Stephen (Steve) T. Hicklin graduated from California State University, Fullerton in 1985 with a degree in Political Science. From Cal State Fullerton, Steve entered the University of California, Davis School of Law and graduated from King Hall in 1988. While in law school, Steve represented U.C. Davis in the American Bar Assoc.'s Moot Court competition where he was a regional semi-finalist. He also externed for the Hon. Milton Schwartz, United States District Court, E.D. CA.
On graduation from law school, Steve took and passed the California Bar Examination and began work at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison's Los Angeles office. After three years with Brobeck, Phleger, Steve joined Stroock & Stroock & Lavan and, in 1993, left to become in-house litigation counsel for Glendale Federal Bank, F.S.B. Steve stayed at Glendale Fed until 1998, when it was acquired by Citibank, and then joined WMC Mortgage Corp. as managing litigation counsel. When WMC Mortgage faltered, Steve spent three years in Northern California. On his return to Southern California in 2003, Steve joined Countrywide Home Loans as Litigation Counsel but was recruited by a former WMC colleague to join ReconTrust, N.A., Countrywide's foreclosure trustee as Compliance Manager. After Bank of America's acquisition of Countrywide, Steve was elevated to the position as ReconTrust's Chief Compliance Officer. All in all, Steve spent almost eight years at Countrywide/Bank of America until he left to move to Orange County. In 2010, Steve joined Wright, Finlay & Zak as Senior Counsel, a position he held until a former ReconTrust colleague recruited Steve to be General Counsel for Northwest Trustee Services and its related business lines. When Northwest Trustee Services downsized in 2014, Steve joined Buckley Madole as Senior Counsel, managing its Long Beach office. Steve opened The Hicklin Firm in 2018.
In addition to Steve's 30+ years of experience as a California lawyer, Steve was admitted to the Texas State Bar in 2007 and the Washington State Bar in 2015. Steve maintains active status and is authorized to practice in all three states.
Employment Law
