2025 Atigun Awards spotlight: Steve Marlin, Professional of the Year
Sr. Assistant General Counsel Steve Marlin’s dependable nature and commitment to excellence inspires confidence and trust in everyone he works with. An advisor to many, Steve offers honest advice that is consistently in Alyeska’s best interest. Steve’s openminded approach to every challenge and question allows him to actively engage with an issue and gain a full understanding before he offers solutions that consider a decision’s short- and long-term impacts. With a special focus on field operations, he demonstrates care for TAPS workers through his timeliness of deliverables and has fostered a culture of trust and companywide collaboration.
In this Q&A, Steve shared his favorite day on TAPS, his favorite part of his job, and his favorite people at Alyeska.
How did you feel when you heard you won this award?
I felt very honored and humble in light of all the Professionals working at Alyeska who also deserve this award, and very appreciative of all the teams, client groups, and individuals whom I work with at TAPS. I also was very surprised since I assumed no one in Law Dept. receives it, but maybe plays a role in helping others get it.
What is your favorite part of your job?
TAPS workers and Alyeska work culture, and the diversity of the legal work.
Do you have a favorite day on TAPS? Tell us about it!
Any day I get out of (Corporate Headquarters in Anchorage) and into the field to personally meet the people on the TAPS frontlines, hear their thoughts and questions, experience their successes, and offer my insight is a favorite day on TAPS for me. It’s the only way to learn TAPS. But in particular, I had several fantastic days last summer traveling the entire length of the pipeline with the Regulatory Compliance team, especially the two days we inspected the Pipeline ROW by chopper, one day flying from PS04 over Atigun Pass to Chandalar and another day flying from GRB to VMT. Unforgettable.
Is there anyone you’d like to recognize who has helped you along the way or supports your work?
First, Susan Parkes, the General Counsel who hired me and helped me transition from a big law firm attorney into a role as in-house counsel to Alyeska and TAPS. Second, the Law Department staff now and over the years who supported my work and made it happen (in particular, Jeri West and Stefanie Baird), and third, my awesome client groups.