Meet the Employment Lawyers at Steffans Legal

Benjamin Knox Steffans, employment Attorney

Ben Steffans was born in Detroit, Michigan, and raised there and in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. As a youth, Ben Steffans enjoyed playing nearly all sports, eventually focusing on soccer and having the opportunity to play soccer throughout Europe and in Brazil. Ben Steffans graduated from Michigan State University in 2003 with highest honors and with degrees in History and Latin. He graduated from Boston College Law School in 2006. Ben Steffans is admitted to practice law in the Massachusetts Bar, New York Bar, and Michigan Bar.

Prior to practicing law, Ben Steffans held a number of jobs, including waiting tables (Chili’s and Macaroni Grill), shelving books in a book warehouse, selling books in a bookstore, and working in a pizza restaurant.  

In 2006, Ben Steffans began practicing law at Butzel Long in Detroit, Michigan, a large international law firm. During his time at Butzel, Ben Steffans focused solely on employment law, learning how to defend employment claims and advise employers from some of the country’s best employment lawyers. While at Butzel, Ben Steffans represented only employers in employment disputes, focusing on those in the automotive, retail, manufacturing, educational, financial, and construction fields.  During that time, Ben wrote countless employee handbooks, employment contracts, employment policies, and non-compete agreements for employers of all sizes.  He also provided day-to-day counseling for those clients on how to comply with state and federal employment laws.  

In 2011, Ben Steffans founded Detroit City Football Club along with four friends. DCFC plays semi-professional soccer in Detroit and has become the darling of the U.S. Soccer community. In 2016, DCFC averaged over 6,500 in paid attendance and reached the national semifinals of the National Premier Soccer League.  

In 2012, Ben Steffans began practicing law at Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook LLP, in Pittsfield and Worcester, again focusing almost exclusively on employment law.  This time, however, Ben Steffans began primarily representing plaintiffs across Massachusetts in employment claims against their employers.  Ben used his experience representing employers to help individuals in all types of employment claims, including harassment, wrongful termination, workplace bullying, retaliation, racial discrimination, gender discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment, claims for unpaid overtime, unpaid bonuses, unpaid commissions, and claims of independent contractor misclassification.  In 2017, Ben Steffans started Steffans Legal so he could focus his entire practice on employment law.  

For Ben Steffans, being an employment lawyer has offered an unexpected opportunity for personal connection. Ben Steffans’s down-to-earth approach makes him easy to talk to and allows him to work closely with his clients through what are often difficult and stressful times.  Ben Steffans’s clients know him to be personable, enthusiastic, funny (sometimes), tenacious (always), honest, direct, efficient, and effective.  Some of them have even become close friends.    

In his spare time, Ben Steffans enjoys watching true crime programs, doting on his dog Flo, daydreaming about Elliot, and running.  Ben Steffans currently is trying to run (not always fast) a half marathon in all 50 states. To date, he’s tackled Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts(2), Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York(3), Nebraska, North Dakota, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia(2), Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan(5), Wisconsin, South Dakota, Texas, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Montana, Washington(2), and Idaho.

Michael A. Rivkin, Employment Attorney

Michael is an experienced and accomplished litigator. After years of successfully assisting a wide variety of clients, Michael chose to focus on advocating for the rights of employees. Over roughly a decade, Michael has secured millions of dollars in settlement funds for the workers of Massachusetts, including millions for clients who were subjected to severe sexual harassment in the workplace. Michael has significant experience representing employees in all manner of employment disputes, including but not limited to wage theft, misclassification, discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination. 

Having the opportunity to represent the workers of Massachusetts is one of Michael's greatest joys in life. He is a true believer in workers' rights and utilizes that passion to advocate for his clients. That is what sets Michael apart from the average employment lawyer; he will fight harder because representing employees in employment disputes is not just his job, it is his vocation. It is this authentic zealous advocacy that has resulted in Michael gaining the reputation of a relentless adversary.

To his clients, Michael is compassionate, patient, and responsive. Since 2020, Martindale-Hubbell has awarded Michael the highest honor possible for client satisfaction, the Client Champion Premium rating. In a review, one client stated:

Michael was dependable. He would respond immediately. I never waited for an answer regardless of the intricacy of the question. At one point, I did throw an unfamiliar obstacle his way. Michael rolled up his sleeves and educated himself on the topic and found a solution. Michael was heartfelt. He genuinely cared about my wellbeing and my future. Michael settled my case and if needed again I would contact him without hesitation. 

Prior to joining Steffans Legal, Michael served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Arthur D. Spatt in the United States Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York. After graduating Boston College Law School, he joined the Boston office of a national law firm as an associate in their litigation department. Michael then spent eight years as a litigation associate at Cohen Kinne Valicenti & Cook. 

Prior to his legal career, while studying philosophy at Union College, Michael was a touring musician.

Michael continues to write, record, and perform music with various bands throughout the United States. When he is not practicing law, Michael is an ice hockey goalie, avid reader, and a native-plant propagator.

Michael is an animal rights advocate who volunteers his time with the Berkshire Farm Sanctuary, a non-profit organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and provides a safe haven for abandoned, abused, and neglected companion and farm animals, and, with his wife and best friend Emily, has rescued two terrific mutts (said with affection): Coach and Lucy. In addition to representing employees, Michael assists animal rescue organizations and independent veterinary centers with general legal matters.

Elliot, Partner Emeritus

Elliot joined Steffans Legal in 2017. He joined our family in 2014. His lawyering days are behind him, but Elliot brings to the firm a depth of experience, unrivaled instincts, and an insatiable appetite.  He also graciously greets visitors to the office and warmly accepts treats from their pockets.  Officially, Elliot is a Royal Bahamian Potcake, which is apparently fancy-speak for 'mutt,' (but don't tell him that).    Elliot passed away in June of 2020 and remains forever in our hearts and minds.

Vanita mistry, office manager & paralegal

Vanita Mistry grew up in Rugby, England. She moved with her mom, dad, and sister to the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania when she was 14. After graduating from high school, Vanita enrolled at the University of Michigan. As a Brit, her memories of Michigan football games mostly include selling her season tickets and letting people park (for a fee of course) on the lawn of her rental house.

Vanita graduated from Michigan with a degree in mechanical engineering. After graduating, Vanita began working for General Motors as part of its team that modeled low-speed impacts on bumpers, facias, and grilles. Vanita tired of GM quickly and left after only one year to change fields entirely. From 2008-2011, Vanita worked as a community organizer in Detroit, primarily focused on early childhood education. During that same time, Vanita started Detroit Greencycle a curbside recycling and composting business operated by bicycle. For an idea of how hard Vanita works, take a look at this. A picture is worth a thousand words.

In 2012, Vanita and Ben moved to the Berkshires. From 2013-2017, Vanita worked for local manufacturer, first as a customer service representative, and then as the director of their knitting department.

In 2018, Vanita joined Steffans Legal where she serves as its office manager, office coordinator, supply chain manager, human resources manager, dog walker, intake coordinator, IT department, purchasing director, finance director, chief accountant, and marketing director, among other things.

In her spare time, Vanita likes to work outdoors, bake, make fires, and try to stop Flo from chasing the cats.