Chad J. Stepan

Chad Stepan serves as Chair of the firm’s Catastrophic Loss Practice Group. He focuses his practice on complex civil litigation, including fires, explosions, structural failures, mechanical failures, product failures and other catastrophic losses and construction-related incidents across the United States. He has handled numerous multi-million dollar claims, including major industrial explosions and fires, and construction and design matters. Chad investigates these incidents and provides defense and recovery representation. This work includes providing professional liability defense for architects, engineers, and other design professionals, as well as defense for contractors, subcontractors, product manufacturers, owners and operators.

Chad is also an instructor and speaker on topics that concern his practice. Chad is an Adjunct Instructor at the ATF’s National Center for Explosives Training and Research and the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center where he presents courses on evidence issues (spoliation), convergence of science and law (process engineering), courtroom testimony and techniques, depositions, and regulatory matters (OSHA and Chemical Safety Board). The courses also involve instruction of moot court trials.

In addition, Chad serves as an Adjunct Instructor at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland where he presents a course on spoliation and changes to NFPA 921, and a course on origin and cause investigation and courtroom testimony and techniques. The courtroom techniques course involves instruction of moot court trials with a focus on expert witnesses and trial examination.

Chad is General Counsel for the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI). He is also a guest lecturer for state chapters of the IAAI and at the IAAI International Training Conference.