About Stephen L.
Stephen L. Sapp built his legal foundation at the University of Kansas. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Personnel Administration and Political Science in 1986. He stayed at Kansas for law school and received his J.D. in 1989. Those years in Lawrence set the stage for a long career split between state and federal practice.
Early in his career Sapp joined Locke Lord LLP. Records indicate he served as a partner there beginning in 1989. He developed his practice in Texas courts while handling matters that required appearances in federal forums. The work at Locke Lord formed the core of his litigation experience and established professional contacts across the region.
In 2015 Sapp moved to Schiff Hardin LLP as a partner. That transition placed him in a national firm environment with broader geographic reach. At Schiff Hardin he continued to represent clients in complex matters that required coordination across multiple courts and regulatory settings. His role involved supervising litigation teams, preparing filings for trial and appeal, and appearing in hearings at both trial and appellate levels.
Sapp is admitted to practice in Texas and holds admission to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. He is also admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court. Those credentials mean he has handled matters that span state law and federal constitutional and statutory issues. They also allow him to accept cases that involve federal jurisdiction and, when necessary, pursue appellate review in the nation’s highest court.
Colleagues describe Sapp as steady under pressure and methodical in case preparation. He combines courtroom experience with the kind of procedural knowledge that comes from long practice in state and federal systems. His background in personnel administration and political science informs how he evaluates disputes that touch on employment, governance and regulatory compliance.
Over more than three decades in practice, Sapp has moved between boutique litigation shops and larger national platforms. That range has required adapting to different client needs and firm structures. Today he practices at Schiff Hardin LLP, where his work continues to involve state and federal litigation, motions practice, and appellate matters that arise out of complex commercial and regulatory disputes.
