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Charles L. Stern, Jr., Partner

Profile

Charles L. Stern, Jr., a partner at Steeg Law and the head of the litigation section, has more than 40 years of experience handling commercial and business litigation for clients in a variety of industries, including title insurance, commercial real estate, and banking.

Chuck is known as an extremely skilled litigation attorney, who maintains the highest standards of professionalism, qualities that have attributed to him being widely recognized by his peers as one of the best in the industry. He was named Best Lawyers®’ New Orleans Litigation – Real Estate “Lawyer of the Year” in 2023, 2021, 2018 and 2015. He has also been consistently included in Best Lawyers in America, Super Lawyers and New Orleans Magazine Top Lawyers.

In the combative world of litigation Chuck has a reputation for coming up with practical solutions that accomplish what the client is trying to accomplish without spending money unnecessarily. As he says, “I am highly aware of my client’s needs and interests. I also learned a long time ago that litigation is a means to an end. So, from the beginning I am looking for ways to resolve the dispute on terms that make sense for my client.”

Chuck has tried numerous cases to conclusion successfully during his career in federal, state, and bankruptcy court. As appellate counsel, he has argued before the United States Supreme Court, as well as the U. S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals and several Louisiana state appellate courts. His appearance before the Supreme Court was part of the successful defense of a large mixed-use development in New Orleans against a $5 million mortgage claim.

He is well known for his vast experience in title disputes and title insurance coverage. Chuck’s other areas of practice include: construction and development disputes; bankruptcy and workouts (creditor representation) with a concentration on disputes affecting or involving commercial real estate; litigation involving disputes among shareholders of closely-held corporations; and bet-the-company litigation.

Representative Transactions and Cases

  • Represented condominium association in 100+ unit building in Warehouse District of New Orleans claim against developer and others for defects in roof and other common elements.
  • Represented large development company in defending against multiple actions brought by minority shareholders with non-voting interests.
  • Defended national title insurance company in multi-million dollar action filed by lender for losses allegedly suffered due to loss in priority of preferred ship mortgages.

Professional Activities

  • Member, Louisiana State Bar, American Bar, Federal Bar and Fifth Federal Circuit Bar Associations
  • Member, ABA Section of Antitrust, Litigation, and Torts and Insurance Practice Sections
  • Member, ABA Section of Torts and Insurance Practice, Title Insurance Litigation Committee
  • New Orleans Pro Bono Project (assist its clients in real estate related disputes)
  • Member, Turnaround Management Association, Louisiana Chapter

Recognition

  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”- New Orleans Litigation – Real Estate, New Orleans (2023)
  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year”- New Orleans Litigation – Real Estate, New Orleans (2021)
  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” New Orleans Litigation – Real Estate, New Orleans (2018)
  • Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” New Orleans Litigation – Real Estate, New Orleans (2015)
  • The Best Lawyers in America – Litigation – Commercial Litigation; Litigation – Real Estate; Litigation – Bankruptcy; Bet-the-Company Litigation (2012-2024)
  • Super Lawyers – Business Litigation (2007-2023)
  • Martindale-Hubbell – AV Preeminent
  • New Orleans CityBusiness – Leadership in Law Hall of Fame; Leadership in Law (2011, 2020, 2023)
  • New Orleans Magazine – Top Lawyers in Litigation
  • Harvard College – Graduated magna cum laude in mathematics

Civic and Community

  • Lower Ninth Ward Homeowners Association, Treasurer; Board Member (2018-present) 
  • Board Member and Past President, Shir Chadash Conservative Congregation
  • Board Member, Executive Committee Member, The Jewish Federation of Greater New Orleans
  • Past President, New Orleans Jewish Day School
  • Former Board Member and Past President, Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestra

Special Experience

  • Oral argument before United States Supreme Court in Rivet v. Regions Bank, 522 U.S. 470 (1998)
  • Law clerk to the Hon. Morey Sear (U.S.D.C., E.D. LA.) 1979-1980
  • New Orleans Pro Bono Project (assist its clients in real estate related disputes)

Representative Reported Cases

  • Rivet, et al. v. Regions Bank, et al., 522 U.S. 470, 118 S. Ct. 921, 139 L. Ed. 2d 912 (1998)
  • Plaquemines Parish Government v. Schenck, 2015-0127 (La. App. 4 Cir. 12/9/15); 182 So. 3d 1122, writ denied, 2016-0045 (La. 2/26/16), 187 So. 3d 1004 and 2016-0046 (La. 2/26/16), 187 So. 3d 1004
  • Sid-Mar’s Restaurant & Lounge, Inc. v. State, 14-52 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/21/14); 142 So. 3d 188, writ denied, 2014-1292 (La. 9/26/14), 149 So. 3d 267
  • Mid-South Plumbing, LLC v. Dev. Consortium-Shelly Arms, LLC, 2012-1731 (La. App. 4 Cir. 10/23/13), 2013 WL 5757915
  • FMC Enterprises, L.L.C. v. Prytania-St. Mary Condominiums Ass’n, Inc., 2012-1634 (La. App. 4 Cir. 5/15/13), 117 So. 3d 217
  • Feil v. Greater Lakeside Corp., 11-92 (La. App. 5 Cir. 12/13/11), 81 So. 3d 178, writ denied, 2012-0122 (La. 3/23/12), 85 So. 3d 91
  • Feil v. Greater Lakeside Corp., 09-441 (La. App. 5 Cir. 1/26/10), 31 So. 3d 520, writ denied, 2010-0434 (LA/ 4/30/10), 34 So. 3d 298
  • First Am. Bank v. First Am. Transp. Title Ins. Co., 585 F. 3d 833 (5th Cir. 2009)
  • Deutsche Bank Trust Co. Americas v. Dudek, 2009-0129 (La. App. 4 Cir. 8/12/09), 19 So. 3d 20, writ denied, 2009-1995 (La. 11/20/09), 25 So. 3d 799
  • Cent. Progressive Bank v. Harvey, No. 08-4035, 2009 WL 901770 (E.D. La. Mar. 27, 2009)
  • In re First Summit Group, LLC, No. 06-20237, Adv. No. 07-2003, 2008 WL 913283 (Bankr. W.D. La. Apr. 1, 2008)
  • Higbee Co. v. Greater Lakeside Corp, No. 06-2848, 2007 WL 3275142 (E.D. La. Nov. 5, 2007)
  • Carrollton Cent. Plaza Associates v. Piccadilly Restaurants, LLC, 2006-0731 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2/7/07), 952 So. 2d 756
  • H.R. 10 Profit Sharing Plan v. Mayeaux, 2003-0691 (La. App. 1 Cir. 9/17/04), 893 So. 2d 887, writ denied, 2005-0868 (La. 5/13/05), 902 So. 2d 1031
  • Caracci v. Cobblestone Village Condominium Association, 03-1487 (La. App. 5 Cir. 5/26/04), 877 So. 2d 1000, writ denied, 2004-2290 (La. 11/19/04), 888 So. 2d 207
  • Karno v. Joseph Fein Caterers, 2002-1269 (La. App. 4 Cir. 4/16/03), 846 So. 2d 105, writ denied, 2003-1358 (La. 9/13/03), 853 So. 2d 642
  • Rivet v. Regions Bank, 2002-1813 (La. 2/25/03), 838 So. 2d 1290
  • Billups v. Lyons, 2001-1654 (La. App. 4 Cir. 5/29/02), 821 So. 2d 499, writ denied, 2002-1798 (La. 10/14/02), 827 So. 2d 424
  • Orleans Title Ins. Agency, L.L.C. v. R. Alan Bartlett, Inc., 2001-0177 (La. App. 4 Cir. 2/27/02), 811 So. 2d 1126
  • Regions Bank, et al. v. Rivet, et al., 224 F.3d 483 (5th Cir. 2000), cert denied, 531 U.S. 1126, 121 S. Ct. 882, 148 L. Ed. 2d 791 (2001)
  • Fleming v. First Nat. Bank of Commerce, 1999-1343 (La. App. 4 Cir. 5/24/00), 764 So. 2d 145, writ denied, 2000-1985 (La. 9/29/00), 769 So. 2d 1223
  • Weisler v. Bd. of Zoning Adjustments, 98-3007 (La. App. 4 Cir. 11/17/99), 745 So. 2d 1259, writ denied, 2000-0142 (La. 3/17/00), 757 So. 2d 141
  • Magnolia Fed. Bank for Savings v. U.S., 42 F.3d 968 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • Missouri Pacific R. Co. v. City of New Orleans, 46 F.3d 487 (5th Cir. 1995)
  • Wainer v. A.J. Equities, Ltd., 984 F.2d 679 (5th Cir. 1993)
  • In re Tahkenitch Tree Farm Partnership, 156 B.R. 525 (Bankr. E.D. La. 1993);
  • Yorkshire Partnership v. Pacific Capital Partnership, 154 F.R.D. 141 (M.D. La. 1993)
  • Socorro vs. City of New Orleans, 579 So. 2d 931 (La. 1991)
  • FDIC v. Mmahat, 907 F.2d 546 (5th Cir. 1990), cert denied, 499 U.S. 936, 111 S. Ct. 1387, 113 L. Ed. 2d 444 (1991)
  • Gen. Am. Oil Co. of Texas v. Williams, Inc., 441 So. 2d 1268 (La. App. 1 Cir. 1983), writ denied, 445 So. 2d 1230 (La. 1984)

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