Stephen J. Jorden

Steve Jorden is a seasoned class action litigator with more than 30 years of experience representing businesses in complex litigation, regulatory disputes, and internal investigations. He is widely recognized by clients and peers for his skill in defending life insurers, annuity issuers, and other financial institutions in high-stakes class actions, including major market conduct cases, commercial contract disputes, and consumer fraud claims.

Over the course of his career, Steve has led the defense of numerous nationwide class actions and cutting-edge litigation matters across multiple jurisdictions. He has frequently served as coordinating defense counsel in multijurisdictional matters involving overlapping class actions, state opt-out litigation, and regulatory actions. Additionally, Steve represents clients in appellate matters, proceedings before the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, and claims brought under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act.

Steve’s deep knowledge of financial products and his proven track record of success make him a trusted advocate and go-to adviser for companies facing their most complex legal challenges. Steve currently is lead counsel in a class action challenging an alleged failure to meet California statutory notice requirements for lapsing policies, in which the defense team recently won a decision in the Ninth Circuit reversing certification.

In addition to his litigation work, Steve counsels life insurers and financial institutions on litigation and regulatory risks associated with sales and marketing practices, contracts, and nonguaranteed benefit determinations, such as changes to cost-of-insurance rates and interest crediting decisions. His strategic guidance extends to compliance issues, litigation avoidance strategies, and the development of document retention and e-discovery policies.

Known for his complex problem-solving skills, Steve has successfully navigated procedurally and factually challenging cases, including parallel claims brought by private litigants and government authorities in state and federal courts and regulatory forums. Clients rely on his ability to coordinate multifront defense strategies and address the broader implications of disputes while providing clear, strategic counsel on both litigation defense and regulatory compliance, ensuring they are prepared to manage emerging risks and achieve favorable outcomes in contentious matters.

• Represented insurer in obtaining Rule 23(f) review and securing decision reversing certification of class action alleging failure to comply with 2013 amendments to California Insurance Code imposing new notice requirements for lapsing life insurance policies.
• Led defense team in successfully opposing certification of a proposed nationwide class of annuity contract holders pursuing breach of contract claims.
• Represented annuity issuer in obtaining dismissal on a preliminary motion in multi-plaintiff, multi-defendant lawsuit alleging fraud in the sale of annuities.
• Represented life insurer in defending individual and class action lawsuits alleging contract and tort claims arising out of changes to cost of insurance rates.
• From 2007 to 2014, represented annuity issuer in defending multiple overlapping state and federal class actions involving allegations about sales of annuity products.
• Represented annuity issuer in obtaining dismissal of putative class action alleging fraud in the sale of annuities under the federal RICO statute.
• Represented life insurer in obtaining dismissal of RICO claims alleging misrepresentation in the sale of life insurance policies to fund benefit plans.
• Represented the Society of Lloyd’s in defending putative class action claims and opposing multidistrict consolidation of cases filed by Lloyd’s seeking enforcement of foreign judgments.
• Represented life insurers in multiple proceedings brought by or against state insurance regulators.

• American Bar Foundation
• Association of Life Insurance Counsel