Adam Stern

Partner

astern@sgslitigation.com
303-530-3452

Adam guides companies and entrepreneurs through their most challenging legal disputes. As a skilled trial lawyer and business-minded problem solver, Adam has a track record of success both inside and outside the courtroom. Adam has handled high-stakes cases involving M&A, trade secrets, trademarks, corporate governance, securities, fraud, and anticompetitive conduct.

Adam’s recent accomplishments include two complete defense victories following trial, two denials of class certification in putative class actions, a sizable award in an earnout arbitration, and a large settlement following a summary judgment win in a trade secrets case.

Prior to joining SGS, Adam was a partner at Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner and an associate at Kirkland & Ellis.

Adam’s pro bono work has included challenging solitary confinement practices in a Denver jail, preventing a metro district from restricting the display of political flags, and helping children obtain green cards through immigration proceedings.

Adam is a member of Colorado’s Judicial Performance Commission for Denver County (the Second Judicial District).

While not practicing law, Adam enjoys parenting his two boys (and black lab), and hiking, skiing, fishing, and exploring Colorado’s mountains.

Education

New York University School of Law, 2012, Robert McCay Scholar

University of Wisconsin, B.A., 2008, magna cum laude

Prior Associations

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Partner: 2021 - 2025

Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner, Associate: 2017-2020

Kirkland & Ellis, Associate: 2012-2017

Bar & Court Admissions:

Colorado

New York

U.S. District Courts for the District of Colorado and the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York

United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Tenth Circuits

  • Adam’s experience includes:

    • Representing an entrepreneur in a lawsuit about the ownership of numerous real estate assets. Obtained victory on all claims after trial.

    • Representing a bank in a class action challenging tax and wealth management strategies. Defeated class certification and obtained partial summary judgment, which led to a favorable settlement.

    • Representing a data company in a trade secret and non-compete lawsuit against individuals who had sold it a large business. Obtained partial summary judgment on liability, which led to a favorable settlement.

    • Representing the manager of a real estate company against corporate governance claims. Obtained complete defense verdict at trial.

    • Representing a health care company in class action challenging billing practices for uninsured patients. Defeated class certification, which led to voluntary dismissal.

    • Representing a private equity company in a post-closing earnout arbitration following sale of a construction company. Obtained sizable award for client.

    • Representing an oil and gas company in an international arbitration over the purchase price following the sale of oil and gas assets.

    • Representing a frack services equipment company in a bet-the-company lawsuit against a competitor, which involved alleged trade secret misappropriation and non-compete violations.

    • Representing a social media company and its officers and directors in securities class actions and shareholder derivative lawsuits relating to a major initial public offering.

    • Representing a financial services company in a partnership dispute over underwriting fees for commercial mortgage-backed securitizations.