Steve Churchwell is a member of the Government Affairs, Regulatory and Administrative Law practice group in Buchalter’s Sacramento office. Mr. Churchwell represents corporations, trade associations, nonprofits, Indian tribes and public agencies in compliance matters, enforcement defense, internal investigations and related litigation.

He has practiced election law and served as lead counsel for state and local ballot measure committees for more than 30 years. He advises clients on complex conflict of interest issues, as well as regulation by California state agencies.

He has many precedential appellate wins, including two 7-0 victories in the California Supreme Court in the areas of constitutional law and civil procedure.

His positions in government were:

• General Counsel, California Fair Political Practices Commission
• Chief Counsel, Cal-OSHA Appeals Board
• Legal Counsel, Office of Administrative Law
• Legislative Intern

Mr. Churchwell received the highest rating of AV® by Martindale-Hubbell. He is a Past President of the California Political Attorneys Association and helped develop methodology used by the Ethisphere Institute to annually rank the World’s Most Ethical Companies. Mr. Churchwell was named by the National Law Journal to its “2013 Pro Bono Hot List” and was a national pro bono award winner while a partner at DLA Piper LLP. Mr. Churchwell was recognized as one of Sacramento Magazine’s Top Lawyers for 2024 and was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyer the past 11 years (2013 – 2024).

Bar Admissions

• California
• Tennessee

Education

• University of Tennessee College of Law
• Vanderbilt University

• 2023 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California “Major Donors”
• New California Legislation Severely Restricts the Campaign Contributions of Developers to Local Elected Officials
• A Trial Court Misinterpreted the ‘Germane to a Common Theme or Purpose’ Test in Holding That Prop. 22 Violated the Single-Subject Rule
• 2022 Filing Requirements and Contribution Limits for California “Major Donors”
• In Invalidating Prop. 22, Court Overlooked Basic Constitutional Law
• Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: COVID-19 Infection May Be an OSHA Recordable Work-Related Illness
• Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Safety Rules to be Revised, CA.GOV, May 14 2021
• Buchalter COVID-19 Client Alert: Cal-OSHA Wins First Round in Major Court Challenge to its COVID-19 Emergency Regulation