North East Lawyers

Phillip R. Zuber has been a “top 50” or "top 100" Maryland Super Lawyer for several years running and a “top 10” Washington, D.C. SuperLawyer, a Fellow in the prestigious American College of Trial Lawyers, a member of the Maryland State Bar Association subcommittee on civil pattern jury instructions and a lecturer to the Maryland Judicial Institute. For 35 plus years, he has practiced in the complex areas of medical malpractice (especially obstetrical, neonatal and emergency medicine issues), electric utility accidents, attorney liability, highway fatalities and catastrophic personal injuries. He has acted as general products liability counsel for an...

Stephanie Moran is an experienced attorney at Watson & Moran LLC. She is a zealous litigator and negotiator who is dedicated to providing excellent service and legal representation. Ms. Moran's practice areas include Family Law, Civil Litigation, Employment Law, Discrimination, Entertainment Law and Bankruptcy.

Ms. Moran was born in Washington, D.C. She earned her B.A. in 1995 from Howard University, magna cum laude. Her J.D. was obtained at the University of Maryland School of Law in 1998. Additionally, Ms. Moran earned an LL.M., with honors, in 2001 from Georgetown University Law School. Ms. Moran served as Law Clerk to the...

Unique and Unconventional For nearly thirty years, I've cultivated a rich and diverse legal career, beginning with a focus on securities law and corporate compliance for seventeen years. During this time, I honed my skills in navigating the complexities of financial regulations and transactions, ensuring compliance and protection for my corporate employers. Transitioning into a general practice for the subsequent thirteen years, I broadened my expertise across various legal domains, providing comprehensive counsel to individuals and businesses alike. However, it was in the last five years that I found my true passion and calling in estate planning. Devoting my energy solely to...

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...

Jeffrey M. Orenstein is a skilled commercial litigator with a particular emphasis on bankruptcy litigation. He has been appointed to serve as Bankruptcy Trustee and Examiner in complex Chapter 11 cases. For more than 25 years, he has represented bankruptcy estates, bankruptcy trustees in multiple jurisdictions, creditors and debtors in a wide variety of high profile bankruptcy cases and in business and consumer litigation. Mr. Orenstein has assisted the Federal government in obtaining bankruptcy fraud convictions in numerous cases. The Martindale-Hubbell legal directory gave Mr. Orenstein an AV rating, the highest given for legal ability and professional ethics.

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...

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...

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...

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...

The Diamond Law Group was founded by Attorney Seth Diamond. Seth focuses his practice on bankruptcy, personal injury, and other civil litigation matters. He is certified to practice law in the states of Maryland, Florida, and Washington, D.C. Seth was won numerous honors and awards for his legal work, conducted many speaking engagements on legal issues, been quoted in the Baltimore City Paper and other notable periodicals, and is regularly called upon to resolve complex matters in his areas of focus. He is a member of the Bankruptcy Bar Association of Maryland, where he currently serves as Chair of the...

Mark W. Oakley is an established litigation attorney concentrating on civil litigation, personal injury, construction law, and criminal and traffic defense. He also advises business clients, negotiates and drafts contracts, and handles a variety of litigation matters at all levels of the state and federal court systems. Mr. Oakley is trained and certified in the collaborative practice of law. Mr. Oakley is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D. 1987), and the University of Maryland, College Park (B.A. 1984). He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of...

Bethesda family law attorney Brandon Bernstein provides cost-effective guidance for clients dealing with divorce, custody, property division, and related matters.

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...

Associate Attorney with a demonstrated commitment to client-centered representation. Skilled in Litigation, Legal Research and Writing, Administration, and Leadership. Kenrick represents clients before the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Commission and litigates workers' compensation cases in the state and appellate courts of Maryland. Prior to joining BSG, Kenrick served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Matthew A. Maciarello at the Circuit Court for Wicomico County on Maryland’s eastern shore. As a law clerk, Kenrick assisted the judge in chambers and during courtroom proceedings, conducted legal research, and prepared bench memoranda on various criminal and civil issues that came before the...

I am a skilled attorney from Honduras with a bachelor’s degree in law from the Universidad Autonoma of Honduras and a master’s degree in law from Penn State University (LLM). I have successfully passed the New York State Bar exam and am fluent in both English and Spanish. My practice is deeply rooted in U.S. immigration law, regulations, and policy, encompassing areas such as adjustment of status, consular processing, naturalization, and removal defense. I am proficient in handling both immigrant and non-immigrant visas and am dedicated to achieving consistent and favorable outcomes for my clients. My knowledge also extends to evaluating...

Matthew Glinsmann leads the employment-based residency – PERM Labor Certification team at Glinsmann Immigration. His practice includes representation of large and small corporations, families, and extraordinary ability individuals. Leading technology and service companies select Matthew as a trusted immigration partner because of his immigration experience and reputation. His deep understanding of business practices allows him to design immigration solutions that result in the highest return on investment and allow CEO’s, General Counsel and HR Directors to remain focused on their core mission. His uniquely personal approach makes Matthew a clear choice for individuals seeking help with family...

A law firm for every day people. The belief of my practice is simple: I represent those who need an attorney but think they can't afford one. I believe in standing up for those who think no one will stand up for them. I give voice to the voiceless. Sometimes things happen. You need an attorney. You think you can't afford one. You can afford Elizabeth Pugliese, Esq.

We assist our clients with legal problems. Most of our clients are individuals or small businesses. I have over 30 years of experience in the courtroom and in the settlement of disputes. Every case is handled efficiently with the client's best interests in mind. We communicate with our clients by email and phone and provide immediate updates in real time by email of any court papers and other information received in your case. Our litigation practice includes: commercial litigation, family law, serious traffic, DUI and DWI, and other...

The National Law Center, George Washington University J.D., with Honors
University of Maryland, BA Major in Government & Politics, Minor in Psychology
Civic, Professional, Foundation and Corporate Affiliations:

Delegate to Democratic National Convention
Campaign Manager for Rep. Michael D. Barnes
Rockville Chamber of Commerce – Past President
National Capital Chapter of MS Society - Board of Trustees, and Past Chair
Shady Grove Hospital Fund Campaign - Major Gift Chair
Montgomery County Bar Association –Chair Judicial Selections; Member of Ethics, Fee Arbitration and Legislation Committees
Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce - Vice President
Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce - Liquor Control Evaluation
Rockville Alternative Community Service Commission
Montgomery County Volunteer MS Committee -...

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...

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,...

Lisa Trail is an attorney and the founder of Maryland Strategic Divorce Consulting, LLC. Ms. Trail has over 19 years of experience as an attorney in Maryland, the last decade of which was spent focusing on family law. Lisa Trail approaches her cases in a caring and methodical manner, focusing on the specific needs of her clients. She pays attention to the details that can change the outcome of her client’s case. Ms. Trail’s personalized approach, together with her practical knowledge and expertise in family law provides clients with the help they need. After years...

For more than 30 years Dan Hodin has advised businesses and individuals in commercial and residential real estate and loan transactions, including acquiring, financing, developing, owning, leasing, managing and selling real estate. Co-chair of the firm’s Real Estate practice, he has represented local, national and international real estate developers, builders, owners, and office and retail tenants in conjunction with prominent real estate projects including hotels, office buildings, condominiums, apartment complexes and shopping centers located throughout the United States.
Dan knows that responsiveness and organization in the fast-paced world of real estate are key to keeping clients satisfied. He instills confidence in...

Ryan T. West is one of eight grandchildren of the late Raymond D. Coates Sr., a lawyer and founder of the Law Firm of Coates, Coates & Coates, P.A. in Worcester County, Maryland. Mr. Coates was a former State's Attorney for Worcester County; a former County Attorney for Worcester County; a former member of the Attorney Grievance Commission; a former member of the Maryland State Bar Association Judicial Selection Commission; Past President of the Worcester County Bar Association; and a member of the Maryland State and American Bar Association. In college, Mr. Coates was a professional musician and...

Ashley Wilburn was born and raised in Hagerstown, Maryland and is a North Hagerstown High School alumnus. Ashley’s current practice emphasizes family law, including divorce, alimony, marital property distribution, child custody, child support, prenuptial and postnuptial (separation) agreements, enforcement and post-divorce matters, step-parent and private party adoptions, and child welfare. Her practice also includes estate planning, wills and trust, probate and estate administration, and commercial, contract and civil litigation. Ashley is also court-appointed to represent children in contested custody cases, and she has recently become a certified mediator. She looks forward to expanding her practice to...

Bio Mr. Houpt has lived in the region for the majority of his life graduating from James Buchanan High School. After a brief tenure in the U.S. Navy as a cryptologist Mr. Houpt received his bachelors degree from the University of Shippensburg. While involved in several successful business ventures Mr. Houpt completed his MBA from Frostburg University. Mr. Houpt received his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore in 2015. Mr. Houpt holds a licence to practice law in the State of Maryland. Education BA, Shippensburg University, 1998 MBA, Frostburg University, 2007 Juris Doctor,University of Baltimore School of Law, 2015 Activities / Memberships American Bar Association Maryland State...

Bradley J. Reed, co-founding attorney of Britt-Reed Law Offices, is a dedicated and results-driven Hagerstown personal injury lawyer. He is a member of a number of bar admissions, including Maryland, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, U.S. District Court, Northern District of West Virginia, Virginia and US Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Supreme Court. After earning his Bachelor’s degree from Frostburg State University, Bradley went on to obtain his J.D. from Dickinson School of Law. His unparalleled experience has earned him a spot as one of the top-rated personal injury attorneys in the nation, and his...

I am dedicated to providing the highest quality, personal service to all of my clients. I work in a small firm. My partners are also my father and my brother. Unlike the indifferent, "take a number" approach you get at many law firms, we treat each client as a person whose case matters most. We spend the extra time that is needed to make sure you understand the complexities of your case and to get you the best result possible. Our advice is honest and to the point. We'll tell you the good and...

Kathryn Batey has spent the entirety of her legal career defending clients against the justice system. Kathryn graduated from American University’s Washington College of Law in 2012 and went to work immediately for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender, where she was eventually promoted to Deputy District Public Defender for Southern Maryland. In 2023, she left the office to build her own firm – Safe Harbor Criminal Defense, and is now proud to co-found Southern Maryland Criminal Defense. Kathryn is also barred in Virginia and has previously practiced criminal defense litigation in Virginia General District Court, Circuit Courts, and...

Erin Michael McCormack provides a wide range of legal services to clients throughout the Eastern Shore of Maryland with his case load centered in Worcester, Wicomico, Dorchester and Somerset Counties. As a former Assistant State's Attorney and Law Clerk in Worcester County, Mr. McCormack possesses a unique insight into the judicial process facing individuals that find themselves before the Court. Since entering private practice, Mr. McCormack has primarily devoted his time to the areas of criminal defense, traffic matters (DUI/DWI) and civil litigation (business & contract disputes, professional negligence, etc.). Despite those concentrations, he also handles a...

Owner of Trollinger Law, Matthew Trollinger is a dedicated personal injury attorney and advocate for the rights of injury victims. He has managed and negotiated personal injury claims resulting in millions of dollars for hundreds of clients throughout Maryland and has extensive experience in assisting clients from injury to recovery in both Maryland workers' compensation cases and Maryland and Washington, D.C. auto claims.

Mr. Trollinger served as Chair of the Maryland State Bar Negligence, Insurance, and Workers' Compensation Section in from 2016-2017, has served on statewide panels for worker's compensation issues such as the Maryland Workers' Compensation Education Association, and has...