Jonathan M. Stern

Jonathan Stern is counsel in the Litigation Department and a member of the Aviation, Insurance Services, and Appellate Groups. His practice focuses on aerospace-related litigation, including civil rights cases against airlines, insurance coverage and claims handling matters involving aerospace insurance, and personal injury and wrongful death litigation involving aviation products or aviation operations.

Jon regularly represents airlines, aerospace manufacturers, aerospace insurers, airmen, and other aviation businesses and individuals. Jon brings to the law practical experience in, and knowledge of, the aviation industry. He has worked as an aviation research analyst, writing amendments to the Federal Aviation Regulations, a flight instructor, preparing students for their private and commercial pilot and instrument rating exams, and an air traffic controller, guiding airliners to a safe landing at Washington National Airport.

Other Distinctions

•Recognized by Chambers USA for nationwide aviation litigation, 2012-present
•Listed as Leading Aviation Attorney by Aviation Expert Guides 2014-present
•Listed in The International Who’s Who of Aviation Lawyers (Transport: Aviation-Contentious), 2015-2020
•Named as a ‘Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer’ variously for aviation, insurance coverage, and civil litigation defense, 2016-2019, and numerous previous years
•Named as a one of ‘Washington DC & Baltimore’s Top Rated Lawyers,’ Martindale-Hubbell in 2016 and numerous previous years
•Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
•National Law Journal “Defense Win of the Month,” May 2002

News & Publications

•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Ranked Nationally by Chambers USA
•Four Schnader Attorneys Selected for 2020 Aviation Expert Guide
•Five Schnader Attorneys Selected As Leading Aviation Lawyers in North America by Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2020
•Aviation Happenings - Winter 2019
•Five Partners in Schnader’s Aviation Group Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2020
•Four Schnader Attorneys Selected for the 2019 Aviation Expert Guide
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Ranked Nationally by Chambers USA
•Jonathan Stern and Gordon Woodward Named to Super Lawyers
•Aviation Happenings - Spring 2019
•Five Partners in Schnader’s Aviation Group Recognized in Who’s Who Legal: Aviation 2019
•Aviation Happenings- Fall 2018
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Ranked Nationally by Chambers USA
•Jonathan Stern and Gordon Woodward Named to Super Lawyers
•Aviation Happenings- Spring 2018
•Jonathan Stern Publishes “The Oxford Comma: Use It or Lose...”
•Aviation Happenings- Winter 2017
•Schnader Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers 2017
•Jonathan Stern featured in “Aircraft Insurance 2017: Key Concerns”
•Aviation Happenings- Summer 2017
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA - Ten Schnader Partners Also Recognized
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Ranked Nationally by Chambers USA
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Nationally Ranked by Legal 500 USA for Sixth Consecutive Year
•Aviation Happenings- Spring 2017
•Schnader Attorneys Among Those Selected For Who’s Who Legal: Transport 2017
•Aviation Happenings- Winter 2016-2017
•Many Schnader Attorneys Named to Super Lawyers 2016
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Nationally Ranked by Legal 500 USA for Fifth Consecutive Year
•Schnader Attorneys Named “Top Aviation Lawyers” by Institutional Investor
•Aviation Happenings- Summer 2016
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Ranked Nationally by Chambers USA
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA - Ten Schnader Partners Also Recognized
•Aviation Happenings- Spring 2016
•Greasing the Wheels of Safety: NTSB Updates Regulations Governing Reports and Proceedings
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA - Nine Schnader Partners Also Recognized
•Pennsylvania Permits Insureds Being Defended under a Reservation of Rights to Settle Without Their Insurer’s Consent
•Proportionality Considerations in Discovery: Understanding the New and Proposed Rules Will Help You Serve as a Useful Advisor and Advocate
•Super Lawyers Recognizes Many Schnader Attorneys in 2015
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Again Ranked Among Top Firms in the United States
•Aviation Happenings- Summer 2015
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA - Nine Schnader Partners Also Recognized
•Jonathan Stern Discusses Germanwings Crash on Fox News
•Jon Stern Quoted On Jury Verdict In Passenger Removal Case
•Three Partners in Schnader’s Aviation Group Recognized by Legal Media Group’s Expert Guide as World Leading Aviation Attorneys
•Super Lawyers Recognizes Many Schnader Attorneys in 2014
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Again Nationally Ranked in Chambers USA and The Legal 500 USA
•Pennsylvania Superior Court Reverses Forum Non Conveniens Dismissal of International Air Crash Case, But Don’t Equate Pennsylvania with Cook County, Illinois (Just Yet)
•Jonathan Stern Discusses Insurance Issues Related to Corporate Aircraft
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA - Nine Schnader Partners Also Recognized
•“Declaration of Independence: When does a reservation of rights entitle an insured to independent counsel and control of its defense?”
•“You Like ‘To-May-Toe,’ I Like ‘To-Mah-Toe'” - Distinctions Without a Material Difference: Supreme Court Reverses Lower Court Rejection of ATSA Immunity
•Aviation Happenings - Winter 2014
•Super Lawyers Recognizes Many Schnader Attorneys in 2013
•Third Circuit Holds Motion for Reconsideration Does Not Avoid Prohibition of Appellate Remand Orders
•Schnader’s Aviation Group Ranked in Chambers USA and The Legal 500 USA
•“The Four Cs of Writing”
•Political Question Doctrine Requires Dismissal of Wrongful Death Suit Against Government Contractor in Iraq
•Insurance Coverage and Claims Handling: A Patchwork of Laws Applies to National Endeavors
•Schnader Recognized as a Top Firm by Chambers USA - Eight Schnader Partners Also Recognized
•Courts Begin to Endorse Use of Predictive Coding
•Predictive Coding Ordered in Global Aerospace Inc., et al, v. Landow Aviation, L.P. dba Dulles Jet Center, et al
•Schnader Successfully Argues a Motion In Favor of the Use of Predictive Coding in the Discovery of Electronically Stored Information
•“Federal Court Jurisdiction, Venue, and Removal”
•Changes to Federal Court Practice Affect Jurisdiction, Removal, and Venue
•Sixty-Eight Schnader Attorneys Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell
•Cloudy Skies Ahead: A Divided Supreme Court Provides Uncertain Course for Jurisdiction Over Out-of-State Manufacturers
•Schnader Achieves Victory for Independence Air
•Schnader Successful in Motions to Dismiss Case in Air France Suit in the U.S.
•Schnader Mentioned in Law360 Article on Air France Suit
•Schnader Representing the State of Maryland and The Insurance Company of the State of Pennsylvania in a Suit Filed Against the Federal Government Regarding a 2008 Medevac Crash
•Jon Stern Featured in Article Detailing A Recent Third Circuit Decision on Airlines and Tort Actions
•Super Lawyers Recognizes Many Schnader Attorneys in 2010
•Jonathan Stern Mentioned in an Article Detailing Elassaad v. Independence Air Inc.
•“What’s an Insurer to Do: Multiple Claims and Insufficient Limits”
•“Who’s on First? A Plea for Clarity in Drafting Contractual Indemnity Provisions”
•Stern Recognized as 2009 Washington D.C. Super Lawyer
•Troubled Asset Relief Program Imposes Minimal Restrictions on Executive Compensation and Corporate Governance
•“Courts Cannot Agree Whether They Are Covered and If Not, Why?”
•Schnader Supports the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project
•“Fresh Air, Fresh Water, Peanuts and Booze: Battlegrounds for Airline Preemption in 2008”
•Litigating the Aviation Case: From Pre-Trial to Closing Argument, Chapter 13 - Cleared Direct to Federal Court: Why Aviation Cases Are More Likely Than Other Types to Take Flight From State Courts
•Several at Schnader are 2008 D.C., New Jersey ‘Super Lawyers’
•Schnader Receives Frederick Douglass Human Rights Award
•Stern Honored as Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer
•“Cleared Direct To Federal Court: A Comprehensive Look At Jurisdiction and Removal,” Update
•Stern Contributes to Defense Practice Manual
•“A Comprehensive Look at Jurisdiction and Removal”
•Stern’s Article Selected for ABA’s Litigation Manual
•Stern Reappointed to Defense Research Institute’s Public Policy Committee
•“Terrible Twos or Doing What It’s Supposed to Do? The Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act”
•“The Multiparty, Multiforum Trial Jurisdiction Act’s Limited Treatment in the Courts”
•“A Potential ‘Stuckeyville’ in the Insurance World”

Community & Pro Bono

Jon focuses his pro bono efforts on the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, and, as a member of the Project’s Screening Committee, reviews claims of actual innocence by incarcerated persons. He also volunteers his time to Oasis, where he teaches senior citizens on uses of technology.

Related Events

•Schnader’s Washington, D.C. Office Is Moving to a New Location
•Jonathan Stern and Robert Williams Spoke at AIA Conference
•Jonathan Stern Spoke at ACI’s Aviation Claims & Litigation Conference
•Jonathan Stern Spoke at ABA Conference
•Jonathan Stern Discusses Germanwings Crash
•Schnader Attorneys Present at the 48th Annual SMU Air Law Symposium
•Jon Stern Served as Co-Chair and Speaker at American Conference Institute’s 5th National Forum on Defending and Managing Aviation Claims and Litigation
•Jon Stern Presented at the 2013 Aviation Law and Insurance Symposium
•Schnader Attorneys Presented at the American Bar Association 2012 National Institute on Aviation Litigation
•Schnader’s Jonathan Stern at the 45th Annual Southern Methodist University Air Law Symposium
•Schnader’s Stern a Moderator for “How to Deal With Forum Non Conveniens Issues”
•Jonathan Stern Spoke on “Standards for the Liability of the Aerospace Part Manufacturer”
•Shupe and Stern Speak at the American Conference Institute’s 2nd Annual Forum on Defending and Managing Aviation Litigation
•Former Managing Partner of Schnader’s Washington Office Honored by the American Association of Jewish Lawyers and Jurists
•A Study in Witness Examinations: Style and Substance - The Delicate Art of Cross...but with Challenging Witnesses
•A Study in Witness Examinations: Style and Substance - The Delicate Art of Cross...but with Challenging Witnesses
•Navigating the Risks of Aerospace Product Liability
•Stern a Featured Speaker at Continuing Education Seminar Titled “Bad Faith Insurance Claims In Virginia”
•Presentation: Aviation Trial Demonstrations and Cutting Edge Issues
•ABA Aviation Litigation Committee Seminar
•Demonstrative Evidence Panel, ABA Aviation Litigation Seminar
•Bang for the Buck: Demonstrative Evidence that Works and Won’t Break Your Budget
•DRI Annual Meeting Aerospace Law Committee Breakout