Attorneys

Steven Valdes’s practice focuses primarily on complex business litigation, negligence and professional liability claims, insurance coverage and bad-faith disputes. Prior to Joining Kaplan Zeena, Steven worked at a boutique law firm representing individuals, governments, and other entities in domestic and international judgment collection matters; cross-border insolvency proceedings under Chapter 15 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code; actions to collect evidence for use in foreign proceedings under 28 U.S.C (§) 1782; and other commercial disputes.

Steven began his legal career working at one of the top asbestos and mesothelioma law firms in the nation and represented victims in cases involving products liability, environmental toxic torts, asbestos related diseases, and wrongful death. Additionally, Steven served as second chair trial counsel in the first in-person mesothelioma trial in Florida since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, resulting in a $14,000,000 jury verdict.

Steven earned his Juris Doctorate from the Florida International University College of Law graduating cum laude. He was the recipient of the CALI excellence for the Future Award for Constitutional Law and an active member of the FIU Board of Advocates Moot Court. While excelling in his courses, Steven also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Judge Jose M. Rodriguez for the Eleventh Judicial Circuit of Florida. Steven graduated cum laude from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology along with a minor in Philosophy.
Steven is fluent in Spanish.