Fruitland Lawyers

Andrea Smith is of Counsel at Silverman Thompson and focuses on criminal matters in the state courts in Maryland.

From 1981 to 1990, Ms. Smith served as an Assistant State's Attorney with the Office of the States's Attorney for Baltimore City, Maryland. In September of 1990, she joined the Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Maryland as an Assistant United States Attorney. She was assigned to Narcotics Enforcement. Except for a period between 1998 and 2001, Ms. Smith managed the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETF) program for more than 20 years until she retired from...

Nikoletta Mendrinos is an associate at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy who handles both civil and criminal matters. Contact her today to get an expert opinion on your case.

Jenna Forman Clothier worked as a law clerk for The Law Office of Alan S. Forman, LLC while attending law school in the evening at the University of Baltimore School of Law. Upon admission to the Bar in Maryland in December 2014, Jenna continued to work at The Law Office of Alan S. Forman as an Associate. Jenna was admitted to the Maryland Bar in December 2014. Her practice includes family law, adoption, and immigration. In 2005, Jenna graduated from the School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University with a Bachelor of Science. She continued...

Mathew is an associate at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy who specializes in civil litigation. As a Baltimore native, he is enthusiastic about helping members of his community receive fair compensation after an accident. Contact Murphy, Falcon & Murphy today to set up a free consultation.

As a partner at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy, Will specializes in civil litigation, criminal litigation, and intellectual property cases. In addition to his experience as an attorney, he has extensive experience in the corporate realm of software and life sciences. Contact him today to set up a free consultation to discuss the specifics of your case.

Kate Sinclair’s practice involves criminal and civil litigation including business litigation, constitutional challenges, securities enforcement and government compliance, health care fraud defense, criminal defense, and civil and criminal appeals.

Ms. Sinclair’s experience covers a wide-range of civil and criminal matters in Federal and State trial and appellate courts, as well as disputes with government agencies over regulatory enforcement matters.

Ms. Chappell’s practice focuses on civil litigation with an emphasis on complex business, medical malpractice and catastrophic personal injury cases. A significant part of Ms. Chappell’s practice is devoted to sophisticated motions and appeals.

Ms. Strachan’s practice focuses on virtually all areas of commercial and residential real estate. Her practice includes representation of landlords, tenants, developers, investors, real estate investment trusts, franchisees, property management companies, and brokers. She handles all matters related to the ownership and operation of real estate projects including management, leasing, dispute resolution, development and construction for all types of residential, retail, office, industrial, hospitality and mixed-used projects. Ms. Strachan makes every effort to handle all matters is the most efficient way possible and is sensitive to time and costs concerns of all her clients.

Ms. Strachan attended college at...

As an electrical engineer and attorney I am uniquely positioned to assists our individual and business clients in resolving national security and intelligence and defense community contract and business issues. A two and a half decade career at NSA and handling dozens of cases have provided unique experience and perspectives on best to address situations for our clients which includes security clearance adjudication and federal contracting issues. Frequently, the true nature and scope of issues are not always fully understood by those effected and sometimes minor issues explode having catastrophic effects.

I take great pride in helping individuals throughout Maryland with legal issues such as being charged with a crime, or being injured in an accident. Every case I undertake becomes a personal challenge to me, and because of my perfectionist personality I put 100% of my effort into reaching the best possible outcome for each case.

Edward N. Griffin is one of the founding principals of Adelphi LLP. His principal practice areas are criminal defense and civil litigation.

Benjamin Marcoux joined Houlon, Berman, Bergman, Finci, Levenstein & Skok, LLC in June of 2010. Prior to joining the firm, he worked with the Collaborative Law Group in Ellicott City, Maryland. He served clients in a variety of practice areas including: family, civil litigation, collaborative law, wills and probate, and personal injury. Ben has appeared before judges and masters in Montgomery, Prince George's, Howard, Anne Arundel, Calvert and Worcester counties. While in law school, Ben served as Dean's Fellow to Professor Rice, the former Evidence Master for the AT&T break-up litigation. Ben is a member of the...

Michael was raised in Calvert County. He graduated from DeMatha Catholic High School and went on to earn his Bachelor of Arts from Loyola College in Maryland, where he graduated cum laude and was a member of the Pi Sigma Alpha honor society. Michael went on to earn his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law.

While in law school, Michael was an Associate Editor on the University of Maryland Law Journal of Race, Religion, Gender, and Class. During law school, Michael worked for the Circuit Court for Anne Arundel County and for the Circuit Court for Howard...

Ms. McCann earned her B.A. degree in psychology from the University of Maryland Baltimore County in 1979. She graduated the University of Baltimore School of Law Magna Cum Laude in December of 1996 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in June of 1997. She was a member of the University of Baltimore Law Review and the Heuisler Honor Society. After earning her law degree, Ms. McCann became associated with the Baltimore firm of Ober, Kaler, Grimes and Shriver. From there, she entered solo practice in Annapolis, Maryland. In 2001, she joined the...

Jessica Bull Esq., is the founder and managing attorney of J Bull Consulting Firm LLC, which was founded to provide effective, high-quality legal counsel. She understands that clients often want close contact with their lawyer, and she is committed to providing a listening ear and consistent communication to her clients.

Nicole M. Whitaker, owner of Whitaker Legal, LLC, is also an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law where she teaches Legal Analysis, Research and Writing. After living in Madrid, Spain, Ms. Whitaker speaks Spanish fluently. In her free time, she teaches English as a Second Language for the Community College of Baltimore County.

Trish Weaver is Chair of the Appellate Practice group and a member of the Litigation, Alternative Dispute Resolution and Corporate practices. Over the past 20 years, she has handled numerous appeals, authored briefs and argued before the Maryland Court of Appeals, the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. She is admitted to, and awaits the chance to argue before, the U.S. Supreme Court. Prior to joining Paley Rothman, Trish clerked for the Honorable Howard S. Chasanow on the Maryland Court of Appeals.
Trish enjoys building ongoing relationships with her clients as their...

Jessica Summers is an Associate in the firm’s Employee Benefits, Employment Law, Retirement Plans, Litigation and Government Relations practice groups. Jessica works with companies and organizations on a wide range of matters, including establishing and implementing effective employment policies, drafting employment agreements, maintaining employee benefit plans, addressing corporate planning issues and monitoring and advising clients on legislative and regulatory developments of import to them.
As an all-purpose business attorney with experience across several practice areas, Jessica has a comprehensive understanding of the legal and business needs of her clients and uses a common sense approach to finding solutions. In looking out...

Ryan Spiegel chairs the firm’s Government Contracts practice and is a member of its Litigation, Corporate, and Science & Technology practice groups. His work spans a wide range of industries, includes general business and risk management counseling, and is characterized by outstanding client service, effective case strategy, and creative legal arguments. While he can be a tenacious litigator when necessary and maintains an excellent grasp of procedure, Ryan strives to understand his clients’ interests and goals and seek the best solution for them. He believes that resolving problems and disputes is more important than arguing for its own sake.
In recent...

For 35 years, Robert has specialized in insurance recovery on behalf of policyholders. As Chair of the Insurance Recovery group and a member of the firm’s Litigation practice, Robert litigates complex disputes against insurance companies on behalf of corporations seeking coverage for all manner of claims involving every form of risk and exposure such as those arising out of products, securities, directors & officers, energy, automotive, financial institutions, medical devices and health, among others.
Robert has successfully argued precedent-setting appeals in the second, third, and fourth U.S. Courts of Appeals, as well as the California Court of Appeal, San Francisco...

Alan Mark is a Co-Chair of the firm’s Real Estate and Chair of the Financial Services practice groups. He is also a senior member of the Corporate group. For more than 40 years, Alan has concentrated on corporate, commercial and real estate finance matters. He has served as outside counsel to numerous local, regional and national financial institutions, publicly traded biotechnology companies and hotel owners and operators. He has also served as outside counsel to information and telecommunication technology clients, government entities and individuals in connection with technology transfers, business acquisitions, project development and equity and debt financings. Since 1996,...

David Shapiro is the Chair of Paley Rothman's Health Law practice group, and a member of the firm's Corporate, Science & Technology, Employment Law and Government Contracts practice groups. David has an extensive background representing business entities, healthcare providers, surgical centers, professional service vendors and entrepreneurs in a broad range of general business, commercial, regulatory and complex transactional matters, including early-stage business planning, business management and operations, equity and asset transfers, inter- and intra-business contract relationships, mergers and acquisitions and collaborative and adversarial business owner and proxy dispute resolutions.
David’s business practice focuses on full life-cycle representation for emerging and established...

Roy Niedermayer is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Appellate Practice and Government Contracts practice areas. He excels in risk management - he identifies and assesses risk in each of his cases and then discusses alternative strategies in light of probabilities of outcomes to determine what the best cost-benefit course of action is. He may create decision tree analyses, determining what factors affect risk, how to reduce risk, and assigns probability of success. When first meeting with a client, Roy finds out what the client is hoping to achieve and what their goals are - in doing this he understands...

Paul Marcotte, Jr. Chairs the firm’s Tax practice group and is a member of its Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration and Nonprofit groups. He concentrates his practice on federal, state and international tax matters (both planning and controversy), estate and wealth preservation planning, probate and trust administration, nonprofit organizations, and business counseling and succession planning. Paul helps his clients by putting complicated tax issues into simple English. He makes sure that the individuals, businesses and international clients he services have help navigating our complex tax systems and avoid potential minefields such as increased levels taxation and/or penalties.
Paul’s international...

Jeffrey Kolender chairs the firm’s Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration practice groups. He concentrates primarily in those areas and also advises small businesses in tax business planning. Jeffrey recognizes that each client is different and enjoys the challenge of creating a plan that accomplishes the client’s unique goals. He advises clients about adequately providing for their family, including saving taxes, creating trusts for children, planning for disability, and the special planning issues involved in second marriages and same-sex marriages.
He understands that estate planning can be a complex and emotional process for clients. Jeffrey always takes the time to...

Advocate and adviser for government employees, business professionals, and businesses in a wide range of employment and civil litigation matters.

Civil Litigation:
- Represent individuals and businesses in various civil-litigation matters, including business litigation, contract disputes, partnership disputes, and insurance coverage.
- Represent licensed professionals in investigations, disciplinary proceedings, and appeals of adverse agency decisions regarding licensure.
- Experienced trial lawyer in state and federal court.
- Experienced appellate attorney in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, D.C. Court of Appeals, Maryland Court of Appeals, and Maryland Court of Special Appeals.
- Law clerk...

As a native of Baltimore, Maryland, Attorney Cohen has been practicing here for over 20 years. She established the Law Offices of Kerri Cohen after working for 11 years for the State of Maryland in Baltimore City at the Office of the Public Defender as an experienced criminal defense trial attorney. She represented clients charged with serious felonies such as homicide, rape, robbery and drug charges among other crimes. Attorney Cohen has tried hundreds of cases before Judges and Juries in the Circuit Court, District Court and Juvenile Courts. Attorney Cohen graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of...

Sareesh Rawat is a Government Contracts Attorney licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C., and Maryland. He has represented and provided counsel to domestic and multinational companies across various sectors, including information systems and technology, cybersecurity, defense, aerospace, manufacturing, logistics, and professional services. Sareesh's legal practice specializes in providing strategic outside counsel to contractors of all sizes. This support covers a comprehensive range of issues that arise throughout the procurement lifecycle, including bid protests, contract claims, and compliance with federal regulations related to contract formation and administration. Sareesh offers contractors guidance on small business and socioeconomic programs, teaming arrangements, joint...

Oleg Gherasimov draws from over a decade of experience in the legal field and working with immigrants to help them reach their U.S. immigration goals. Oleg is not only a trained and skilled attorney who is capable of giving you the best advice, he is also an immigrant who has experienced firsthand many of the frustrations and triumphs associated with the U.S. immigration law system. Oleg sees the bigger picture of the impact that his advice has on the lives of his clients and their families both here in U.S. and in their home countries. In Oleg you have an...

Jeff graduated from Boston University School of Law’s Tax LLM program and practice as a tax, business, and estate planning attorney.

Jeff advises clients on legal and tax issues relating to business transactions, start-ups, corporate mergers & acquisitions, business successions, estate planning, and real estate. Jeff practices both federal and state tax law, and he assists individuals and businesses with tax audit defense and tax planning in the areas of income, corporate, partnership, franchise, sales and use, property, and estate taxes. Jeff's background allows him to consider clients' personal, business, and tax needs. Jeff was the 2013 president...