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