Fishing Creek Lawyers

With 36 years of legal practice, I have developed a broad background in various fields including civil and government litigation, military and civil criminal law, Federal Government administrative law, corporate law, government contracts, and international law, among others. I am a retired Navy Captain Judge Advocate, having held senior positions in the Pentagon and various global locations. My career also includes serving in combat zones four times. I have successfully represented scores of individual clients before Federal Government and State agencies, boards, and courts, protecting their rights to Government benefits, protecting their employment rights, and protecting their freedom. I am...

Gill Cochran is the senior member of Cochran and Chhabra, LLC. He founded the practice after working with the public defender’s office for seven years. Mr. Cochran primarily focuses on criminal defense and serious traffic matters. Mr. Cochran served as a rifle platoon leader in Vietnam. During his time in combat, he decided that practicing law was much more fun. Mr. Cochran is a recovering alcoholic. He believes it allows him to understand the issues surrounding addiction, which then enables him to know the whole client and find a better solution. Mr. Cochran is also an amateur magician, and he...

Gilda O. Karpouzian moved to Annapolis, Maryland 33 years ago. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 1990 with degrees in Information System Management and Economics. After graduation, she worked for the Maryland Department of Legislative Reference for a year, then entered the University of Maryland School of Law where she obtained her Juris Doctor degree in 1996.

Ms. Karpouzian established her law firm in Annapolis, Maryland in1998 after few years of private practice in one of the larger law firms in Annapolis. She has represented clients from all Maryland cities, including Severna Park, Pasadena, Glen Burnie,...

My name is Gill A. Cochran, founder Drew Cochran, Attorney at Law in Annapolis, and I’m here to tell you this: take a deep breath, pick up your phone and call me. For the last 18 years, I’ve worked as a criminal defense attorney in Anne Arundel, Allegany, Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Calvert, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, Prince George’s, and St. Mary’s on the Western Shore, and Kent, Caroline, Cecil, Talbot, Dorchester, Queen Anne’s, Somerset, Wicomico and Worcester Counties on the Eastern Shore, helping people just like you fight for their freedom.

Entrepreneur, attorney, and advisor focused on helping emerging companies, startups and VC funds thrive. I work with unicorn startups, publicly traded companies and everything in between. I am excited about leveraging my experience to help your business thrive.

Mr. Richa's clients include recording artists, songwriters, music producers, music production companies, music publishers, record labels, television and film producers, television and video production companies, entertainment management companies, apparel companies, filmmakers, professional photographers, promotion companies, restaurants, mortgage companies, real estate companies, graphic design companies, automobile service centers, importers/exporters, interior decorating companies, insurance companies, consulting companies, medical industry companies, technology companies, software companies, image consulting companies, property nanagement companies, retail stores, business management companies, actors, directors, screenwriters, marketing companies, public relations firms, personal and business managers, commercial and music video production companies, DJ's, recording studios, dancers and choreographers along with various...

Michelle Chapin, a member of the firm’s Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, Tax and Corporate practice groups, advises individuals, families and small business owners regarding their estate and gift planning needs. Recognized as a Top Trusts and Estates Lawyer in Washingtonian magazine, Michelle excels at providing clients with easy to understand explanations of intricate legal and tax matters. She works closely with her clients to create comprehensive and customized estate and business succession plans to achieve their tax and non-tax wealth preservation objectives. She also helps clients implement lifetime gifting and post-mortem wealth transfer strategies and counsels fiduciaries on...

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...

Kevin is a Principal in the firm and considers himself as a true business attorney. From start-up through transition, Kevin serves as outside counsel for a myriad of local businesses of varying size and industry. He is a member of the firm’s Corporate, Nonprofits, Science & Technology, and Real Estate practice groups, and regularly provides counsel in each of these areas, including general operation and governance of for-profit and nonprofit entities, business dispute resolutions, IP and technology licensing and transactions, private placements, the negotiation of employment relationships and separations, executive compensation, structuring and implementing corporate mergers and acquisitions, the negotiation...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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.

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...

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...

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.

Bryan J. Chant is an experienced trial attorney vindicating the rights of injured people in Maryland’s courts. He is an alumnus of the William Mitchell College of Law, where he served as an Assistant Editor on the William Mitchell Law Review. Bryan is a Maryland native. While attending the University of Maryland College Park, Bryan served as a volunteer firefighter paramedic for the Ellicott City Volunteer Fire Department and a part-time firefighter paramedic for the Howard County Department of Fire and Rescue Services. After law school, Bryan worked at a plaintiff’s personal injury firm handling all aspects of...

Joseph H. LaMore, Jr. is a former Assistant State's Attorney for Anne Arundel County and an honors graduate from the University of Maryland School of Law, with vast experience before all Maryland State and Federal Courts. He has been named to the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers association, named to the "SuperLawyers" list as published by Baltimore Magazine, and named a "Leading Lawyer" for Anne Arundel County, as published in What's Up? Annapolis Maganzine. Mr. LaMore provides representation in all Criminal Matters, Auto Accidents, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death and Family Law. He has been admitted to...

Dawn Merino has been providing legal services and mediation to the people of Glen Burnie, Maryland, and the surrounding areas for over twenty years. Specializing in family law, Dawn’s clients remain grateful for her assistance during the most difficult phase of their lives. We offer legal services and mediation for matters including divorce, separation, child custody, and domestic violence.

Mr. England routinely represents domestic and foreign companies of all sizes, assisting them in understanding and complying with USDA, FDA, Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and state requirements. His representation enables his clients to reduce the risk of regulatory interference with products being imported, exported or distributed in interstate commerce.

A 17-year veteran of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Mr. England served as Regulatory Counsel to the Associate Commissioner for Regulatory Affairs, and before that as an FDA Consumer Safety Officer, Compliance Officer, Senior Special Agent with the Office of Criminal Investigations, and analytical regulatory...

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...

Are you thinking about filing for divorce? Are you unsure where to turn when it comes to dealing with child custody issues or a postnuptial agreement? If so, then you can’t afford to wait for the quality care that is so completely available at the Law Office of Garland C. Hall, LLC. Here, you will be treated with the careful understanding and help that is necessary. If you need a Glen Burnie divorce lawyer, then you don’t have to search any longer. The Law Office of Garland C. Hall, LLC consists of a team of legal professionals who will make...

Kelley was born and raised in Baltimore County.

She received her undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. Kelley returned to Baltimore and earned her law degree from the University of Baltimore School of Law. Kelley was a Rule 16 student attorney in the Family Law Clinic, where she assisted clients in protective order and divorce matters. Prior to opening her own practice, Kelley was an associate at the Law Office of Garland C. Hall in Glen Burnie. For the last 3 years, Kelley was named among the 10 best attorneys in client satisfaction by the American...

I am an American citizen and have been admitted to practice as an Attorney and Counselor at Law in Maryland, Washington DC, and New York. I earned a master's degree in law from the George Washington University Law School, with a focus on Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution. My legal career began in 1989 when I was first admitted to the Supreme Court of Nigeria as a lawyer. I have also worked for several years as a Legal and Community Affairs Manager for a British-owned oil company. With over 35 years of combined experience, I have a substantial background in...

Tom Downs is an Estate Planning Attorney who currently resides in Laurel, Maryland with his wife, Margie Lazzati Downs. They have three children, Patrick, Lauren, and Joseph Downs.

Patrick is married,  and is a civilian employee of the US Army, following five years service as an Army officer. He served a one year tour in Afghanistan, during which he lead numerous dangerous missions. We are proud of his service and thankful that he and his team made it home safely. We have a great appreciation for those who serve, and what they and their families do.

Lauren is married. She teaches at...