Meet Michael

Michael Stern is an admiralty and insurance coverage attorney.  He is a litigator with more than 30 years of experience representing cargo insurers, terminal operators, vessel owners, charterers and operators, the Protection & Indemnity Associations, recreational vessel owners and their insurers, marinas, domestic and international insurers, reinsurers, reinsurance intermediaries, and international commodities trading houses in a wide variety of contract and claim specific issues for which his guidance or counsel is sought.  He maintains an active litigation and arbitration practice before federal, state, and international courts and arbitral bodies.  He has considerable experience acting in conjunction with foreign attorneys in contested matters pending before courts and arbitral fora in countries, including England, Singapore and Japan. 

Drawing on his many years of expertise in litigation, arbitration and mediation, Mr. Stern was selected to participate as a fellow with the Forum for International Conciliation and Arbitration and as an editorial board member for the International Journal of the Rule of Law. Alongside the abovementioned roles, Mr. Stern shared his expertise in the field as an adjunct professor in the International Trade and Marketing Department at the Fashion Institute of Technology, through which he taught international business law and import/export regulations.  

Outside of his work, Mr. Stern contributes to his community through the Historic Preservation Commission and the Planning Board of Ridgewood, New Jersey. Michael earned a Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Juris Doctorate cum laude the Duke University School of Law. Based on his excellent track record and professional standing, Michael was selected for inclusion with Marquis Who’s Who, and an AV-rating from Martindale-Hubbell.  

The cornerstone of his success lay in his ability to quickly grasp issues relevant to a particular dispute and determine an efficient strategy to reach a successful outcome for his clients.  

• Marquis Who’s Who in America
• Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Lawyer

• Member of Historic Preservation Commission and Planning Board of Village of Ridgewood
• Somerville Hawes Dad’s Night