Drayden Lawyers

Debbie Cohn’s keys to professional success are as diverse as her eclectic client base that consists of professionals, business owners, retirees, and non-U.S. citizens. Yet perhaps her most critical—and comforting—characteristic is an ability to explain complex concepts in a way her clients can understand. Debbie’s approach to estate planning is equal parts pragmatic and creative, which helps put her clients at ease with the knowledge that their families will be cared for and protected, and their asset protection and wealth management goals will be met. And her wealth of experience and vast knowledge of the law allow her to blend...

JASON A. RUBEN, ESQ.
Education: Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law
Honors, Health Law Certificate
Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Bachelors of Science in Communications at Towson University


Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Government Relations.


Experience:

Jason Ruben began his legal career working in the State’s Attorney’s Office for Montgomery County Maryland. There he gained an invaluable understanding and in-depth knowledge into the Maryland criminal justice system.


Jason then began working at the Network for Public Health Law. The Network for Public Health Law provides legal assistance and helpful resources to local, state and federal...

Ron Dweck is Chair of the firm’s Corporate practice group, and a member of the Tax, Nonprofit and Science & Technology groups. Ron acts as general counsel to a number of companies, including large and small corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and business organizations in various fields. As such, he knows a great deal about many different practice areas and applies that knowledge to better serve his corporate clients. His corporate work includes preparing and negotiating a wide variety of business contracts, as well as counseling in conjunction with executive compensation, corporate governance and risk & litigation management. He has...

Gary Gerstenfield is a well-known and respected criminal defense attorney who is highly soughtafter for his effective trial skills and advocacy. He obtained his Juris Doctor in 1990 from the Catholic University of America, where he served as senior staff member of the prestigious Journal of Contemporary Health Law & Policy. Upon entering the bar, Mr. Gerstenfield returned to school in Boston where he obtained a certificate in DUI defense from the nationally known College of DUI Defense presented at Harvard Law School.

Mark Goldstein, one of the founders of the firm, is a member of its Corporate, Financial Services, Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration practice groups. He concentrates on corporate, business, estate and tax planning and advises large and small corporations, general and limited partnerships, associations and proprietorships on sophisticated business planning issues. He represents a large number of estate planning clients and is well respected for his ability to communicate and implement complicated plans in a practical manner. Mark has significant experience in structuring and negotiating business and financing transactions, reorganizations and private placement syndications. He has served as...

Heidi Boas has dedicated her legal career to assisting asylum-seekers, refugees, and other immigrants through her work with the U.S. Government, United Nations, and non-profit organizations.

Ms. Boas joined Wilkes Legal in 2018 after four years of government service with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State. From 2014-2017, Ms. Boas worked at the Arlington Asylum Office, where she adjudicated the asylum claims of applicants from around the world. As a Senior Asylum Officer, Ms. Boas handled complex applications for asylum, including long-pending cases involving national security and terrorism-related issues. Ms. Boas also managed a team of...

Anu B. Kemet, a co-founder of Kemet Hunt Law Group, practices law in the areas of construction law, business development, civil litigation, bankruptcy, and personal injury. Mr. Kemet heads the firm’s business law practice, including start-ups, construction litigation, franchise negotiations, labor relations and contracts. He is responsible for a diverse caseload with substantial litigation experience. Prior to his career as an attorney, Anu served honorably in the United States Army, held the chief operating officer position for a private elementary school, and co-founded Delights of the Garden, the first full service raw food vegan restaurant chain in the U.S. Mr. Kemet...

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...

Michael Fried has spent over 25 years practicing law, and more specifically tax related law. As the principal founder of Fried Law Firm and now 1 of 2 partners at Fried & Rosefelt, LLC, Michael S. Fried actively helps clients by handling bankruptcies, business purchases, federal and state tax problems, partnership and shareholder relationships.

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...

Cristen Rose’s practice encompasses a wide variety of commercial & business litigation, with significant experience in mass torts, class actions, product liability defense, environmental litigation, contractual disputes and regulatory compliance. As a member of the firm’s Regulatory Law & Litigation practice group, she devotes a significant portion of her practice to the regulation of pesticides and other chemical products under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Cristen also has extensive experience representing companies that are subjects of investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the...

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...

Pallavi Kachoria is an Associate in the firm’s Litigation and Family Law practice groups. She has experience in a variety of litigation areas including general civil, commercial, and domestic litigation. Pallavi also has experience in transactional matters in working with business owners to draft documents and research complex legal issues.
Her passion for the law, the rules, and fairness helps her succeed as a litigator. In working with her clients, Pallavi embraces a practical and honest approach in dealing with their complex disputes. She works tirelessly to understand all facets of her cases and aims to develop a strong relationship...

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...

Ari S. Casper is a seasoned litigator and trial attorney, and the founding partner of The Casper Firm, LLC, a high-end litigation boutique in Maryland. Throughout his career, Mr. Casper has represented individuals and companies in high stakes litigation in a broad spectrum of cases, including complex commercial, products liability, catastrophic injury, class action, and whistleblower matters. He has obtained multiple verdicts and settlements in excess of $10,000,000. Among his recent accomplishments, The National Law Journal recognized Mr. Casper in its Big Money Wins of 2013 in Duncan v. Hyundai, where a jury in Pulaski County, VA...

Seth Kossman is a shareholder in the Firm's Tax Group, focusing his practice in the areas of tax controversy and tax compliance matters. He heads the Firm's Tax Controversy Subgroup, leading a team of more than 20 attorneys who spend a significant part of their practice in this area.

Mr. Kossman represents a diverse group of the Firm's clients on tax planning, federal and state tax controversy, tax compliance and transactional matters. His clients include corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and individuals.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Kossman was a member of the tax practice of a national accounting firm and...

Steven Wilder is a personal injury lawyer at WGK Personal Injury Lawyers. He has nearly 50 years of experience handling personal injury cases. He has helped clients recover millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. He has experience handling many different types of accident cases, including car accidents, truck accidents, brain injuries, pedestrian accidents, slip and fall accidents, and other accidents. Steven began his law career in the State’s Attorney’s Office for Baltimore City, where he obtained vast trial experience. He has also assisted clients with personal bankruptcy cases. Steven is now retired from the practice of law and no longer handles...

I am the managing attorney at Actio Law, and am licensed to practice law in Maryland, and pending admission to the District of Columbia Bar. Throughout my career, I have focused on protecting the rights of consumers and ordinary people. Whether through the practice of immigration and consumer debt law, or helping to keep corporate financial giants in compliance with consumer protection regulations, my primary concern has always been protecting the rights of the individuals who need it most. I understand that as times are changing, so too are the needs of clients. You...

Stephen Drazin is the Principal, Legal Coordinator, and Managing Attorney at The Drazin Law Center, P.A. Mr. Drazin offers over 20 years of legal experience to individuals and businesses across Maryland, including the Columbia and Baltimore regions. Stephen Drazin is licensed in all the State and Federal Courts within Maryland, as well as, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit (in Richmond, VA). Stephen strives to offer an alternative to large law firms by working with clients from the initial consultation through settlement, trial, or case dismissal. Understanding that clients require and desire to know all...

Bob Baum has over 35 years of experience dedicated to helping individuals, families and businesses resolve difficult disputes through mediation, arbitration, collaborative law and litigation. Bob prides himself on having a loyal relationship with his clients, founded on extensive experience, availability and integrity. Throughout the years, Mr. Baum continues to thrive as a leader in his field. He will explain and provide you with the most appropriate way to resolve your legal concern, using the most appropriate time and cost effective method to resolve your legal issues. Bob is experienced in deciding many...

With 23 years of experience, I have represented clients throughout the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia in the areas of family law, Criminal defense, personal injury, workers' compensation, landlord and tenant and estates. I practice in multiple forums including the district courts, the circuit courts, administrative hearing, and arbitrations

After graduating from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2002, Spencer Hecht began his path towards developing a boutique family law practice founded on principles of unmatched work ethic, comprehensive knowledge of the law, and the real practicalities of the family dynamic. Mr. Hecht’s extensive divorce and child custody experience, aggressive approach, and high rate of success, has allowed him and his firm to become a strong presence in Montgomery County and the surrounding counties in Maryland.

A native of Montgomery County himself, Mr. Hecht resides in Montgomery County with his two sons. His firm is deeply rooted in...

Aggressive, but now partially retired trial lawyer who covers is willing to cover but prefers to consult with other attorneys regarding cases in Montgomery, Frederick, and Howard Counties in District Court and Circuit Court. Current Emeritus member of National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys, NACDL, Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys Association, plus Maryland State and Montgomery County Bar Associations, where he was formerly a frequent lecturer. Most recently taught other lawyers about DUI practice in a County Bar CLE; admitted to Maryland Bar, 1968, Maryland Federal U.S. District Court, 1969, and Supreme Court, 1974. Frequently a solo,...

Kerry D. Staton attended Oberlin College and the University of Maryland School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctor in 1980. Mr. Staton is a member of the Maryland Association for Justice (formerly the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association) where he served on the Board of Governors from 1988 through 1995. He is a member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (now the American Association for Justice), where he has served as the Maryland State Delegate and Minority Caucus Member for Maryland. Mr. Staton is a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation, the Reginald Heber Smith Law...

I have been practicing law for 18 years and been a commercial real estate broker for 8 years. I primarily represent businesses and individuals with business or real estate interests.

During that I time I have assisted client's in negotiating and drafted retail, office, medical, fitness club and warehouse leases and purchase and sale agreements. In addition, I assist clients with real estate related debt collection activities including delinquent deferred water and sewer facilities charges.

Clients have also retained my services as a real estate broker to assist them in locating office, industrial, flex, and retail space out of which...

Mr. Weltchek earned his Bachelors of Arts Degree magna cum laude from Middlebury College and earned his Juris Doctorate Degree from the University of Maryland, where he was awarded the Order of Barrister for excellence in trial advocacy. While in law school he was also a member of the national champion Trial Team.

Jonathan Schochor is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, and the American University School of Law, where he was Associate Editor-In-Chief of the Law Review. He has served as a Board Member, Secretary, Vice-President, and President of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, and has further served as the Maryland State Delegate and Governor of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Mr. Schochor has been requested to teach and lecture both nationally and locally by institutions such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Additionally, he has been a guest expert on a...