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

Stephanie is a member of Patterson's well-regarded law firm defense practice, representing law firms and individual lawyers facing legal malpractice and related claims. Stephanie's experience includes defending against legal malpractice claims arising out of a multi-million-dollar commercial real estate transaction; high-net worth estate planning; and bankruptcy proceedings. Other past representations include defending a firm against fraud in a suit brought by a former litigation adversary, and representing a firm facing malpractice claims related to legal advice to a biotech startup. Stephanie has also represented law firms opposing disqualification motions and in responding to non-party subpoenas. Stephanie's role as Patterson's Co-General Counsel provides her with daily insight into the challenging ethical and legal issues that law firms address on a daily basis.

In her complex litigation practice, Stephanie has represented 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. Stephanie is 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." They add, "Stephanie is incredibly smart, well organized, and well prepared. I am so impressed with her and her ability." Stephanie was named to 2022 and 2023 Benchmark Litigation's "40 & Under" list. Stephanie was also named as a "Future Star" in Benchmark Litigation's 2024 Guide.

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.

Bar Admissions

• U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit
• U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit
• New York

Education

• Georgetown University Law Center (J.D., 2010)
  • Senior Administrative Editor, Georgetown Law Journal
  • Order of the Coif
• New York University (B.A., magna cum laude, 2004)
  • Phi Beta Kappa

• City Bar Professional Responsibility Committee, Member (2022-2024)
• City Bar Professional Ethics Committee, Member (2019-2022)
• City Bar New Lawyers Council Public Service Committee, Chair (2015-2017)