Of Counsel

Edward H. Stopher

A Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, Ed Stopher has represented corporate and insurance clients in all federal courts in Kentucky, before the Court of Appeals in Kentucky, the Kentucky Supreme Court, and many state trial courts throughout the Commonwealth. He has tried more than 100 civil cases to verdict in Kentucky, Florida, Georgia, and Virginia.

In addition to defending various transportation entities, airlines and aircraft operators, truckers and trucking firms, gas transmission line operators, and other product liability and negligence cases, Mr. Stopher has actively defended insurance carriers in bad faith claims. His trial court experience includes the defense of pharmaceutical-related claims, product liability matters, professional negligence actions, and various negligence matters.

Recent Assignments

Successfully defended Sherman Antitrust Act claims asserted by former football coach against the NCAA in Bassett v. NCAA, 528 F.3d 426, 430 (6th Cir. 2008).

Successfully defended Sherman Antitrust Act claims asserted by basketball tournament promotor against the NCAA in Bleid Sports, LLC v. NCAA, 976 F. Supp. 2d 911 (E.D. Ky. 2013).

Bar Admissions

Kentucky

U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky

U.S. Supreme Court

Memberships

American Bar Association

,

Member

Federal Bar Association

,

Member

Kentucky Bar Association

,

Member

Louisville Bar Association

,

Member

American College of Trial Lawyers

,

Fellow

International Society of Barristers

,

Fellow

Sixth Circuit Review

,

Founder

International Academy of Trial Lawyers

,

Fellow

American Bar Foundation

,

Fellow

Association of Defense Trial Attorneys

,

Member

National Association of Railroad Trial Counsel

,

Member

Kentucky Defense Counsel

,

Member

The Lawyers Club

The Law Club

Education

J.D.,

1968

University of Virginia

B.A., with honors,

1965

Davidson College

More Than Stites & Harbison

Prior to joining Stites & Harbison, Ed was a named-member of a mid-sized firm in the Louisville area where he served as Chair of the Civil Litigation Section.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Legal Malpractice Law – Defendants; Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions – Defendants; Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants; Product Liability Litigation – Defendants; and, Professional Malpractice Law – Defendants (1983-2025)

Best Lawyers in America®, Louisville Area Lawyer of the Year in Mass Tort Litigation/Class Actions – Defendants (2025)

Chambers USA, “America’s Leading Lawyers for Business,” Litigation: Tort & Insurance Defense (2013-24)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2007-23)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 50 Lawyers in Kentucky (2007-17)

Kentucky Super Lawyers®, Top 10 Lawyers in Kentucky (2007-16)