Upperco Lawyers

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...

Nicole devotes her law practice exclusively to building and protecting families. When working with her clients, she takes an educational approach so her clients fully understand their options and the steps they should take to achieve their goals. She takes the time to listen to your concerns and answer any questions you may have. As a result, she has a better understanding of your situation and can respond effectively with practical and sensible solutions. Nicole's unique assisted reproduction/surrogacy program is designed to give both Intended Parents and Surrogate Mothers support and peace of mind from the moment they contact her office...

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...

Jack Blum is an associate in the firm’s Litigation and Employment Law practice groups. He has gained significant experience in a wide range of litigation matters, including real estate, commercial, corporate, and complex estates and trusts cases in both trials and appeals. He has represented large publicly and privately traded companies, individuals, real estate developers, medical practices, and small businesses. He has also worked with business owners on transactional work, forming business entities and drafting and reviewing contracts and other legal issues arising from ongoing and contemplated business transactions. In the area of employment law, Jack has worked with employers...

Paula Calimafde chairs the firm’s Retirement Plans, Employee Benefits and Government Relations practice groups and is also a senior member of the Estate Planning, Tax and Nonprofit groups. She has more than 35 years of experience advising companies and tax-exempt organizations on qualified and non-qualified retirement plans and employee benefits, including non-qualified deferred compensation, welfare benefit and cafeteria plans. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of creative retirement plan designs for businesses and works closely with management and owners to prepare retirement plans, which suit the particular corporate needs.
Paula’s practice encompasses sophisticated estate planning and advising individuals...

Glenn Cooper is the Chair of the firm’s Litigation practice and senior partner in our Family Law practice. He frequently appears before federal and state courts at both the trial and appellate levels, and before arbitration panels and professional disciplinary boards. No matter whether he is litigating a matter of a business or domestic nature, Glenn aggressively defends his clients’ positions and pursues their desired outcomes. The majority of Glenn Cooper's practice is devoted to complex business, financial, commercial and domestic litigation involving significant business issues.
A number of Glenn's cases have helped shape the current state of the law in...

Hope is Co-Chair of the firm’s Employment Law practice. For more than 30 years she has represented a variety of businesses, trade associations, and non-profit organizations in all areas of employment law, including age, gender, race, and disability discrimination; sexual and other harassment; wage and hour matters; and non- competition disputes.
Hope thoroughly familiarizes herself with her clients’ businesses, their goals and needs, and then works with them to craft solutions to meet those needs. She works with companies to develop regulatory-sensitive employment policies for recruitment, selection, promotion, discipline, and termination of employees, and evaluates and advises clients with regard to...

Wayne Eig refers to himself as a business and tax lawyer for individuals and closely held entities, providing advice to clients involved in various business, investment, financial and succession planning activities. Sometimes, his clients are individuals or families, sometimes entities and often a combination of individuals/families and affiliated entities working together. Sometimes, these businesses have great value, sometimes they do not – but all of these clients have needs which require legal attention.
Over the course of his career, Wayne has chaired some of the firm’s major practice groups – Estate & Trust Administration, Estate Planning, Tax, and Corporate. In forty...

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...

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...

Meredith Hill Law is a women run law firm that serves as legal concierge and general counsel for small businesses, as well as, assists individual clients with their estate plans. From the start of her legal career, Meredith knew that she wanted to start her own law firm. She wanted to create a business and brand of her own that would be a positive impact to others in her community. When she first began her firm, Meredith fell in love with running her businesses and it sparked a desire for her to help other business owners with their legal needs.

As...

Nakia Gray is a multi-faceted businesswoman and lawyer. She leverages her expertise in intellectual property law and brand strategy to give Black women business owners the legal strategies they need to package, protect and profit from their intellectual property. Having launched her law firm in 2014, Nakia has provided brand strategy and legal solutions to thousands of small business owners, and believes that with the right legal strategy a business can expand, grow and create a lasting legacy. For four years in a row Nakia has been named a Top Attorney by Washington, D.C.’s SuperLawyers magazine and has been featured on the...

Lorna Maloney, Esq. is the Founder and Managing Partner of Maloney & Hayes Law Offices, PC. with offices in Maryland and the District of Columbia. She earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology; Master of Arts Degree in Political Management and her Juris Doctorate Degree with honors. Ms. Maloney taught legal courses for several years before getting into private practice. She is committed to providing exceptional legal service to all of her clients.

Emily leads our firm’s litigation team, focusing on all aspects of divorce, custody and child support matters. Emily’s favorite place to be, when she’s working, is in the courtroom. She is a seasoned litigator who will tell you that there are few things in life better than a well-executed cross-examination. When she’s not in court, Emily is one of the nicest lawyers you will ever meet. Within the firm she is known for her ability to approach every case with a calm focus that puts her clients at ease. She has earned the well-deserved reputation among her colleagues for...

Early in my career I served as a judicial law clerk to the Hon. John McAuliffe on the Supreme Court of Maryland. I entered private practice and went on to become a partner with a firm in Montgomery County, where my practice centered on business law, family law, and estate litigation. While in private practice, I earned an MBA at the University of Maryland and then moved to San Francisco. There I held positions with Intel Corporation, first in its legal department and later in its sales and marketing division. I moved on to a series of...

Mr. Hartel’s practice focuses on insurance defense litigation. He has extensive experience handling insurance defense cases for insurance companies, insurance coverage litigation, insurance fraud litigation, and state insurance administration matters. Mr. Hartel also represents insurance companies regarding first party insurance claims and regularly conducts examinations under oath at the request of insurance companies. He has tried in excess of 300 jury trials and has many years of experience arguing appellate matters. Mr. Hartel often serves as a private Arbitrator and Mediator on personal injury cases at the requeat of attorneys in litigation. Mr. Hartel’s practice is approximately 60% in Virginia, 30% in...

Ms. Murray’s practice focuses on all aspects of insurance defense litigation. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Murray was an associate at a complex insurance defense litigation firm and has experience in several areas including toxic tort litigation, premises liability, personal injury, and construction litigation.

Cory Silkman is a nurse attorney who represents clients with professional license defense, licensing board, and family law matters.

The Coyle Law Group is a law firm dedicated to assisting individuals with debt issues, whether foreclosure, mortgage payments, car payments, credit cards, medical bills, etc. Michael Coyle graduated in the Top 15 percent of his class and a Member of The Law Review from American University. After graduation and prior to starting his own firm, Mr. Coyle worked at some of the largest and most prestigious firms in the country. He will bring that large firm experience to your case.

I am a dedicated attorney with a focus on family law, guardianship and elder law litigation. Known for my fierce advocacy, I am committed to ensuring that my clients achieve the most favorable outcomes in their legal matters. I approach sensitive family dynamics with understanding and patience, offering the support my clients need during challenging times. As a native of Baltimore, I deeply value family life and actively participate in community initiatives, reflecting my dedication to making a positive impact beyond the courtroom.

Katherine Kole Thompson has been a resident of Harford County for her entire life. Katie graduated cum laude and as a Scholar of the College from Boston College in 1990 with degrees in biology and psychology. While at Boston College, she competed on the varsity swimming team and completed the Boston Marathon in 1990. Katie graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law in 1993 and was admitted to the Maryland Bar that same year. While attending law school full-time, Katie was a student attorney representing juvenile offenders, served as associate editor for The Business Lawyer Law Journal, and...

Mr. Kelly has devoted his legal career to representing clients entangled in major disputes with the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”). He has represented businesses and individuals before the agency’s collection examination, and appeals divisions. Additionally, Mr. Kelly represents clients that are the targets of criminal tax investigations. With over two hundred appearances in various federal courts, tax litigation is a significant part of Mr. Kelly’s practice. He has also argued before the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Mr. Kelly began his professional career with the IRS in 1991, where he was assigned to field offices in the...

Visit PlaxenAdler.com to learn more about Maryland personal injury attorney Joshua Plaxen.

Mr. Roche founded Ballenger & Roche, LLC in 2019 with a mission to help seriously injured clients achieve exceptional results. Mr. Roche represents plaintiffs across the State of Maryland in trial courts, the appellate courts and in federal district court. Mr. Roche has received numerous awards and have earned the trust and respect of their peers through representing countless individuals in automobile accidents, medical malpractice, slip and falls, and from defective products. Mr. Roche has recovered millions for his clients and has received legal honors, including but not limited to the prestigious Super Lawyers “Rising Star” designation for 2017-2019 and 2021-2024....

Neurick LLC is headed by Alan B. Neurick, an annually Rated Best Personal Injury Lawyer in Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, D.C., with a Martindale-Hubbell AV® Preeminent™ peer review rating, a "Superb 10 out of 10" rating from AVVO, and is a recipient of the 2016 Clients' Choice Award.

Alan represents clients in personal injury, car accidents, litigation, breach of contract, insurance coverage, and judgment collections cases, and defends individuals and businesses in breach of contract and business disputes.

Saidah is an associate at Murphy, Falcon & Murphy. She specializes in commercial litigation, product liability, medical malpractice, and civil rights violations. For a free consultation, please contact Murphy, Falcon & Murphy today.

Attorney Joshua T. Ortega has dedicated his career to protecting the rights of others in the face of complicated legal situations. Mr. Ortega has experience in a wide range of criminal and civil matters - including criminal and civil defense, family law, and personal injury cases. Mr. Ortega's most valuable asset, which sets him apart as an attorney, is his dedication to the needs of his clients. As a zealous advocate, Mr. Ortega gives his clients a powerful voice in and out of the courtroom.

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...

An attorney licensed in Maryland and DC, Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales has also been admitted to the United States Supreme Court and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. She has founded the Law Offices of Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales (Maryland), Ontaneda-Bernales Law (Nevada), and Ontaneda-Bernales LLC (New Mexico). Her Immigration practice includes Relative Petitions, Fiance Visas, Naturalizations, Green Card Applications, Business and Investor Visas, and DACA, among other Immigration-related services. As a mediator, she has worked for the District Court of Maryland ADR Program. She is also a Spanish language consultant, translator, and interpreter listed in the Maryland Court Interpreter...

Ingerman & Horwitz, LLP is a full-service, Maryland personal injury law firm with over 100 years of collective experience. As a Better Business Bureau A+ rated, accredited firm and also named as one of Maryland’s leading workers’ compensation firms by The Baltimore Sun, Ingerman & Horwitz, LLP is recognized for our commitment to justice and dedication to excellence.

After receiving a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Maryland, I decided to pursue a career as an attorney, earning my law degree from the University of Buffalo Law School in New York.

In 1992, I became a member of the Maryland Bar, and in 1993, the District of Columbia Bar. Not long after that, I opened my first office at 8630 Fenton Street in Silver Spring, Maryland.

I currently serve as a sole practitioner focusing on the following areas of law: Bankruptcy, Social Security Disability, Auto Accidents, and Workers' Compensation. I have offices in Silver Spring, Columbia, Baltimore, and...

As an adoptive mother of 5, Sheri A. Mullikin represents expectant mothers and fathers, adoptive parents, and children in private or independent, agency, and international adoptions throughout central Maryland, including newborn, stepparent and other relative/kinship adoptions. Ms. Mullikin also helps individuals and families protect their loved ones through estate planning and administration legal services, including wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives.

Dirk Schwenk is a Maryland real estate attorney focusing on waterfront issues including riparian rights, piers, variances and permits, boundary disputes as well as maritime and marine contracting issues. He also assists with boat purchase, sale and tax issues. He is an honors graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law and has been in private practice in Annapolis since 2000.