Our Story
About the Firm
Founded in 1978, Sterling & Associates has spent nearly five decades building a reputation for principled advocacy and exceptional results. We are the counsel that clients trust when the matter cannot afford to be handled any other way.
Our Mission
Counsel built on trust, delivered with precision.
We believe that great lawyering is both an art and a craft. It demands intellectual rigor, strategic creativity, and the discipline to execute flawlessly under pressure. Every attorney at this firm has been selected and trained with that standard in mind.
Our clients are not case numbers. They are executives, families, entrepreneurs, and individuals who have placed their most important legal matters in our hands. That responsibility drives everything we do.
Integrity
We tell clients the truth — even when it is not what they want to hear. Honest advice is the foundation of every lasting attorney-client relationship.
Excellence
We hold ourselves to the highest standards in every brief, every negotiation, and every courtroom appearance. Mediocrity is not an option.
Discretion
Client confidences are sacred. We protect sensitive information with the same rigor we apply to our legal work.
Results
Our job is to win — whether that means a favorable verdict, a superior settlement, or a transaction that closes on the best possible terms.
History
46 years of distinction
- 1978Firm founded
Margaret Sterling opens the firm's first office after a decade as a federal prosecutor.
- 1985Corporate practice expands
The corporate department adds three partners following landmark M&A advisory mandates.
- 1995David Okonkwo joins
David's arrival establishes the personal injury practice as one of the region's preeminent.
- 2001Helena Vance joins
Helena brings an LL.M. in Taxation and builds a nationally recognized estate planning practice.
- 2014$100M milestone
The firm crosses $100 million in cumulative recoveries for personal injury clients.
- 2024$480M+ recovered
Four decades of relentless advocacy — and the firm is still growing.
Client Testimonials
In their words
Julian handled our home purchase and made the entire closing process stress-free. Highly recommend.
Helena's expertise in trusts gave us complete peace of mind about our children's financial future.
David secured a result for our family that gave us the resources to rebuild our lives. We are forever grateful.
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