After graduating law school, Steve began his legal career working for a mid-sized Baltimore law firm, where he was given many opportunities to learn about areas of the law other than tax. With his accounting background, representing small to medium-sized businesses was a natural fit. He also sought out opportunities to do litigation and trial work. When and as these opportunities arose, he seized them with a passion. 

Steve stayed with his first law firm for 10 years, 7 years as an associate, and 3 years as a partner, and during this first decade of his professional career, he learned a lot about the law as a profession and as a business. He left to start his own law firm in the mid-1990s, and in 2004 he formed Skeen & Kauffman, LLP (the “Law Firm”) with his friend and law partner, Jim Skeen. Recently, recognizing that many of his clients also needed specialized accounting services, Steve formed Kauffman Kim, LLP (the Accounting Firm”) with his friend and partner, John Kim.

Steve is an AV-rated attorney, which means that he has been recognized by his peers as being among the best attorneys in the country. He has written articles on tax and litigation that have been published in professional journals, spoken to attorneys, accountants and enrolled agents about practicing before the IRS, and continued teaching tax courses, including at the University of Maryland School of Law where he assists with the Low Income Tax Clinic.