Joann Sternheimer, a partner in the Albany office of Lippes Mathias and co-leader of the firm’s automotive and truck finance team, was honored as a Founder at The Legal Project’s 30th Anniversary Dinner, held October 25 at the Crowne Plaza/Desmond Hotel in Albany. The recognition highlights Sternheimer’s 24 years of pro bono clinic service, her tenure as a board member, and her past leadership as board president. 

Sternheimer received The Legal Project’s Outstanding Service Award in 2021, the Capital District Women’s Bar Association’s Pro Bono Award in 2007, and The Legal Project’s Kurt Clobridge Award in 2005 in recognition of her long-standing commitment to expanding access to legal services. She has also served in leadership roles across the Capital Region legal community, including as president of the Capital District Women’s Bar Association and of The Legal Project’s Board of Directors. 

The event brought together leaders from the Capital Region legal community to reflect on three decades of impact and to celebrate the individuals who have contributed to the organization’s growth and mission. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan and Albany County Sheriff Craig D. Apple, Sr. were among those who delivered remarks. 

About Joann Sternheimer 

Joann Sternheimer is a partner at Lippes Mathias LLP. Prior to joining the firm, she was the managing partner of Deily & Glastetter, LLP. She is co-team leader of Lippes Mathias’ automotive and truck finance team and represents lenders in the automotive, trucking and equipment lending industries in complex commercial litigation, commercial loan transactions, and all phases of workout and debt restructuring matters. With more than twenty years of industry experience, she drafts form lending and leasing documents, program guidelines, and vendor contracts and advises on floor plan lending, risk management, mobility service offerings, and vendor service management. 

Sternheimer is admitted to and regularly appears in the state and federal courts in New York and New Jersey. She represents creditors, including landlords, defendants, and bankruptcy trustees in chapter 11 cases, cross-border proceedings, and all types of bankruptcy litigation, including fraud-based actions, claim disputes, and non-dischargeable actions. She has also served as a discovery master in bankruptcy court. 

She has been repeatedly recognized by Upstate New York Super Lawyers®, holds an AV Preeminent® rating from Martindale Hubbell®, and was selected as a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America™, a trial lawyer honorary society. She lectures frequently on topics such as lien perfection and priority, equipment leasing, bankruptcy litigation, and distressed assets. 

She was nominated by the Board of Judges for the NDNY Bankruptcy Court to serve on the Standing Local Rules Committee from 2012 to 2015. In 2010 and again in 2014, she was appointed by the Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York to serve on the panel of attorneys responsible for investigating and prosecuting attorney disciplinary complaints. 

She began her career as law clerk to the Hon. William F. Tuohey, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge for the District of New Jersey, and as an associate in the bankruptcy department of a New Jersey firm. 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with 220-plus attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Syracuse, and Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Tampa Bay, and West Palm Beach, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, independent sponsors, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals. 

Ranked No. 204 on The National Law Journal’s NLJ 500 list of the largest law firms in the United States by attorney headcount, Lippes Mathias is proud to be recognized year after year by The Best Lawyers in America®, U.S. News – Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA. For more information, visit www.lippes.com.