Joann Sternheimer

Ms. Sternheimer is a partner at Lippes Mathias LLP. Prior to joining Lippes Mathias, she was the Managing Partner of Deily & Glastetter, LLP. Joann 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' experience in the industry, she drafts clients' form lending/leasing documents, program guidelines and vendor contracts and counsels lenders on floor plan lending, risk management, mobility service offerings and vendor service management.

Ms. Sternheimer is admitted to and regularly appears in the state and federal courts in New York and New Jersey representing 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. Ms. Sternheimer has also acted as a discovery master in bankruptcy court.

Ms. Sternheimer received the Legal Project's Outstanding Service Award in 2021, the Capital District Women's Bar Association's 2007 Pro Bono Award and the Legal Project's 2005 Kurt Clobridge Award for her service to low-income clients. She has been repeatedly recognized by Upstate New York Super Lawyers® (2009-2021), received 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 is a frequent lecturer on topics such as lien perfection and priority, equipment leasing, bankruptcy litigation and distressed assets.

Ms. Sternheimer is a Past President of the Northern District of New York Federal Court Bar Association and the Capital District Women’s Bar Association. She is also a past president (2016-2018) of The Legal Project's Board of Directors. She was nominated by the Board of Judges for the NDNY Bankruptcy Court and served on the Standing Local Rules Committee from 2012-2015. In December 2010 and again in 2014, she was appointed by the Chief Judge of the District Court for the Northern District of New York to serve four-year terms on the Panel of Attorneys Responsible for the Investigation and Prosecution of Attorney Disciplinary Complaints.

Ms. Sternheimer began her career as law clerk to the Hon. William F. Tuohey, United States Bankruptcy Judge, District of New Jersey and as an associate in the bankruptcy department of a prominent New Jersey firm.