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 25 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, Steve 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; Steve has been referred to by his legal colleagues as one of the best bankruptcy attorneys in Maryland.

Steve 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. Steve also serves as a Subchapter V trustee in Chapter 11 cases filed under the Small Business Reorganization Act. 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 disputes between family members, real estate contracts and other title-related actions in state and federal courts at the trial and appellate levels.

Prior to joining Offit Kurman, Steve clerked for the Honorable Theresa A. Nolan in the Circuit Court for Prince George’s County, Maryland, and Judges Mannes, Keir, Schneider and Derby in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. He also was a shareholder at a large regional firm in Maryland for many years.

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

Small Business Reorganization Act (Panel Presenter), Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, Annual Spring Break, May 2023
Nondischargeability of Corporate Debt in Subchapter V, Strafford Webinar Presenter, April 2023
Bankruptcy and Residential Landlord/Tenant Presentation, Client Presentation, October 2022
Corporate Subchapter V Debtors Beware: Creditors May Object to Dischargeability of Fraud and Other Claims, at Least in Some Jurisdictions, Offit Kurman Creditors’ Rights, Reorganization and Bankruptcy Newsletter, August 2022
Ethical Issues in Asset Sales and Committee Service (Panel Presenter), Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, October 2021
An Interesting Twist in the Collection of Domestic Support Obligations in Bankruptcy, Offit Kurman Legal Blog, September 8, 2020

RECOGNITIONS

Maryland Super Lawyers, Rising Star, 2010-2012
Maryland Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy – Business, 2014-2023
Washington DC Super Lawyers, 2014-2022
Washingtonian Magazine, Top Lawyers, 2022
Martindale Hubbell AV Rating

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

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 discharge ability 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
On behalf of mortgage lenders, persuaded Bankruptcy Court to appoint chapter 11 trustee for debtors. In re Sydnor, 431 B.R. 584 (Bankr. D. Md. 2010)
On behalf of mortgage lenders, obtained reversal of Bankruptcy Court’s decision to dismiss instead of convert individual chapter 11 cases to chapter 7. Lakefront Investors, LLC, et al. v. Clarkson, et al., 484 B.R. 72 (D. Md. 2012)

Awards

Practice Areas

Education & Admissions

Dickinson School of Law of the Pennsylvania State University, Carlisle, Pennsylvania, J.D., Cum Laude
University of Maryland, B.S., Marketing and Transportation/Logistics

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

Professional Affiliations

Subchapter V Bankruptcy Trustee (for cases filed in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts for D.C., Maryland and Eastern District of Virginia)
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees
- NABT Foundation, Board of Directors, Treasurer
Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland
- Past President
- Program Book and CLE Coordinator, Annual Spring Break Weekend
Member, Bankruptcy Bar Association/U.S. District Court Liaison Committee
Member of the D.C. Bankruptcy Court Local Rules Committee
Walter B. Chandler American Inn of Court
American Bankruptcy Institute
Maryland State Bar Association
- Member, Consumer Bankruptcy Section
Montgomery County, Maryland Bar Association
- Member, Fee Dispute Resolution Committee
Simon E. Sobeloff Jewish Law Society
Identity, Inc. Board Member and former Board Chair

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,…