2023 Up & Coming Attorneys: Steven R. Liening

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Hellmuth & Johnson

Steven Liening brings rich and diverse life experiences to his law practice at Hellmuth and Johnson, where he is focusing on construction litigation.

He joined the firm in October 2022 after working as a public defender and then practicing commercial litigation at a midsize firm.

Before receiving his J.D. from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in 2020, Liening was a professional organist who performed at numerous venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center. He also served for five years in the U.S. Army as a noncommissioned officer and Arabic cryptologic linguist.

Those experiences have helped shape his approach to being a litigator.

“I’m not easily intimidated,” he said. “I just don’t find myself very often in positions where I’m terrified of the possible outcome. And I always try to find multiple paths to achieving my clients’ goals. Unexpected things pop up all the time, so it’s good to have a couple of ideas in your back pocket that you can pull out if they’re needed.”

At Hellmuth & Johnson, Liening is also known as a good team player who is well respected by clients, his practice group, and the firm.

In addition to his commercial-litigation practice, Liening has also assisted colleague Carol R.M. Moss, who is focusing much of her attention on the developing cannabis industry in Minnesota. Liening is providing perspective from his experience as a public defender to help guide clients through a confusing legal thicket.

“I’ve been working with her a lot lately on helping clients figure out exactly what is permitted and what is not permitted,” he said. “We’ve had some success in this area with a combination of her knowledge of the substantive law relating to marijuana and my knowledge of criminal procedure.”

Liening says he is moving into new areas, such as shareholder disputes, and he welcomes the challenge. “The opposing counsel we’re dealing with on some of those matters are really excellent attorneys and I look forward to have some good challenges and growing through that.”