EXPERTISE // PEOPLE

Stephen J. Safranek

General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

 
Experience

Stephen Safranek joined WJE in 2007 and has served as General Counsel since 2008 and Corporate Secretary since 2012. He reviews contracts, manages all litigation matters, and provides recommendations on WJE’s overall legal needs.

Prior to joining WJE, Mr. Safranek was a practicing lawyer, legal consultant, and law professor. He began his legal career clerking for the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Mr. Safranek continued his career as an associate at Latham & Watkins in Chicago, one of the ten largest law firms in the United States. While there, he was involved in work for major clients including Sears, Midway Airlines, Toyota, and other publicly traded companies. After working at Latham & Watkins, Mr. Safranek taught for several years at three law schools in Michigan, where he specialized in contract law, business associations, and constitutional law. As a recognized legal expert, he has been hired as a consultant on important legal cases nationwide and as an expert witness in contract disputes.

Mr. Safranek has published numerous articles regarding various constitutional and legal issues in several legal journals and reviews. He also has many published cases to his credit. Additionally, Mr. Safranek has been interviewed for television and radio hundreds of times and has appeared on CNN and Good Morning America. He was also interviewed for an article appearing in Time Magazine.

Professional Affiliations

Bar membership in IL and MI
Numerous federal appeals and trial courts
United State Supreme Court

Education

University of San Francisco
Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy, 1981

University of Dallas
Master of Arts, Philosophy, 1983

University of Notre Dame
Juris Doctorate, Cum Laude, 1988