Steven “Steve” P. Cholden focuses his practice on defending clients against claims related to personal injury matters including liquor liability, insurance coverage, motor vehicle matters as well as property damage claims with additional proficiency handling construction matters. A partner at Bardsley Benedict + Cholden, Steve regularly sits as a judge pro tempore and an arbitrator for the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. He also serves as a private mediator/arbitrator. Steve has gained support from both defense counsel and from the plaintiff’s bar to work towards the amicable resolution of matters.
Steve represents a wide range of clients, from Fortune 500 companies and large insurance companies to self-insureds and individuals, with extensive trial experience at all levels in both state and federal court in Pennsylvania. Prior to entering private practice, Steve was part of the special litigation department at E.I. Dupont Company de Nemours & Company.
He is a regular speaker on trial advocacy, including as a certified instructor for the National Institute of Trial Advocacy and CLM. He frequently conducts seminars for major insurance companies on recent legal developments, insurance coverage, bad faith matters and other related legal topics.
Steve has served on the Philadelphia County Rules and Procedure Committee, which is responsible for maintaining and altering the Local Rules of Civil Procedure. After his first year of law school, he was able to focus his career while serving as a law clerk for the Honorable Gabriel Krausman in the New York State Supreme Court, Kings County.
Steve has obtained SuperLawyers® status in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
Steve currently has three kids at West Virginia University. He enjoys spending as much time as possible with the family and playing very average golf.