Honoree

Richard L. Stehl
Chairman
Otterbourg P.C.

Richard L. Stehl is the Chairman of the Board of Otterbourg P.C. and the Chair of the firm’s Finance Practice Group. He began his career at Otterbourg as a summer associate in 1991 and has spent more than three decades representing banks, finance companies, hedge funds and factors in connection with the structuring and documentation of domestic and international secured lending arrangements. His experience encompasses true sale accounts purchase, factoring, asset-based lending, cash flow lending, middle-market and leveraged finance, unitranche facilities, supply chain finance, subscription finance, and first- and second-lien loan transactions. 

Richard earned his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in 1992, where he served on the St. John’s Law Review and co-founded the Bankruptcy Law Society. He subsequently earned an M.B.A. from the Frank G. Zarb School of Business at Hofstra University and an LL.M. from New York University School of Law. Following his graduation from St. John’s, Richard served the Briefing Attorney to the Hon. Leif M. Clark, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Western District of Texas. Richard is a Fellow of the American College of Commercial Finance Lawyers. In 2026, Richard was recognized by Crain’s New York Business as a Notable Leader in Law, and he has earned recognition as a Top Rated New York Banking Lawyer by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2010. He is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court and the federal and state courts of New York and Connecticut. 

Beyond his practice, Richard is deeply engaged in the legal and financial communities. He serves as Chair of the Legal Committee of FCI, the global representative body for the factoring industry and domestic and international open-account trade receivables. He has advised the World Bank on secured lending and bankruptcy matters and has participated as a panelist for The White House Fellows Program. In addition, he serves as Treasurer of the St. John’s University School of Law Alumni Association. Richard is a frequent speaker on bankruptcy law, factoring and secured lending. 

Philanthropy and community service are central to Richard’s personal and professional life. Since 2017, he has served on the Board of Directors of FourBlock Foundation, a charitable organization that helps veterans successfully transition from military service to civilian careers, and since 2007 on the Board of Governors of Opportunity International, a microfinance organization that promotes entrepreneurship and economic growth in developing countries. His longstanding involvement with National Jewish Health dates to 2000, and he served as Treasurer of its 48th Annual Financial Industries Dinner. The Stehl family has also endowed a scholarship at St. John’s University School of Law to support first-generation lawyers. In recognition of his charitable contributions, St. John’s awarded Richard the Belson Medal for Service and Philanthropy. He currently works on immigration matters on a pro bono basis through Villanova’s VIISTA program. His public works and contributions to the legal community have been honored by 475 Esquire Toppers, The Needlers Foundation and The Queens Center for Progress. 

Richard and his wife of 30 years, Erika, reside in Sands Point, New York, with their beloved golden retriever, Delilah. They are proud parents of five extraordinary children: Matthew and his wife, Maggie; Bobby; Steven; Annie; and Luke. When away from New York, the family enjoys spending time at their apartments in Bermuda.