The Rule of Lawyers is an initiative of Democracy Rising Collaborative, dedicated to meeting lawyers where they are to give them concrete actions to stand up for the Rule of Law in America today. From “Getting in the Game” to “Being a Hero,” this initiative empowers lawyers to get off the sidelines to make a difference in this consequential moment.
Democracy Rising Collaborative educates, organizes, and mobilizes American lawyers and other civic leaders in key states across the country to engage in collective action in defense of our democracy and the Rule of Law. Litigation will continue to be an essential element of curbing government overreach, but lawyers can also use their powers outside of the courtroom to stand up for the Rule of Law. Democracy Rising Collaborative focuses on organizing lawyers to engage in these types of essential activities, including by using their cultural, moral, and economic power to meet the moment.
is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Democracy Rising Collaborative. Steve is the former Communications Advisor to the bi-partisan American Bar Association’s Task Force for American Democracy co-chaired by Judge J. Michael Luttig (ret.) and Secretary Jeh Johnson. A member of the New York Bar and graduate of Pritzker Northwestern University School of Law and Cornell University, he was responsible for promoting the Task Force’s work, including its landmark report released September 10, 2025, developing impactful communications strategies, and creating collaborative relationships with leading democracy organizations across the ideological spectrum. He also chaired the NotAbovetheLaw legal grassroots organizing working group. He is an advisor to the senior leadership of the American Bar Association and the Bolch Judicial Institute of Duke Law School and was a participant in the Carter Center Warsaw Study trip (October, 2025) focused on anti-authoritarianism. He was chief speechwriter for Governor Andrew Cuomo and a senior White House adviser to President Bill Clinton and has advised Judge Thomas Griffith (ret.), Mike Bloomberg and Ajay Banga (now President of the World Bank). He is an in-demand media, speech and presentation coach and message development expert for executives and high-level teams. He has held senior management roles at Citigroup and the White House.
is the Co-Founder and Co-Director of Democracy Rising Collaborative. Danny is a lawyer, advocate, and communicator with a track record of designing and leading successful organizing efforts, predicting and successfully planning for future threats before they arise, and working with partners across the political spectrum. Until recently, he was Senior Advisor for Democracy 2025 at Democracy Forward where he worked for the last four years. At Democracy Forward, Danny helped lead efforts to expose Project 2025 and stand up Democracy 2025, the strategic hub to protect people and their rights against the Trump-Vance administration’s efforts to unlawfully strip away freedoms and prosperity. Danny has a range of experience advocating for and defending democracy, including serving as the Director of Content and Strategy at the Renew Democracy Initiative and founding the Society for Constitutional Protection in New York. As the Associate Policy Director for the Ohio Business Roundtable, Danny helped organize a politically diverse coalition of state legislators, unions, businesses, and educators in the state of Ohio to defend the Common Core. Danny has a Bachelor of Arts in Astrophysics from Princeton University, and a J.D. from Georgetown University Law Center. Danny clerked for a federal judge after law school and is a member of the New York Bar.
Additional Information and 990s Information concerning Independence Initiative, Inc., including copies of its IRS Forms 990 and 990-T may be obtained without cost by sending an email to info@independenceinitative.org
601 Pennsylvania Ave NW
South Building, Ste 900
Washington, DC 20004
