Stephanie Teplin, Partner

Stephanie Teplin is a Partner in Patterson Belknap’s Litigation department and Co-General Counsel to the Firm.  Her practice focuses on complex financial litigation and defending law firms and lawyers from claims of legal malpractice, fraud, and breach of fiduciary duty.

In her financial litigation practice, Stephanie represents financial guarantors, hedge funds, and other institutional investors in high-stakes litigation and negotiations involving asset-backed securities and other financial instruments.  Stephanie was a key member of the trial team representing the plaintiff in one of the few representation and warranty cases to reach trial.  In 2022, Stephanie was ranked by Chambers USA in the area of Securities: Institutional Plaintiffs: Mainly RMBS Litigation.  Clients told Chambers: "She has an encyclopedic knowledge of the space. She can estimate the amount of time something will take and be absolutely on the mark with it." "She is a very talented and client-friendly attorney. She's wonderful to work with."   Ms. Teplin was named to 2022 and 2023 Benchmark Litigation’s “40 & Under” list. Ms. Teplin was also named as a “Future Star” in Benchmark Litigation’s 2023 Guide.

Stephanie is also a member of Patterson’s well-regarded law firm defense practice, representing law firms and individual lawyers in their most sensitive and significant matters.  Stephanie’s experience as a commercial litigator enables her to understand and strategize with law firms facing malpractice claims arising out of complex litigation and transactional matters.  She has represented a firm facing claims arising out of a multi-million-dollar commercial real estate transaction; other past representations include a national law firm in a suit brought by a litigation adversary for fraud and breach of NY Judiciary Law section 487, dismissed at the pleading stage, and a national firm defending against claims involving legal advice to a biotech startup.  Stephanie’s role as Patterson’s Co-General Counsel provides her with daily insight into the challenging ethical and legal issues facing law firms today.

From 2011 to 2012, Ms. Teplin served as a law clerk to the Hon. John M. Walker, Jr. of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

Representative Matters

Financial Litigation

Represented a financial guarantee insurer in claims for breach of contract against a mortgage-backed securitization sponsor.  The decade-long representation culminated in a two-week bench trial in 2019, resulting in a ruling that over 50% of the loans in the securitization breached representations and warranties.

Represents financial guarantee insurers and institutional investors in claims against trustees of securitization trusts and in trust instructional proceedings.

Advises financial institutions and hedge funds on rights and remedies under transaction documents and assessment and resolution of “putback” claims seeking repurchase of collateral.

Law Firm Defense

Defended a firm sued for malpractice after a large commercial real estate project foundered.

Defended AmLaw 100 firm against malpractice and breach of fiduciary duty claims brought by a bankruptcy trustee arising out of securities advice to a start-up.

Defended AmLaw 100 firm against claims of fraud asserted by a former adversary in a prior litigation.

Defended firm against malpractice claims associated with a trusts and estates matter.

Commercial Litigation

Represents a pharmaceutical manufacturer in antitrust claims related to biologic drug contracts.

Represented a financial and business information provider in connection with allegations by a competitor of claims of fraud, unfair competition, false advertising, and corporate espionage.

Represented a Fortune 100 company in connection with a whistleblower action alleging age discrimination, securities fraud, and violation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

Pro Bono

Represented civil liberties organizations in successful First Amendment challenge to donor disclosure laws targeting 501(c)(3)s and 501(c)(4)s.

Obtained asylum following an individual merits hearing for an artist who fled Haiti on account of threats and political persecution.

Obtained asylum on behalf of an applicant who was mistreated in his home country on account of sexual orientation.

Won dismissal of indictment on appeal for violation of New York’s speedy trial statute.