Steve has devoted his legal career to championing the rights of local government and their obligation to protect the health, safety and welfare of people, their communities, and the environment, especially for the preservation of natural resources such as mineral, air, water and environmental ecosystems threatened by polluters.
For decades, Steve has consulted with all types of public entities on a wide variety of complex legislative, regulatory and litigation strategies. He offers clients a unique range and depth of governmental experience at the federal, state, and local level.
Steve concentrates on health and pharmaceutical litigation, environmental law, water contamination and consumer fraud actions. Most recently, Steve received national acclaim for his role in conducting national negotiations in litigation against the manufacturers, distributors, marketers, and dispensers of opioids.
Widely recognized as an expert in the affairs of local and state government, specifically for local government elected and appointment officials, Steve also serves as the executive director for the NYS Association of Counties and the NYS County Executives Association.
Bar Admissions
New York
United States District Court, Northern District of New York
United States Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
United States Supreme Court
Education
Albany Law School of Union University, J.D., magna cum laude, Justinian Society
State University of New York, College at Potsdam, B.A., Industrial & Labor Relations
Cornell University, Graduate Certificate, Industrial & Labor Relations
Awards and Honors
Awarded the prestigious Jefferson B. Fordham Award for State and Local Government Advocacy, American Bar Association
Professional affiliations
Board Member, NYS Clean Water Collaborative, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation
Board Member, NYS Association of Solid Waste Management
Board Member, Albany Law School, Government Law Center
Past President, National Council of County Association Executives (NCCAE)
Past Board Member, National Association of Counties
Court Appointments
Member, NYS Committee on Character and Fitness NYS Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Judicial Department
Representative Cases and Settlements of Note
*Results May Vary Depending On Your Particular Facts and Legal Circumstances*
Steve held pivotal role in executing strategic negotiation and resolution necessary for the NYS Consent Decree implementing the 1998 Master Settlement Agreement litigation against 45 tobacco companies resulting in $24 Billion for the State of NY, with $12 B going to NY Counties for tobacco related health related expenses in the Medicaid Program.
Served as counsel liaison organizing and negotiating on behalf of 45 NY counties against pharmaceutical industry for inflated drug prices in NY Medicaid Program leading to hundreds of millions of dollars in settlement. Average Wholesale Pricing, MDL 1456
Recognized national leader in developing consensus in complex multi-state, multi-county opioid litigation, involving thousands of plaintiffs claiming opioid distributed to the death and substance abuse disorders in the state of New York. To this day, MDL 2804, remains the most complex Multi-District Litigation in the History of the Federal Court System.
$12.5 Billion Settlement with 3M Company
Napoli Shkolnik, along with other members of the PFAS Settlement Steering Committee, is proud to announce a $12.5 billion settlement with 3M Company in the ongoing multi-district litigation over the contamination of drinking water with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) resulting from the widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”). This historic class action settlement agreement resolves the claims of Public Water Systems across the country that have been impacted by actual or threatened contamination of their water systems with PFAS.
Judge Approves Historic $12.5 Billion 3M Settlement to Clean America’s Water Supplies
$1.185 Billion Settlement with Dupont, Chemours, Corteva
On June 22, 2023, Paul Napoli, along with the co-leads of the AFFF MDL reached a $1.185 billion settlement with DuPont, Chemours, Corteva to address PFAS contamination in public water systems’ drinking water supplies. This settlement was given preliminary approval on February 9, 2024. Once the court issues a final judgement, a 60-day period will begin during which class members can submit their claims forms to participate in the settlement.
Historic $1.18 Billion Settlement Approved with DuPont to Clean America’s Water Supplies
$750 Million Settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP
In a monumental stride towards addressing the nation’s PFAS water contamination crisis, Paul Napoli, along with the co-leads of the AFFF Multi-District Litigation, have achieved a groundbreaking $750 million settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP. This significant legal triumph will facilitate the remediation of drinking water sources for public water systems impacted by PFAS, a group of harmful chemicals found in AFFF. The agreement with Tyco was given preliminary Court approval by the Honorable Richard Gergel in the United States District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Napoli Shkolnik’s Paul Napoli and AFFF MDL Co-Leads Secure $750 Million Settlement with Tyco Fire Products LP in AFFF MDL
$316.5 Million Settlement with BASF Corporation
Napoli Shkolnik, along with Plaintiffs’ Co-Lead and Interim Class Counsel, is proud to announce a $316.5 million settlement with BASF Corporation (“BASF”) in the ongoing multi-district litigation (“MDL”) over the contamination of drinking water with toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) resulting from the widespread use of aqueous film-forming foam (“AFFF”). The settlement was negotiated by Partner Paul J. Napoli and the other Co-Lead Counsel in the AFFF MDL and resolves BASF’s liability for claims held by Public Water Systems across the country that have been impacted by actual or threatened contamination of their water systems with PFAS.
Napoli Shkolnik Announces $316.5 Million Settlement with BASF Corporation in AFFF MDL
EPA Announces Final National Primary Drinking Water Regulation (NPDWR) for 6 PFAS
As a law firm at the forefront of litigation against PFAS manufacturers, Napoli Shkolnik applauds the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for its landmark decision to establish regulatory limits on per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (“PFAS”) in drinking water. As legal representatives of thousands of public water systems in the Aqueous Film-Forming Foams (“AFFF”) Multi-District Litigation (“MDL”), the firm views this action as a pivotal moment in ensuring the safety and cleanliness of drinking water for the American people.
Napoli Shkolnik Applauds EPA’s Historic Action on PFAS Regulation in Drinking Water
Pro Bono
Nationally recognized for successfully negotiating overhaul for defense representation of the indigent in New York. Recognized by Chief Judge of NY Court of Appeals for improving the quality of defense through counsel at arraignment, eligibility and case law relief and initiatives to improve quality of defense for indigent defense pursuant to Hurrell-Herring, et al. v. State of New York, et al.
Led successful effort with the NYS Alliance for Organ Donation to significantly increase New York in nation organ donation participation.
Other Experience
Bar Examiner, NYS Board of Law Examiners, graded thousands of NYS Bar Exam essays
(844) 230-7676
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