Steve focuses his practice on labor and employment law and related litigation on behalf of management.

He represents employers in all facets of labor and employment, particularly in the areas of labor negotiations, arbitrations, wage and hour matters, and before the National Labor Relations Board. Steve also has extensive experience in advising employers on the labor/employment aspects of mergers and acquisitions, particularly in the hospitality industry. He held a number of positions with the NLRB's headquarters and field offices prior to entering private practice.

Steve currently serves on the American Bar Association's Committee on Practice and Procedure Before the NLRB. He was previously appointed to the California Industrial Welfare Commission's Wage Board for the State Public Housekeeping Industry (Wage Order 5).

Honors & Awards
  • Best Lawyers in America - Litigation - Labor and Employment (2021-2025)
  • 2015 Outstanding Paper Award by Emerald LiteratiNetwork, Human Resource Management International Digest for the paper, "The Boeing blueprint for dealing with organized labor: employer strategies in a changing slow-growth economy"
  • AV® Preeminent Peer Review Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
  • Super Lawyers Magazine - "Southern California Super Lawyers" (2004, 2011-2013, 2015-2021)

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Stephen Lueke - Best Lawyers 2025

  • Successfully represented several California hospitality industry employers in wage and hour class action disputes involving meal/rest break and overtime issues.
  • Successfully represented several clients in the mediation and settlement of discrimination claims before the EEOC, the California DFEH and in court.
  • Successfully represented California gaming industry employers in wage and hour class action disputes involving the legality of tip pooling arrangements among employees.
  • Successfully represented several clients in acquisition matters involving both unionized and union-free operations.
Education
  • Loyola Marymont University
    J.D., 1984
  • University of South Carolina
    B.A., cum laude, 1973
Memberships
  • American Bar Association (Business Law Section and Labor and Employment Law Section)
  • California Bar Association (Labor and Employment Law Section)
Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Texas
Court Admissions
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California
  • U.S. Supreme Court