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Stephen J. Holtman

Stephen J. Holtman Counsel

Contact Information

(319) 896-4043 (319) 366-1917 sholtman@spmblaw.com Cedar Rapids, IA
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Jenny Fisher

Jenny Fisher

Legal Assistant

(319) 896-4010 jfisher@spmblaw.com

Practice Area

Bar Admissions

  • State of Iowa, 1972
  • State of Wisconsin, 1981 (Inactive)

Court Admissions

  • US Supreme Court, 1979
  • US Court of Appeals
    • Third Circuit, 1992
    • Fourth Circuit, 1984
    • Fifth Circuit, 1977
    • Sixth Circuit, 1982
    • Eighth Circuit, 1973
    • Ninth Circuit, 1982
    • Tenth Circuit, 1987
    • Eleventh Circuit, 1983
    • Federal Circuit, 1992
  • US District Court
    • Northern & Southern Districts of Iowa, 1973
    • Central District of Illinois, 2017

Education

  • University of Iowa College of Law, JD, with distinction, 1972
  • University of Iowa, BS, 1967

Clerkship

  • Law Clerk to the Honorable Donald P. Lay, United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1972

Attorney Steve Holtman joined the firm in 1973 after serving as a law clerk to Judge Donald P. Lay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit. Mr. Holtman has practiced primarily in commercial and business litigation and has extensive experience in handling complex civil and commercial litigation matters involving breach of contract, business torts, intellectual property and securities. He has litigated cases in state and federal courts in 25 states throughout the country. Mr. Holtman has given oral arguments in nine of the 12 United States Courts of Appeals.

In addition, Mr. Holtman has presented at numerous continuing legal education seminars, including a presentation at the American Bar Association Annual Meeting. He has been active in several Iowa Bar Association committees and served as chair of the Antitrust and Trade Regulation Committee.

For many years, Mr. Holtman was managing partner of the law firm. His legal education was interrupted from 1968-1970 when he was drafted into the United States Army during the Vietnam War.

  • Included in Best Lawyers® "Lawyer of the Year" list in Cedar Rapids
    • Litigation - Securities, 2025
    • Litigation - Trusts and Estates, 2023
    • Bet-the-Company Litigation, 2019
  • Included in the Best Lawyers in America® list, 2025
    • Antitrust Law, Bet-the-Company Litigation, Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, Litigation - Intellectual Property, Litigation – Securities, Litigation - Trusts and Estates
  • Included in Super Lawyers's Top Ten Attorneys for the State of Iowa list
    • 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
  • Included in Great Plains Super Lawyers list, 2007, 2009-2024
    • Business Litigation
  • Ranked in Chambers USA, 2010-2024
    • Steve is a highly regarded for representing clients in commercial litigation. A source comments: "Steve Holtman is a very good commercial litigator," adding that he is a "superior lawyer, has a good mind and represents his clients effectively in courts all over the country."
      -- Chambers USA
  • Ranked as Local Litigation Star by Benchmark Litigation, 2008-2022
  • Iowa State Bar Association
    • Fellow, Iowa State Bar Foundation
    • Former Member, Litigation Section
    • Former Member, Trade Regulation Section (Chairman, 1987-1990)
    • Former Member, Federal Practice Committee, 1979, 1991-1994, 2016-2018
    • Former Member, Iowa Supreme Court Advisory Committee on Rules of Civil Procedure
  • Linn County Bar Association
  • Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation
  • Advocate, American Board of Trial Advocates
  • American Law Institute
    • Advisor, Restatement (Third) of Torts, Apportionment of Liability 
  • American Arbitration Association
    • Arbitrator, 1975-Present
  • Former Member, Iowa Defense Counsel Association