Bivalve Appeals & Appellate Lawyers

30 years experience as lawyer--10 years as a federal prosecutor employed by Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice and 20 years as solo practitioner in Oxon Hill, Maryland concentrating in family law, criminal law, tort law (including personal injury/auto accidents), civil rights, business counseling & litigation, and appeals. Reasonable fees and very high rate of satisfaction among former clients.

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...

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...

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.

Flora Lee always strives toward what she believes to be the right or best path, not the path of least resistance. Her drive to be better and do more, combined with her keen analytical ability, allows her to visualize and work to implement her clients’ goals. Flora was drawn to the legal profession by its unique combination of intellectual challenges, real-life stakes, and interpersonal collaboration. She works to understand her clients’ concerns even beyond the immediate case at hand, and to bring solutions that fit within their bigger picture. Prior to joining Stein Sperling, Flora clerked for the Honorable Irma S. Raker...

Retired U.S. Marine officer (infantry), U.S. Naval Academy graduate, practicing land use, municipal, zoning, business, real property, landlord-tenant, homeowners association, litigation and other law.

Rick Claxton, a member of the firm’s Litigation, Appellate and ADR practice groups, has over 30 years of courtroom experience representing clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 50 corporations. A veteran of dozens of jury and bench trials, Rick focuses his practice on complex business cases, such as corporate and partnership disputes, construction litigation, business torts, and employment litigation. However, Rick has always maintained a diverse practice, including cases ranging from copyright and trademark litigation to representation of individuals with major personal injury claims.
In addition to his trial work, Rick has substantial appellate court experience, having briefed and argued cases...

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...

Over 28 years experience with a specialized practice in agricultural, environmental, natural resources, land use and administrative law, providing advice and counsel to private individuals and corporate entities, local governments and other governmental entities on matters including compliance, Critical Areas and wetlands regulation, nutrient management, dredge placement, pesticide/herbicide application, hazardous and solid waste, Brownfields Redevelopment and Voluntary Cleanup Programs, permitting and related litigation and general land use law on planning, annexation, rezoning, Development Rights and Responsibilities Agreements and water and sewer capacity allocation and rates. Represents clients in State and federal courts and administrative forums, including both trial and...

Matthew A.S. Esworthy is a partner in the Firmâs litigation department. He concentrates on general civil and criminal litigation, including white collar criminal defense, complex commercial litigation, securities litigation, partnership disputes, employment law, and appeals. In recognition of his accomplishments, Martindale-Hubbell awarded Mr. Esworthy its AV Peer-Review Rating, the highest rating available. Mr. Esworthy has achieved favorable results in a number of high profile cases. In recent years, he has successfully defended a Baltimore law firm in a multi-million dollar defamation/invasion of privacy lawsuit brought by a public official; successfully represented minority shareholders of a Fortune 500 company in a complex...

Why me? Experience and intensity; honed through years of representing clients at trial and on appeal in state and federal courts. Pragmatic, results-oriented representation as an advocate and as legal counsel. Straight answers. Vigorous advocacy. I'll get you through the wilderness.

Luke is a career Criminal Defense Attorney in the State of Maryland having practiced criminal defense since 1997, after receiving a Bachelor from Reed College and a JD from Northwestern School of Law. He started his career as a DOJ law clerk for the landmark racketeering case against the tobacco industry, while serving as a JAG officer in the US Army Reserves. After those positions in the early 2000s, Luke centered his practice exclusively in DUI and criminal defense, including juvenile court, in multiple jurisdictions in Maryland, gaining trial experience through representation of clients in thousands cases in District,...

Christopher R. Wampler is a graduate of Bridgewater College, Virginia, and the Catholic University School of Law. Chris has been practicing Bankruptcy Law since 1987 in Maryland, DC, & Virginia. In the past, Chris has served as President of the Wheaton Kensington Chamber of Commerce, served as a member of the Prince George's County Judicial Selections Committee, and was involved in the Montgomery County Bar Association Pro Bono Program. Chris has also worked on the Law Foundation of Prince George's County Homeless Project for which he received an award for his service to the community.

Allen manages a diverse litigation practice representing plaintiffs in civil rights, medical malpractice, and general negligence matters. Allen is a true trial lawyer and not just a “litigator”—feeling most at home inside the courtroom—having tried more than fifty cases to verdict. Allen also has significant appellate experience in both State and Federal courts. Allen’s recent successes include a $10 mil.+ medical malpractice settlement, a $2.7 million jury verdict against the State of Maryland for civil rights violations, a $700,000 jury verdict for excessive force and constitutional violations, a $500,000 jury verdict in a premises liability case against Baltimore City, a $500,000...

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.

A Maryland family law attorney for over 40 years, Allen Kruger has earned an AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating by Martindale Hubbell, the highest recognition possible in the legal industry. He has also been recognized by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers in America, and Best Lawyers in Maryland. Throughout the years, Mr. Kruger has acquired the litigation and mediation skills necessary to provide his clients with innovative solutions to satisfy their unique objectives.

Due to an emphasis on family law, as well as a considerable amount of experience in appellate cases, his expertise gives him the ability to handle a variety...

Aindrea is a partner at Ethridge, Quinn, Kemp, Rowan & Hartinger. Aindrea has experience in all of the firm’s practice areas, but practices primarily in the areas of family law, civil litigation, and criminal defense. Aindrea joined the firm in 2011 after judicial clerkships with the Honorable Durke G. Thompson of the Circuit Court for Montgomery County and the Honorable Christopher B. Kehoe of the Maryland Court of Special Appeals. Aindrea is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland, in the District of Columbia and in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Aindrea...

Licensed to practice in District of Columbia , Maryland, Florida and all United States District Courts in those jurisdictions.

Attorney for leading law firms in Maryland and D.C.

David was born and raised in Baltimore. He attended Calvert Hall College High School and Graduated from Towson University with a B.A. in International Studies. After spending over 5 years as a Securities Analyst for a Fortune 500 Financial Firm, he attended the University of Baltimore School of Law. During law school David was a student attorney for three semesters with the University's Family Law Clinic. There, he argued cases for economically disadvantaged clients in the District Court, Circuit Court, and the Court of Special Appeals. David also participated in a campaign to reform Maryland's Domestic Violence laws, and was...

Nearly 20 years of trial experience at the state and federal level handling complex civil and criminal cases. I have tried hundreds of cases before judges and juries. My current focus is representing railroad workers in personal injury cases under the Federal Employers Liability Act and in whistleblower cases under the the Federal Railroad Safety Act. Admitted to practice in Maryland and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Pending admission to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Brian is an attorney who specializes in business transactions and civil litigation, including in the areas of business/partner law, construction law, employment law, landlord-tenant disputes, real estate, and appeals. He has lived in Frederick for the past 15 years and was born in White Planes, New York. After graduating from the University of Delaware with a B.A. in political science in 1997, Brian graduated from American Law School in Washington D.C. in 2000. He lives in Frederick with his wife, Shelah, and their two rescue dogs, Bailey and Basil. When Brian is not buried in documents...

Jim was born and raised in Hagerstown Maryland. He has practiced law in Washington County since 1982. Jim’s current practice emphasizes business, commercial and contract law, civil litigation and appeals, corporate and partnership law, estate planning, wills and trusts, probate and estate administration, and real estate development. Before co-founding Kane & Stone, Jim was a principal with Kane, Wilburn & Stone for six years and Poole & Kane for six years. Before that, Jim was managing principal of Miller, Oliver, Baker, Moylan & Stone, a firm with whom he was associated for 28 years. After receiving an...