OUR ATTORNEYS
MICHAEL STEIFMAN
MANAGING PARTNER
ms@steifmanlaw.com | Admitted in NY, MA, TX
Michael graduated from the Wharton School of Business, at the University of Pennsylvania, with a Bachelor of Science in Economics in 1986. Michael worked at Starrett Housing where he was responsible for overseeing real estate development projects as the youngest corporate Vice President in Starrett's 100+ year history. Michael left Starrett Housing to form UtiliSave in 1991. Michael is the Founder and CEO of UtiliSave, LLC.
Michael oversees expansion plans for the UtiliSave, strategic partnerships and research and development initiatives to ensure UtiliSave’s continual development in new cost savings opportunities for clients as well as continued investment in technical infrastructure.
In 2020, Michael received his J.D. Degree from New York Law School and passed the New York State Bar. Michael formed Steifman LLP so he could adopt the same operating strategies he successfully developed at UtiliSave, in the practice of client advocacy at Steifman LLP in the area of class action, qui-tam and Native American specific and other general tax matters. Michael is an admitted attorney in the states of New York, Massachusetts, and Texas.
STEVE KNOWLTON
MANAGING DIRECTOR
sknowlton@steifmanlaw.com | Admitted in NY, NJ
Steve has practiced law (litigation, medical malpractice, catastrophic injury, mass-torts,
environmental, class action and municipal law) for the last 30 years. He has tried cases to
verdict, managed teams of attorneys and was the responsible partner of the New York
City office of the Locks Law Firm, PLLC a major tri-state mass-tort and environmental law firm during his 2 decades of service to the firm’s clients. Prior to the Locks firm, Steve spent 8 years litigating and trying asbestos and other mass-tort and product liability cases at Wilentz, Goldman & Spitzer.
His experience as former ICU and Emergency Department nurse and preceptor gives him a unique emotional intelligence when interacting with clients, colleagues, and court staff. His hard science background (biology and chemistry) and analytical training form the basis of his legal analysis.
Steve’s 20-year municipal experience as both an elected and an appointed official has given him insight into the workings of government. In his various positions he was responsible for broad oversight and management of various departments of a village in New York. His responsibilities included budgetary analysis and oversight, interactions with other municipal and federal agencies and management and allocation of the Village’s human and financial resources.
Steve is a former endurance athlete, participating in cycling and running events. He is a rock climber and alpine mountaineer, and has climbed Mount Rainier. He has a deep love of the Caribbean basin, has studied the history of the Caribbean, particularly the Virgin Islands and is involved in the decolonization efforts currently underway for Puerto Rico and the USVI.
Steve graduated cum laude from New York Law School where he served as Notes and Comments Editor of the Law Review. He earned his Nursing degree from the College of Staten Island, City University of New York and his Bachelor’s degree in Biology from Brooklyn College. Steve is also a published author (Wound Care Essentials, 5 th Ed., Baranowski and Ayello).
TARA A. DEBLASIE, J.D.
RESEARCHER
tdebalsie@steifmanlaw.com | Pending Admission
Tara A. DeBlasie is a graduate of Quinnipiac University School of Law, where she pursued studies specific to public health, international relations, and civil justice. There, she served as a Deans Fellow and Fellow to the Oxford Consortium on Human Rights and Development, and worked as a member of the Quinnipiac University Civil Justice Clinic.
Prior to law school, Tara attended Fairfield University where she graduated with a dual degree in International Studies and Islamic & Middle Eastern Studies. She has interned for
various organizations in Connecticut, New York, and abroad in order to alleviate poverty and assist in refugee relocation, including Tamkeen Center for Human Rights in Amman, Jordan, and the International Rescue Committee in New York City. She has also interned for the WWE and Vineyard Vines, and worked as a law clerk for small and mid-size law firms throughout New York and Connecticut.