Following his work for President Reagan in 1980, Steve founded Bienstock & Donnelly (now Bienstock Law, LLC, partnering with his eldest son, Josh) as a full-service firm to help folks deal with all their legal problems. A graduate of Cornell University and American University law school, Steve is licensed to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia trial courts, and a wide range of appellate and specialty courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court and U.S. District Courts for Maryland and D.C.

Selected as a Bar Leader of the Bar Association of Montgomery County, and elected as its President, Steve has long been active in service to the Bar. (Chairman for over 30 years of its Bar Revue, an annual comedy show on current events featuring judges, lawyers and politicians; Chairman, Economics Committee; Chairman, Speakers Bureau; member, Executive Committee and Nominating Committee; member, Mentor-Mentee program; recipient of Awards for Outstanding Service to the Bar, and as an Outstanding Committee Chair; lifetime member of Inns of Court). Steve has served as a mediator for the Montgomery County Circuit Court Alternative Dispute Resolution program, the Prince George’s County Arbitration Panel, has chaired Maryland Health Claims Arbitration Panels, and was selected by the Court as the County’s only Special Examiner.

No stranger to public forums, Steve is a sought after speaker and mentor on a wide range of legal issues. Steve has taught Negotiations to other attorneys and public/private groups, “Street Law” at The Newport School, and Estates and Trusts to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; Steve has also appeared as a panelist on local law shows: Law School for the Public, Montgomery Cable TV; Montgomery County Municipal Notebook.

Active in his community and officially recognized for his contributions by the City of Rockville, Steve has been the emcee for the Rockville Arts Awards ceremony for many years, served on the Centennial Celebration of the Red Brick Courthouse, and served as Legal Counsel to the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.

Known for his plain speaking and writing, Steve founded The Montgomery Sentinel’s law column, a series of easy-to-understand articles on common legal issues, and has written feature articles and theater reviews for the Montgomery Journal.

Steve is married to Heidi and they have a combined five children and five grandchildren. He’s an amateur photographer, an award winning local actor and director, and has served on the Potomac Community Theater’s Advisory Committee, and on Round House Theater’s Board of Directors. Active in Cornell University alumni affairs, Steve’s been on the Cornell Club of Washington’s Board of Directors, and interviews candidates for admission to Cornell. He’s held certification as a volleyball referee, played in the U.S. Volleyball Association, and began the American University women’s varsity volleyball team, which he then coached for many years.

• Cornell University (Bachelor of Arts, 1972)
• American University Law School (Juris Doctor, 1976)

• Maryland State Bar Association
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland
  • Bar Leader
  • Outstanding Service Award
  • Outstanding Committee Chair Award
  • Executive Committee, 1999-2001

• Maryland
• District of Columbia
• U.S. Supreme Court
• U.S. District Courts for Maryland and D.C.