Karen Stemland focuses her practice on civil litigation, construction, real estate, energy, and commercial matters.
Karen’s practice includes risk management, civil litigation and mediation, commercial real estate development and land use, construction contracts and disputes, insurance defense, and insurance coverage.
Karen has co-authored chapters on commercial general liability insurance in Virginia Insurance Law and insurance coverage in the Virginia Construction Law Deskbook. In addition, Karen served as a legal panelist for the Associated General Contractors of Virginia’s annual convention.
Karen graduated cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center, where she served as Senior Notes Editor for the Georgetown International Environmental Law Review. She earned her B.A. in Political Science, magna cum laude, from Colgate University. Prior to law school, Karen worked in the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice.
In addition to her law practice, Karen recently completed a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Foothills Child Advocacy Center. She also served for three years as the Secretary of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association. Currently, she is serving as Co-Chair of the Women’s Leadership Initiative Committee at the Urban Land Institute of Virginia.
Affiliations
Associated General Contractors of Virginia
Charlottesville-Albemarle Bar Association
Urban Land Institute
Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
Thought Leadership
“Protecting Payments on Construction Projects from Bankruptcy Estate Claw-Backs,” Virginia Lawyer, June 2019
Representative Cases
Highlights of her experience include:
- Representing property owners, contractors, and subcontractors in complex construction disputes.
- Representing mechanic’s lien claimants and defendants in resolving lien claims.
- Representing owners and contractors in contract preparation, negotiation, and risk management for large construction projects.
- Representing insured defendants sued for personal injury or property loss, including representation of medical care providers.
- Representing title insurers in resolving title defects.
- Representing liability insurers in preparing coverage opinions.
- Representing owners with commercial real estate development and land use disputes.
- Advising clients on zoning, permitting, and land use issues.
Featured Posts
Energy Regulation In Virginia: State Corporation Commission’s Broad Discretion | September 10, 2020
Condo Association’s Insurer Allowed to Pursue Subrogation Claim Against Condo Owner’s Tenant | August 5, 2020
Virginia Supreme Court Permits Supplier’s Unjust Enrichment Claim Against Contractor, Despite Lack of Contractual Privity | June 29, 2020
Commercial General Liability Policies: Workmanship Exclusion and Ensuing Loss Exception | October 16, 2019
Defective Contractual Performance Is Not an “Occurrence” Under a Commercial General Liability Policy | August 23, 2019
Easement Prevents Road Over Pipelines | July 9, 2019
Economic Loss Rule Update | July 2, 2019
Dangers of Arbitration: Decisions Stand Even if Contrary to Law | April 2, 2019
Importance of Narrowly Tailoring Indemnity Provisions in Construction Contracts | March 25, 2019
Teaming Agreement Created No Enforceable Post-Award Obligations | February 22, 2019
Speaking Engagements
ULI Virginia - Women's Leadership Initiative | Renewable Energy Panel Discussion | May 20, 2021
ULI Virginia - Women's Leadership Initiative | Equitable Housing Panel Discussion | September 23, 2020
Associated General Contractors of Virginia - Piedmont District | Insurance Coverage on Construction Projects | March 4, 2020
Associated General Contractors of Va | Construction Case Law Update | January 26, 2019
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