo is a founding partner and head of the firm's Appellate Section. Mr. Sanfelippo represents clients in matters of aviation law, appellate law, business litigation and insurance defense. He has argued appeals in California, Texas and Louisiana state appellate courts, as well as the United States Court of Appeals for the Third, Fifth, Seventh, Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh and Federal Circuits. He has obtained reversals of trial court judgments for numerous companies. As part of his insurance focus, he consults on coverage and risk management issues with clients, both for the insured and the insurer.
Mr. Sanfelippo is a member of the Dallas Bar Association, the State Bar of Texas Insurance Law Section, the State Bar of Texas Appellate Section, the American Bar Association’s Tort Trial and Insurance Section, and the American Bar Association’s Council of Appellate Lawyers. At Concordia University in Wisconsin, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology in 1993, and he then earned a Juris Doctor from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 2000, where he was a member of St. Mary’s Law Journal.
Admitted to practice in all Texas and California state courts; the U.S. District Courts in Louisiana, Texas and California, the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 10th, 11th and Federal Circuits, and the United States Supreme Court.
Mr. Sanfelippo has published several articles related to expert testimony, government documents in aviation cases and contractual liability. With experience and extensive knowledge, he advises clients on indemnity, coverage and risk management issues.
Practice areas
Appellate, Insurance Coverage, Business LitigationFocus areas
Appeals, Insurance, Insurance Defense, Trade Secret
- 70% Appellate
- 20% Insurance Coverage
- 10% Business Litigation
First Admitted: 2000, Texas
Professional Webpage: http://cunninghamswaim.com/steve-sanfelippo/
- State Bar of Texas
- State Bar of California
- United States Supreme Court
- Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Seventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Tenth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals
- Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
- U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Districts of Texas
- U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
- State Bar of Texas, Appellate Section
- State Bar of Texas, Insurance Law Section
- American Bar Association, Council of Appellate Lawyers
- American Bar Association, Tort Trial and Insurance Section
- “The Next Frontier Or A Passing Fad? Climate Change Litigation And The Difficulties Such Cases Face” printed in the April 2010 issue of the Dallas Bar Association’s publication Headnotes
- “Admissible or Inadmissible? Getting In — Or Keeping Out — Government Documents In Aviation Cases,” presented at the February 2006 Southern Methodist University Air Law Symposium and reprinted in the Summer 2006 issue of the Journal of Air Law and Commerce
- “Availability of En Banc Consideration and Rehearing in the Federal Circuit Courts of Appeal and State Courts,” presented at the 2005 Council of Appellate Lawyers and Appellate Judges Summit
- “Courts Discuss Expert Testimony,” American Trial Lawyers Association, Aviation Law Section, Vol. 12, No. 2, Winter 2005
- “Passing the Blame, Passing the Bill: Contractual Liability and Additional Insureds,” 2004 Advanced Insurance Law Seminar
- Dallas Bar Association, Speakers Committee, Member
- Dallas Volunteer Attorney Program
- St. Mary's University School of Law, 2000
- Concordia University Wisconsin, B.A., Major: Psychology, 1993
- PHI, Inc., 2020
- Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty, 2020
- Piper Aircraft, Inc. , 2020
- Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. , 2020
- Continental Motors, Inc. , 2020
- CV Starr Adjustment Services Inc. , 2020
- AIG Aviation Adjustment Services, Inc. , 2020
- Obtained reversal of summary judgment rendered against national aircraft engine manufacturer. , 2020
- Obtained affirmance of take-nothing judgment rendered after a jury trial in wrongful death action against aviation insurer who was sued for selling a salvage engine that failed while aircraft was in flight. , 2016
- Obtained reversal of summary judgment rendered against client, a helicopter operator. , 2019
- Obtained reversal of multi-million dollar judgment rendered against client, a national defense contractor. , 2019
- Obtained partial reversal of summary judgment rendered in defamation case against international chemical company. , 2017
- Obtained reversal of judgment rendered after a bench trial on behalf of aircraft engine manufacturer. , 2017
- Obtained affirmance of summary judgment rendered in favor of airport manager in case alleging violations of the California state civil rights act. , 2016
- Appellate
- Aviation
- Commercial Disputes
- Family Law
- Insurance Coverage
- Personal Injury
- Product Liability
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2022 - 2023
- Rising Stars: 2009 - 2010
