Stephen Metz

Principal

Bethesda Office

Contact

Email: smetz@offitkurman.com

Phone: 240.507.1723

Fax: 240.507.1735

Mailing: 7501 Wisconsin Ave.

Suite 1000W Bethesda , MD 20814

Linkedin: Stephen Metz

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PRACTICE FOCUS

Stephen Metz is a Principal attorney at Offit Kurman. In more than 23 years of practicing law, he has garnered a reputation for being a tremendous advocate for his clients. While typically meeting clients and opposing counsel under less-than-favorable conditions, Stephen applies his signature techniques to each situation: he is fair-minded, a good listener and a straight shooter, providing his best advice and legal tactics in a calm but decisive manner. In addition to earning the respect and appreciation of those he represents, Stephen has been referred to by his legal colleagues as one of the best bankruptcy attorneys in Maryland.

Stephen concentrates his practice in litigation involving bankruptcy, creditors' rights, title disputes and real estate. He frequently represents debtors, creditors, and other parties in bankruptcy cases in various industries, including telecommunications, retail, financial services, real estate, insurance and consumer credit. He also regularly represents owners, lenders and other parties in real estate disputes, including matters involving lien priority, easements, equitable subrogation, reformation of deeds and deeds of trust, conflicts between neighbors, real estate contracts and other title-related actions in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. He often represents parties in real estate disputes with family members.

REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

On behalf of secured creditor, won contested chapter 11 confirmation hearing involving competing plans in case involving real estate
Successful representation of landlords in large retail bankruptcy cases
Represented landlord in recovery of $2.3 million lease rejection claim distribution
Managed and brought to successful resolution preference actions and claims objections on behalf of debtors in several retail cases
Representation of disbursing agent in confirmed chapter 11 plan in a trucking case
Won motion to dismiss in fraudulent conveyance action filed by bankruptcy trustee
Won dischargeability and other matters in bankruptcy cases concerning domestic relations issues
Won summary judgment on behalf of secured lender in lien priority dispute with judgment lien creditor asserting a senior lien interest
Won appeal on behalf of owners against neighbor seeking to impose an easement on owners’ property
Won case on behalf of client seeking title by adverse possession against neighbor
Represented sister against brother for fraud arising out of brother's forgery on deed to real estate
Represented sister against sibling in case involving landlord/tenant law and disputed title to real estate
Represented brother and sister against cousins in case involving disputed title to real estate once owned by grandparent
Represented owner/seller of multi-unit property in District of Columbia in dispute with buyers and agents

AWARDS

Washingtonian Top Lawyer, 2022
Best Lawyers in America, Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law, 2021-2023
Best Lawyers in America, Litigation - Real Estate, 2022 - 2023
Bethesda Magazine Top Attorneys, Bankruptcy (Creditors), (recognition honors the region’s most respected legal practitioners, as chosen by their peers), 2019-2021
Maryland Super Lawyers, 2014-2023
Washington, DC Super Lawyers, 2014-2017
Maryland Rising Stars, Super Lawyers, 2010-2012

Awards

Practice Areas

Education & Admissions

Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, 1997, J.D., Honors: Cum Laude
University of Maryland, 1994, B.S.

District of Columbia
Maryland
Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

Activities

Subchapter V Trustee for cases filed in Bankruptcy Courts in Maryland, D.C. and the Alexandria Division of the Eastern District of Virginia
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees, Member
Bankruptcy Bar Association of the District of Maryland; Chair of Local Rules Committee, 2007; Greenbelt Chapter Chair, 2007-2008; Assistant Secretary, 2008-2009; Secretary, 2009-2010; Assistant Treasurer, 2010-2011; Assistant Secretary, 2012-2013; Secretary, 2013-2014; President-Elect, 2014-2015; President, 2015-2016
American Bankruptcy Institute, Member
Bar Association of Montgomery County, MD, Member
Walter B. Chandler American Inn of Court
Simon E Sobeloff Law Society, Member
Identity, Inc., Board of Director

Posts

"Corporate Subchapter V Debtors Beware: Creditors May Object to Dischargeability of Fraud and Other Claims, at Least in Some Jurisdictions"

On June 7, 2022, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (“4th Circuit”) held that the discharge exceptions…

"Subchapter V Corner – Are Subchapter V Business Debtors at Risk to Fight Non-Dischargeability Creditor Complaints?"

An interesting issue is percolating in the Fourth Circuit right now. This issue is whether, in a Subchapter V case, a…

"An Interesting Twist in the Collection of Domestic Support Obligations in Bankruptcy"

In bankruptcy, a “domestic support obligation” (DSO) is generally defined as a debt that is in the nature of “alimony,…