Karen M. Stemland

Karen’s practice focuses on resolving complex commercial disputes in the most efficient manner possible. As a trusted advisor, Karen assists clients in overcoming and navigating difficult legal challenges, to achieve the best possible outcomes.

She frequently represents owners and contractors in complex construction and real estate disputes, ranging from small to multi-million-dollar matters. Karen also helps clients minimize disputes from the outset, by preparing and negotiating dispute-worthy contracts, and counseling clients in risk-mitigation strategies.

Karen practices in state and federal courts in both Virginia and Washington D.C., and she formerly practiced in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has litigated a broad range of commercial matters, including in the areas of construction, real estate, insurance, intellectual property, medical malpractice, land use, and product liability.

Karen has co-authored chapters on commercial general liability insurance in Virginia Insurance Law and insurance coverage in the Virginia Construction Law Deskbook.

Karen graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as Senior Notes Editor for the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. She earned her B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Colgate University. Prior to law school, Karen worked in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.

Beyond her law practice, Karen completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Foothills Child Advocacy Center, a three-year term as the Secretary of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association, and a two-year term as Co-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative Committee at the Urban Land Institute of Virginia.

• Represented an international company in a trade secret dispute and obtained a favorable judgment.
• Represented a government contractor in multi-million-dollar dispute involving a military facility.
• Represented a contractor in multi-million-dollar mechanic’s lien claim.
• Represented an owner in suit against contractor involving fire damage and potential insurance coverage and secured favorable settlement for client.
• Represented an owner in land-use dispute with neighbor and successfully negotiated settlement.
• Represented an owner in suit against design-builder pertaining to design issues and successfully negotiated settlement.
• Represented a company in dispute over computer servers and obtained successful outcome for client.
• Represented a lender in class action litigation and defense against multi-million-dollar claims.

Recognition

Education

Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., cum laude

Colgate University, B.A., magna cum laude

Admissions

Virginia

District of Columbia

Pennsylvania (Inactive) 

• Associated General Contractors of Virginia
• Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association
• Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
• Virginia Bar Association

“Protecting Payments on Construction Projects from Bankruptcy Estate Claw-Backs,” Virginia Lawyer, June 2019.