Bethesda Lawyers

Jim Hammerschmidt is Co-President of the firm, Co-Chair of the Employment Law group, and a member of its Litigation and Appellate Practice groups. His practice includes a range of commercial, corporate, and employment counseling and litigation, but his primary task is listening. The first thing Jim does when meeting with a client is ask, “What is your goal?” In doing this, Jim is able to determine the client’s expectations and whether we will be able to meet them. Only then can he really set about meeting his clients’ business needs.
Jim has extensive experience representing and counseling clients on employment law...

For more than 40 years, Art House has been working with businesses of all types as a corporate lawyer and litigator. He chairs the firm’s Science & Technology and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice groups, and is a member of the Corporate practice group. Art brings responsiveness and an ability to offer practical solutions to his clients, understanding that his clients’ business needs drive the deals, not the lawyer.
Art’s background in enterprise development, licensing for technology-based companies and assisting both established and start-up businesses in developing legal, business alliance and acquisition strategies gives him unique insight into the real-world problems facing...

As Co-Chair of Paley Rothman’s Family Law practice and a member of its Litigation practice group, Carlos Lastra provides clients with diligent, thoughtful and effective representation, addressing both their immediate concerns and securing long-term solutions, in arguably the toughest times imaginable. Applying skills honed over a quarter of a century of recurrent civil and criminal trials before judges and juries in federal and state courtrooms in multiple jurisdictions, Carlos employs his rich trial experience to create a strategy custom-made to meet the client’s objectives, anticipate the opposing party’s tactics, and ultimately achieve his client’s goals.
Over the last 26 years, Carlos...

Victor Rosenberg, a founding member of the firm, is also a member of its Corporate, Tax, Estate Planning, and Estate & Trust Administration practice groups. He concentrates his practice on corporate, real estate, business, estate planning, probate and tax matters and is also involved in family wealth preservation and business continuity through the establishment of charitable trusts of all types, private foundations, family partnerships and limited liability companies.
Victor is active in trust reformation as well as the financing and sale of beneficial interests in trusts. He has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating business and financing transactions, including the sale...

In practice in Maryland and Washington D.C. For 25 years. I have tried hundreds of cases and resolved many more. The most important thing a lawyer can do for you is to analyze the case and take steps to assure a positive outcome. A resolution without a trial is always preferable.

Linda Schwartz is a senior member of the Professional Ethics & Discipline, Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, Corporate, and Real Estate practice groups. She has considerable experience in complex real estate and commercial transactions, business planning, executive succession planning, and estate planning and administration for both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. For more than 30 years, she has served as counsel to prominent national, regional and local developers and business owners. In 2006, she was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
Throughout her legal career, Linda has been active in public service. She is a former Assistant Attorney...

Immigration Lawyer, Lynn Garfinkel, Esq., has been helping clients prevent and solve problems for eight years. She recently launched Garfinkel Immigration Law, LLC to better serve client needs.Lynn Garfinkel represents clients seeking green cards, temporary and permanent visas, family and work petitions, deportation defense, naturalization, and religious, political, and gender based asylum, and benefits under the Violence Against Women Act. Ms. Garfinkel has experience with a variety of employment based petitions, including intracompany transferees, specialty occupations, professionals, researchers, and more.Finally, Ms. Garfinkel successfully represents clients at consulates around the world. Ms. Garfinkel is currently Chair of the Asylum...

Morgan E. Leigh is a fearless advocate who cares deeply about representing individuals in trouble. She has spent her entire legal career fighting on behalf of the accused. In 2012, she began her career as an public defender in Montgomery County, Maryland where she litigated thousands of criminal cases. In 2015, she started her own law practice where she specialized in representing individuals charged with a crime in the District of Columbia and Maryland. In 2020, she joined Scrofano Law PC as a Trial Attorney to head up the firm's Maryland criminal practice. She is licensed...

Having been a member of the bar since 2012, Mr. Prince Williams, Esq. is licensed to practice in all state courts in Maryland. When establishing AVID Law Firm, Attorney Williams made it his goal to provide every client with individualized attention, something he feels is missing at larger firms. He believes in keeping the lines of communication open so you’ll always know where things stand at every stage of your case.

Jim Rathvon, chair of the firm’s Regulatory Law & Litigation practice group, maintains a broad environmental, chemical, food and drug and consumer product regulatory and litigation practice. He focuses on the regulation of pesticides and other chemical products under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and other complex federal regulatory programs. His environmental law work ranges from counseling and advocating on regulatory and licensing issues to defending clients in government enforcement proceedings to representing them in federal arbitrations...

Aldo J. Terrazas is an experienced litigator and negotiator with over 25 years of experience. He takes over the worry and eases the anxiety of clients with effective and aggressive representation that inspire confidence. He has argued cases before state and federal courts and he has negotiated the resolution of hundreds of disputes. When only the tenacity of true advocate will do, Mr. Terrazas is the lawyer to call.

Jeffrey Hord is an Associate in the firm’s Employment Law and Litigation practice groups. He is an experienced, aggressive litigator who is admitted to practice in all the state and federal courts throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. A true trial lawyer, Jeff has successfully represented both individual and corporate clients in complex litigation, as well as in administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor, and various local human rights commissions.
Prior to joining Paley Rothman, Jeff was a senior associate at several well-known...

Almost three decades as a trusted legal adviser to small businesses, over a decade of operating a small brick and mortar business which also sells on line. I have a 360° view and understanding of how small businesses work from a legal, practical perspectives.

David Wooten is a licensed attorney in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Mr. Wooten represents clients in all types of criminal and serious traffic cases. He has represented clients accused of serious criminal offenses, from federal drug trafficking to first degree murder, with jury trial experience including: Attempted Murder; Rape; Robbery; Sexual Abuse of a Minor; Assault.

Robert Katz is one of the leading personal injury attorneys in the nation. For three decades, he has built one of the most successful personal injury practices. His practice employs six attorneys with approximately one hundred years combined experience as well as ten paralegals. He has obtained in excess of two hundred million dollars in compensation for his clients. He enjoys the highest peer review rating from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Katz prides himself in having developed the loyalty of many immigrant groups including the Asian, Spanish, African, Middle-Eastern, and many other populations that reside in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Katz is currently a...

Although physically in Maryland, I practice in California using electronic communications and the airlines when necessary. My clients are willing to work virtually with a lawyer because it reduces their expense substantially. They pay much less in fees for the highest quality product.

The bankruptcy practice of Laura Margulies & Associates, LLC encompasses the representation of both creditors and debtors in bankruptcy proceedings, debt restructurings in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Ms. Margulies has been named as a 2015 Top Bankruptcy Attorney by the Washingtonian magazine.

Peter Randolph takes particular pride in spotting risks his clients had not previously seen and in crafting solutions to mitigate those risks and advance client interests. His multi-jurisdictional practice is focused on probate and trust administration, business and taxation. Our clients’ lives don’t stop at the state line and Peter has ensured that he can advise clients comprehensively on issues that affect their lives and livelihoods across the region and as far west as California.

Peter advises executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in the areas of probate and trust administration, including pre and post-mortem planning, and estate and fiduciary income tax....

BA 1990 Villanova University
JD 1993 University of Dayton school of law ( member and then editor university of Dayton law review)

Named the 2007 Maryland trial lawyer of the year by the Maryland trial lawyers Association for groundbreaking litigation throughout the state of Maryland involving the safety of manufactured housing which reversed years of county building inspectors improper Interpretation of and inspection for footings to the frost line

Featured in “The Rules of the Road” by Patrick Malone a lawyer’s guide to complex civil litigation

Marshall Yaap is a private practice family lawyer based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His practice primarily focuses on helping clients throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia resolve issues related to divorce, legal separation, alimony, child custody, separation agreements, prenuptial agreements, property division, child support, and civil protection cases. Marshall’s practice also focuses on international family law issues. Marshall strives to achieve the best possible results for his clients while providing individual attention and guidance at all times.

Ali Herischi is the principal at the law firm of Herischi & Associates. He practices in areas of human rights litigation, which includes FSIA, ATCA, TVPA, and ATA. His practice also includes labor and employment, Iran's sanctions, immigration, and technology business startups.

Additionally, he represents clients in business negotiation and mediation settings. Mr. Herischi is a licensed mediator and conducts mediation sessions for business, family and individual conflicts.

Mr. Herischi also provides strategic consulting with technology startups, and work as in-house counsel. He is is a member of board of directors of few startup and not-for-profit companies.

Mr. Herischi is a...

For information about the law practice of Paul Oliver Eisler, visit www.eislerlaw.com.

I am a former Family Court magistrate and Judge in Vermont. I am a skilled mediator and trial attorney who can get results with strong advocacy and with compassion to meet the situation.