Services
Industries
Education
Wayne State University Law School, J.D., 1979
Michigan State University, James Madison College, B.A., 1976
Bar Admissions
- Michigan
Stephen Ott assists clients in defending product-related litigation and regulatory matters, with a specific emphasis on the discovery and information-gathering aspects of this work.
He has specialized in developing processes designed to assist clients in handling discovery on a pro-active basis.
Steve represents manufacturers in product liability, product warranty and product-related class action matters.
He has also organized and oversees the operation of teams that provide national discovery and case management services to clients in product liability, product warranty, class action and patent litigation matters, and assists clients with government regulatory inquiries.
Honors
DBusiness Magazine, Top Lawyers, Product Liability, 2023
State Bar of Michigan Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2021-present
Best Lawyers in America
Lawyer of the Year, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants, 2014, 2019 & 2024
Recognized for Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions - Defendants, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, Product Liability Litigation - Defendants, 2007-present
Michigan Super Lawyers, Personal Injury Defense: Products, 2006-2014
Wayne State University Law School, Executive Editor, Wayne Law Review
Professional Activities
American Bar Association
State Bar of Michigan
Detroit Metropolitan Bar Association, Volunteer Lawyer Association
Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Inc.
Mediation Tribunal Association, Case Evaluator
Civic, Cultural & Social Activities
City of Northville Fire Department, Chief, 2014-2021
HEMS, Inc., Trustee, 2001-2021; Treasurer, 2016-2020
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, Chancellor, 1999-present
Speeches
"New Approaches to Discovery--Making the Process Work," American Bar Association, 2003 Emerging Issues in Motor Vehicle Product Liability Litigation, Phoenix, Arizona, March 21, 2003
"Overview of the TREAD Act, AIAG, Southfield, Michigan, February 19, 2003
"Legal Issues Surrounding the Roll Out of Drive by Wire Technology in the Automotive Industry," Society of Automotive Engineers, Distributed Embedded Systems and Software Group, Detroit, Michigan, March 7, 2002
Publications
Book
Successful Partnering Between Inside and Outside Counsel, (Co-authors: Holly E. Leese and Louann Van Der Wiele of Chrysler Group, LLC), Chapter 61 titled "Discovery and Information Gathering," American Corporate Counsel and West Group
Articles
"Five Principles for Effective Discovery Management," Michigan Lawyers Weekly, October 31, 2005
"Professional Responsibility, Annual Survey of Michigan Law," 44 Wayne Law Review 995 (1998), and 45 Wayne Law Review 1127 (1999)
"Torts, Annual Survey of Michigan Law," (Co-Authors: James D. Robb and Richard F. X. Urisko), 37 Wayne Law Review, 1119 (1991)
