Top best E Lawyers in ZIP 20814 | 547 available

[Si Hablo Espanol]. “My singular focus is to achieve the client's goals in a professional, cost-effective and strategic manner, to ensure that the results accomplished for my client will remain long-lasting and provide them with peace of mind.”. Carlos M. Lastra is a Partner and Co-chair of Cipriani & Werner’s Washington DC Metropolitan area Family Law practice group, Chair of the Florida Litigation and Family Law practice groups, and a member of its Litigation practice group. Mr. Lastra is an elite lawyer who provides clients with diligent, strategic, thoughtful and effective representation, addressing both their immediate concerns and securing long-term solutions, in arguably the toughest times imaginable.. Mr. Lastra has represented clients in all aspects of family law - from complex high net worth divorces, with closely held businesses and property spanning multiple jurisdictions including foreign countries, to celebrity and highly sensitive divorces, involving hidden assets, and cases involving the acquirement of digital computer forensic evidence, as well as child custody relocation matters, to prenuptial agreements, all with the focus of preserving his clients’ ability to maintain their familial relationships, as well as their financial well-being. Mr. Lastra’s range of family law litigation experience also includes divorce, alimony, custody, child support, paternity, and property distribution cases. He also handles matters involving guardianships over property and individuals, including both minors and vulnerable adults, as well as contempt/enforcement actions, modifications actions, and domestic violence cases in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Florida.. Applying skills honed over thirty years of recurrent civil and criminal trials before judges and juries in federal and state courtrooms in multiple jurisdictions, Mr. Lastra 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. In addition to Family Law, Mr. Lastra has also represented individuals and small businesses, in numerous jury trials, in a wide diversity of cases ranging from criminal conspiracy, fraud, R.I.C.O., and white-collar criminal cases, to contract claims, shareholder’s derivative actions, construction disputes, professional malpractice defense, and other commercial litigation matters.. As a result, Carlos Lastra is a highly accomplished trial lawyer who is sought after and regularly appears on television as a legal commentator, including Court TV, Fox, ABC and CBS, and who has been honored throughout his career with numerous awards and distinctions, including Legal Elite - Washington’s Top Attorneys, Smart CEO Magazine, top “Divorce Attorney” by Washingtonian and Bethesda magazine, Best Lawyers in America, Superlawyers, as well as Family Law Practitioner of the Year. Mr. Lastra’s intricate knowledge of complex domestic-relations cases and his ability to anticipate the opposition to develop effective case strategies, has earned him an “AV” rating, the highest rating possible from clients, peers and judges, by Martindale Hubbell. He is a Top-rated attorney.. In addition to his legal acumen, Mr. Lastra is fluent in Spanish and is an active member in Hispanic civil and professional organizations. While in law school, he was a Certified Legal Intern, prosecuting felony cases for the Law Offices of Janet Reno, Miami-Dade State’s Attorney. He also served as a law clerk to the Hon. Leonard M. Rivikind.

William Kominers, a land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland, navigates governmental processes to help companies use their properties. He practices in the areas of land use, land development, zoning, real estate, administrative and municipal law. He also is engaged in aspects of development projects such as density limitations, traffic mitigation and plan enforcement.. For more than 30 years, Bill has represented developers and businesses (particularly biotech companies) before courts and administrative agencies in Maryland and the District of Columbia in proceedings involving rezoning, master plan amendments, subdivisions, adequate public facilities examinations, site plan reviews, special exceptions, variance and building and occupancy permits. He has particular experience representing large-scale mixed-use developments through the full range of planning, zoning and regulatory processes. He also represents large office and industrial parks in general land use and legislative matters, including master planning, text amendments and zoning and regulatory appeals. His training as an architect allows him to communicate with planners and designers on details from lot layouts to building design.. Bill also has extensive experience with urban development projects, particularly using optional zoning tools for increased densities and negotiation of design and amenities in the regulatory process. He has managed these projects in the central business districts of Bethesda, Silver Spring and Friendship Heights.. Bill’s approach, which has been an integral part of his success, is: “Do what you say you are going to do.  Keep your commitments.  Listen.  Be fair.  Respect relationships. Don’t dismiss crazy ideas.”  He brings this philosophy, a deep understanding of development and political processes, an analytic mind and a sense of humor to each project.. On the residential side, Bill has worked with owners, developers and builder associations in a variety of projects, from large apartments to modest townhomes.. Bill received his Bachelor of Science and his Bachelor of Architecture from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York, and his Juris Doctor with honors from The George Washington University School of Law. Prior to joining Lerch Early, he was a partner in the Montgomery County office of a national D.C. law firm and in other Montgomery County land use firms for more than 30 years. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. Bill has been listed in Chambers USA for Real Estate: Land Use every year since 2008, and has appeared in the Best Lawyers in America and the Maryland and D.C. issues of Super Lawyers every year since 2007. He has served as an occasional guest lecturer at the Catholic University Planning School and as an associate professional lecturer in law at The George Washington University Law School. He is involved in many professional and community organizations, including currently serving as chair of the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce and on the board of ScienceMontgomery.. Bill and his wife Ellen grew up in Montgomery County, and are graduates of Walt Whitman High School, as are their two grown sons, who collaborate with one another in mathematics and economics research. For 40 years, Bill has played bridge with a group of fellow Whitman alums. When not playing a trump card, Bill enjoys skiing and military history.

When you work with me, you can be confident that I am involved with every aspect of your case. I do not hand you off to an associate attorney. I also use a long-time, local law clerk to perform legal research as needed, and a long-time paralegal to assist me in the other required tasks of representing you effectively and efficiently. This helps reduce my overhead and allows me to maintain extremely competitive hourly rates.. I have been dedicated to helping people solve family law problems for more than 25 years. I started out in civil business litigation, but quickly realized that I wanted to have a direct impact on people’s lives during times of serious crisis. My family law practice has given me the opportunity to help people through their most difficult personal struggles.

When women and men come to me for representation they experience a lawyer who is patient with them, seeks to understand, and processes what they are going through to come up with solutions; I meet your legal problem with compassion, immediately analyze it, craft strategies, and take actions that will protect your interests.. You should not have to fight your legal problems on your own. Choose a knowledgable, experienced attorney who will put your legal burden on her shoulders and carry it through to the end, using effective strategies.. Call me at or email to schedule a consultation.

Tracy Leyba works to provide creative solutions and alternatives when assisting with business issues. She takes pride in supporting her clients and providing them high-quality, efficient legal services. Tracy regularly helps business owners form and organize various business entities and prepare necessary business documents, including business formation documents, operating agreements and stockholders’ agreements, various other business agreements, contracts and real estate leases.

Theodore Goldstock is a business and litigation attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland. He counsels businesses on a broad range of corporate and commercial law matters and represents clients in business-related disputes and commercial litigation. He also advises family-owned businesses on succession planning, governance and other issues.. Understanding of Business Issues Based on Experience Running a Company. As a business attorney, Ted draws on his experience as the former COO and general counsel for his own mid-sized family business. His understanding of today’s business issues and his sensible approach to solving problems is appreciated by clients, including companies that rely on him for general counsel services, commercial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, business formation, succession planning, operating agreements, shareholder agreements, leasing, intellectual property licensing, and general corporate law. Practical and determined, Ted has a deep understanding of the issues facing families in business together, and an ability to customize solutions based on circumstances unique to each family and company.. Resolving Business Disputes. In the area of commercial litigation, Ted handles business disputes, including conflicts among shareholders and limited liability company members. He litigates for his clients in the courts and in administrative proceedings and appeals. In addition, he has substantial experience representing business clients in arbitration proceedings and related litigation regarding the use of arbitration to resolve disputes.. Health Care Providers. Ted often combines his business acumen and litigation experience serving health care providers such as physicians groups, hospitals, surgery centers, and continuing care communities. Ted has handled mergers between physician groups, and transactions involving the consolidation of individual practices into mega groups. He helps individual physicians in their negotiations with hospitals and physician groups, individual hospitals in business transactions, and joint ventures among groups of hospitals. Ted has represented both surgery centers and specialty groups in their dealings with surgery centers. He also has handled transactions with Accountable Care Organizations.. Nonprofit Governance. Ted also represents many nonprofit organizations in all aspects of business transactions, including mergers between nonprofits, joint ventures and corporate governance, as well as obtaining exemptions from income taxes and other state and local taxes.. Ted received his Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from Dartmouth College, where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa. He also attended the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Ted received his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. Active in Montgomery County civic affairs, Ted serves as general counsel to the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce and as general counsel to the board of Bethesda Arts and Entertainment District, Inc. and to Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase, Maryland. He also serves as pro bono business counsel to Imagination Stage, where he regularly negotiates agreements with artists and their agents. At Lerch Early, Ted serves on the firm's management committee and board of directors.. Ted is an avid collector of antiques and decorative art, and holds a certificate in Antique and Decorative Art Connoisseurship from The George Washington University. In addition, he is an épée fencer and an avid trap, skeet and sporting clays competitor.

Susan Reutershan is a land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland who has extensive experience in representing commercial and residential developers, individual landowners, corporations, nonprofits and biotechnology companies in all phases of land use and development throughout Maryland.. Susan draws upon her comprehensive knowledge and experience to counsel clients in complex and sophisticated land use matters and to provide sound and practical legal advice. Her representation includes rezonings, special use permits, variances, preliminary subdivision plans, comprehensive sketch plans, project plans, site plans, historic preservation issues, building and occupancy permits, impact fees, water and sewer category changes, master plans, annexations, vested rights, adequacy of public facilities and zoning text amendments.. She represents clients before various administrative bodies in Maryland at the state, county and municipal levels, and in appellate proceedings before Maryland Circuit Courts and Maryland’s Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals.. After earning her Bachelor of Arts with high honors from the University of Rhode Island, Susan relocated to the Washington metropolitan area and attended the Washington College of Law of American University, where she received her Juris Doctor. She began her legal career at a land use law firm in Montgomery County, where she practiced for many years as a partner and an associate. Immediately prior to joining Lerch Early, she served as senior counsel in the Montgomery County office of a downtown D.C. law firm. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. Susan has appeared on numerous local seminar panels and has been a panelist at the National Association of Homebuilders’ national convention. She has served as an occasional guest lecturer at the Washington College of Law. She is a board member of Habitat for Humanity of Montgomery County and of Maryland Suburban Commercial Real Estate Women (CREW) and she also is active in the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce and the Maryland Building Industry Association.. A native of Rhode Island, Susan enjoys swimming, reading, playing word games and traveling with her husband and two adult sons.

Strategic, principled and cost-effective family law attorney.

Steven A. Loewy is an experienced commercial real estate lawyer helping Lenders, Developers and other businesses in Maryland, Virginia, and metropolitan Washington, D.C. initiate, negotiate, structure, and close major commercial real estate transactions. Mr. Loewy provides a full range of services in commercial real estate law.

Stephanie Perry is the Managing Partner of Pasternak & Fidis, and she concentrates her practice on estate planning, estate and trust administration, and premarital and domestic partnership agreements.. Stephanie advises clients in the preparation of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and advance health care directives, and she also counsels clients with respect to the administration of estates and trusts. In estate planning, Stephanie’s goal is to provide each client with a plan that will meet the client’s personal objectives, while also preserving wealth and minimizing transfer tax liabilities. In estate and trust administration, Stephanie strives to make what can be a very challenging process as manageable and efficient for clients as possible. According to Stephanie, the most rewarding aspect of her practice is “getting to know clients and their families and serving as a trusted adviser who will help them achieve their primary objective of taking care of family.”. Stephanie also works closely with the Firm’s domestic relations attorneys on premarital and domestic partnership agreements. Stephanie’s primary objective in working with clients in these matters is to make sure a client is properly educated, understands his or her rights, and concludes the process with an agreement that is acceptable to both parties.. Stephanie has been recognized as one of the area’s top estate attorneys by Washingtonian and Bethesda Magazine; she has been recognized by Best Lawyers in Maryland; and she has also been recognized by Maryland and D.C. Super Lawyers in the areas of estate planning and probate every year since 2015. Stephanie is past Co-Chair of the Steering Committee of the Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Community of the District of Columbia Bar. Stephanie is also a member of the Estate Planning Council of Montgomery County.. Originally from Jacksonville, Florida, Stephanie received her B.S. in Political Science and English from Florida State University and her J.D. from Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, Georgia. After practicing in Atlanta for several years, she joined Pasternak & Fidis. Stephanie is admitted to the Bar in Maryland, the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Georgia.. An unwavering believer in the power of education, Stephanie serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Washington School for Girls (WSG), an all-girls, tuition-free private school. Located in the District of Columbia, WSG provides access to education and support to 3rd through 8th grade students and their families in order to prepare them for success in high school and beyond. The Firm has also fervently supported WSG for several years.

Stan Reed is a high profile litigator who represents individuals and corporations in complex civil and employment litigation and white-collar criminal defense work, as well as lawyers and health care providers in professional responsibility matters and investigations in Maryland and the District of Columbia. He also is noted for his adept handling of politically sensitive cases, grand jury investigations, and parallel proceedings.. Leading legal guide Chambers USA describes Stan as a “grandmaster strategist,” highlighting his "intuitive sense of the types of argument that will resonate with juries and judges," as well as his "superb presentation and demeanor in trial." In addition to his significant legal talent, clients note that he is “100% committed to [their] best interests” and that they “could not have chosen anyone better [because Stan has] always made us feel very important, as if we were the only ones needing assistance or help.”. He is one of just a handful of attorneys in Maryland recognized for excellence in litigation in multiple legal directories based on client and peer reviews. Chambers has named Stan a "Leader in His Field" in General Commercial Litigation every year since 2007. He also has been included in Best Lawyers in America each year since then. He is recognized in the fields of Criminal Defense: White-Collar and Criminal Defense: Non-White-Collar, and Best Lawyers has twice named him Washington, DC’s Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law "Lawyer of the Year," most recently for 2018. Stan also has been listed as a top litigator in the Maryland, Washington, DC, and Business editions of Super Lawyers since 2008.. Stan was named one of "Washington's Top Trial Lawyers" by Washingtonian magazine in 2007, one of their "Elite Criminal Defenders" in 2009, a "Star of the Bar" for Crime and Punishment in 2011, and one of “Washington’s Top Legal Minds” for Criminal Defense in 2013. In 2015 and 2017, the magazine selected him as the only white-collar criminal attorney in Maryland in its "Top Lawyers" list.. Prior to joining Lerch Early in 1984, Stan gained extensive trial and appellate experience from his work in Public Defender's Offices in Vermont, Michigan, and the District of Columbia, and as an Assistant Federal Public Defender for the District of Maryland. He also served as law clerk to the Honorable Harold H. Greene, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.. Outside the office, Stan bleeds Michigan blue and Washington Capitals red when his favorite sports teams compete.

Stacy Plotkin Silber is a land use attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland whose practice focuses on land use and zoning issues in Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. She helps clients navigate the complexities of securing approvals for their projects at the local and state levels of government. Her clients include developers with mixed-use, office, retail and residential projects, as well as private schools.. Stacy’s experience includes master planning, zoning, rezoning, project plans, site plans, subdivisions, historic preservation, affordable housing matters, transferrable development rights, legislative matters, special exceptions and variances. One client refers to her as “Madame Ambassador” because of her firm but respectful way of advocating for her clients and building coalitions, when appropriate.. Stacy’s first step in any case is to ask the client about the company’s goals and expectations. By undertaking an analysis of each client’s current situation, needs and objectives, Stacy helps develop and implement strategies to pursue efficient and effective public approvals. She acts as an advisor and tenacious advocate from the very beginning of the development stage of a project, helping clients avoid potential hurdles during the course of the approval process. Clients describe her as indispensable. They often trust her as their outside general counsel, asking her to serve as a kind of quarterback when other legal needs arise.. Stacy received her Bachelor of Arts from Emory University and her Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law.  Prior to joining Lerch Early, she was a partner in the Montgomery County office of a global law firm. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. In addition to her private practice, Stacy is an adjunct professor at The George Washington University Law School, where she teaches a class on land use and historic preservation. She is listed in the Maryland and D.C. editions of Super Lawyers.. Stacy is the founding Chair of the Maryland/DC Chapter of NAIOP’s Leadership Committee, a committee that connects NAIOP, a commercial real estate development association, to governmental leaders in Montgomery County and the State.   She also serves on NAIOP’s Sustainable Development Committee.  Stacy is a member of BB&T’s Advisory Board, and serves on the North Bethesda Transportation Management District Advisory Committee.. Stacy also is active in the community. She is passionate about the need for affordable housing in Montgomery County, and for seven years, she served on the board of the Montgomery Housing Partnership, a nonprofit that provides affordable housing and support for working families; she chaired the board for two years.  Stacy currently serves as a trustee for the National Center for Children and Families, and serves on the Josiah Henson Park Planning Committee (Uncle Tom’s Cabin), which is part of the National Park Service’s National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program.  Stacy also serves as a co-chair of the Boys and Girls Club Annual Real Estate Luncheon.. For recreation, Stacy enjoys playing tennis, running, reading presidential biographies and attending minor league baseball games at the Potomac Nationals.

Since 1982, Julian H. Spirer has been meeting the diverse legal needs of a general business, trade association, and nonprofit clientele. He provides counseling on the wide array of issues of concern to business and tax-exempt organizations, including contracts, intellectual property, employment, and regulatory compliance. He is a member of the DC, MD, NY, and Supreme Court bars.. Mr. Spirer recently represented a former Prime Minister of Somalia in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the immunity from civil liability in U.S. Courts of former foreign government officials. Mr. Spirer defended the client’s position in a story on the national television show “20/20.”. Mr. Spirer has lectured at Georgetown University Law School, American University, and the New School for Social Research, and has written extensively, on business and nonprofit law issues. He regularly instructs DC lawyers in helping clients apply for nonprofit status. For several years, he authored a nonprofit law column for the magazine Who Cares?. Following graduation summa cum laude from Princeton University and with honors from Harvard Law School, Mr. Spirer spent three years as a corporate attorney with the New York firm of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison. Before resuming private practice, he worked as staff director to Congressman Benjamin Rosenthal (D-NY) and then as Director of Federal Affairs for the City of New York under Mayor Ed Koch during the City's financial crisis.. Mr. Spirer's community activities have included serving as President of the Barney Neighborhood House, the oldest settlement house in the District of Columbia, as Chair of the National Governing Council of the American Jewish Congress, and as chairman and treasurer of several local political campaigns. He is currently a member of the Maryland Governor's Commission on Middle Eastern American Affairs.

Sigrid Haines is a health care and elder law attorney at Lerch, Early and Brewer in Bethesda, Maryland. She has earned a reputation as one of Maryland’s most respected health care attorneys for her representation of hospitals, medical and health-related foundations, health care systems, nursing homes, home health agencies, physicians and pharmacies. She also practices in the guardianship field.. Sigrid counsels hospitals on a broad range of legal matters, including contract disputes and negotiations; hospital privileges and credentials; patient care; policy, licensing, accreditation and regulatory matters; HIPAA issues; medical staff bylaws; and fraud and abuse investigations and litigation. She advises physicians on privileging and credentialing, licensing, payor issues, contracts and peer review activities.. Sigrid represents individuals and institutions in guardianship matters and has been appointed as guardian of property in a number of cases. For clients who are competent, but who recognize that they need assistance, she often serves as attorney-in-fact under a power of attorney to handle financial and health care needs based on her clients’ instructions. In fulfilling her duties to the court or to her clients, Sigrid works with both county and private social workers in order to provide the highest quality of life possible. In addition, she ensures that bills get paid and money is managed efficiently to meet the needs of her clients and wards.. Born in Fayetteville, N.Y., Sigrid graduated from Bucknell University with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and earned her Juris Doctor from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. A member of the Maryland, District of Columbia and New York bars, she brings valuable experience as a hospital management consultant to her law practice and is widely viewed as a sharp, watchful and compassionate advocate for her clients.. A former member of the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association, Sigrid has taken an active role its Health Law Section Council since 1993, including serving as the council’s chair, vice chair and secretary-treasurer. She is also a member of the American Health Lawyers Association.. Sigrid has been recognized in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and the Maryland and D.C. editions of Super Lawyers in the area of health care. She also has an “AV” rating from Martindale-Hubbell.. Sigrid is an avid cyclist who bikes throughout the world. Her most recent bike trips took her through Germany and South Dakota. She also is the proud owner of Harpo, a beautiful black horse.

Scott Livingston has over 25 years of experience concentrating on Maryland Procurement Law. Bid protests happen quickly. There is no time for a learning curve. Scott Livingston and the team at Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston, Levitan & Silver, LLC (RWLLS) are structured — at a moment's notice — to protect your legal rights under Maryland procurement law. Sometimes you need a procurement attorney, other times you need government relations support, and often you need both forms of advocacy. RLLS provides either or both. Scott Livingston has more than 25 years experience after serving as an Assistant Attorney General working on contract issues on behalf of the State. He has concentrated on representing contractors on bid protests and contract claims. RLLS has extensive Maryland procurement law experience. We are here when you need us.. Our team concentrates on Maryland state procurement and contract law backed by the powerful resources of the firm of Rifkin, Weiner, Livingston, Levitan & Silver, LLC. We have represented hundreds of contractors and vendors at the Maryland State and local levels. We have successfully handled many protests on behalf of clients challenging a contract award. Scott Livingston has handled more bid protests than any attorney in private practice. Our procurement practice areas include: Government Contract Legal Services; Procurement-Based Legal Services; Contract Counseling; Pre-Award Litigation; Debarment and Suspension; and Contract Claims and Litigation

Raymond Sherbill, a corporate attorney who chairs Lerch, Early & Brewer’s Business & Taxation practice in Bethesda, Maryland, combines strategic thinking, attention to detail and drafting, and broad commercial experience to represent businesses and business owners knowledgeably and effectively on a continuing (and usually long-term) basis. Ray counsels businesses of all sizes in a variety of transactional, financial, employment and tax-related matters, as well as the handling and resolution of complex disputes. His clients include manufacturers, government contractors, distributors, construction firms, service providers, and a number of international businesses, as well as individual business owners and entrepreneurs.. In his transactional practice, he routinely provides representation on business formations and equity transactions, the negotiation and drafting of joint venture and teaming agreements for government contracting opportunities, the structuring and implementation of mergers and acquisitions, and the consummation of significant asset transactions for closely-held private companies. Ray also advises businesses on preferred equity, senior debt and mezzanine financing transactions, executive and employee compensation and incentive arrangements, corporate governance and succession planning.. As a negotiator and advocate, Ray frequently represents clients in business ownership and control issues and disputes, efforts to mitigate or resolve liability risks, and efforts to maximize value on key assets and opportunities. Chambers USA writes that Ray “ is praised for his ‘keen commercial awareness’ and ‘well-formulated and well-presented arguments.’” (Chambers USA 2010.) Mechanically inclined, he readily grasps technical, manufacturing and construction concepts that frequently prove essential or addressing manufacturing or construction liability issues. Ray also represents clients in government contracting matters with the procuring agencies or the Government Accountability Office, and in other matters before federal and state regulators.. Ray received his Bachelor of Arts from Boston University and his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the George Washington University Law School. Prior to joining Lerch Early, he was a partner at a downtown business and government contracting law firm and a Bethesda-based business law firm. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. Ray serves as a Trustee and as Vice-Chair of the National Park Trust, where he was instrumental in the establishment of the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve, a unit of the National Parks. He also is the Vice-Chair of Committee for Montgomery, a coalition of diverse community organization and business leaders who find consensus and advocate for the betterment of Montgomery County. Ray also is a board member and provides pro bono legal services to Combat Soldier Recovery Fund, a charity that provides direct financial support to wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Hospital. In his spare time, he enjoys woodworking, biking, art and history.

Paul Alpuche is a business and tax attorney at Lerch, Early & Brewer. He has more than 20 years of experience providing business counsel, tax planning and tax controversy guidance to businesses and individuals throughout Montgomery County and the Washington metropolitan area.. Paul works closely with the owners of start-up, growing and mature companies to develop and implement goal-oriented legal strategies. He provides counsel regarding organizational, governance and capitalization matters; drafts buy-sell, operating and joint venture agreements; and advises on succession planning and all aspects of contractual and strategic relationships. His clients include professional service organizations; real estate developers and investors; nonprofits and associations; country clubs; insurance companies; health care facilities and providers; manufacturers and retailers. Paul is known for his straightforward approach; in the words of one client, “Paul will always tell me what I need to hear.”. Paul’s clients value his broad expertise and emphasis on the tax issues associated with owning, operating and acquiring, or disposing of closely held businesses. Paul educates business owners and executives about how to choose professionals such as accountants, financial planners and insurance agents, and then works with those experts on business, planning and tax issues. As part of his tax planning practice, he regularly advises nonprofit organizations in applying for tax-exempt status, drafting and adopting conflict of interest policies and planning transactions to comply with the intermediate sanction rules.. Paul’s many successes include representing individuals and businesses with tax issues before the Internal Revenue Service and various state and local taxing authorities. As part of his tax controversy practice, he regularly counsels clients in all aspects of federal, state and local tax assessment and collection procedures. This includes representation in trust fund penalty assessments, examination and appeals, and guiding clients through the Offer in Compromise process, installment agreements, collections due process hearings, requests to abate penalties, and lien releases and discharges.. Paul received his Bachelor of Accountancy from The George Washington University School of Government & Business Administration and his Juris Doctor, with honors, from The National Law Center at The George Washington University. He also earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) in Taxation from New York University School of Law. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.. Paul recently appeared in SmartCEO magazine’s “Legal Elite” as a “go-to attorney for business.”. He regularly provides pro bono services and also serves on the boards of Montgomery Hospice and Interfaith Works. He also serves as general counsel of Imagination Stage. For six years, he served as the supervising attorney of the University of Maryland School of Law Qualified Federal Low Income Taxpayer Clinic.. Paul enthusiastically supports his children’s budding athletic endeavors.

Over 40 years of practice limited essentially to lender representation in foreclosures, workouts and bankruptcy proceedings.

Our priority is your satisfaction.. The Valle Law Firm: Where dedication meets determination.. Our priority is to ensure client satisfaction at all times. The Valle Law Firm utilizes the individualized attention of a boutique firm where all of our clients are handled by the lead attorney. We strive to provide a comprehensive plan geared towards providing efficient and effective representation. We do not take initial case evaluations lightly and ALWAYS listen. We listen first and then ask questions because only the client knows his or her story and a comprehensive picture is important to determine what options are available to provide the best possible representation.

Oren Goldberg, an Of Counsel in the Estate Planning & Administration Group at Pasternak & Fidis, P.C., in Bethesda, Maryland, joined the Firm as an associate in 2008. After helping to launch a family business in 2014, Oren rejoined the Firm in 2018.. Oren advises individuals and families on all aspects of estate planning, probate, and estate and trust administration. He brings knowledge and experience in business succession planning and asset protection planning to the practice. Oren also helps clients achieve their charitable objectives, both in life and after death.. Oren often advises families on multi-generational estate planning. In addition to preparing wills, financial appropriate trusts, and health care powers of attorney, this may include advising clients on appropriate generation-skipping planning, special needs planning, and finding effective ways to maximize avaiable tax exemptions and exclusions. Oren is experienced in the use of various estate planning vehicles, including generation-skipping trusts, life insurance trusts, qualified personal residence trusts, and may advise on the use of supplemental special needs trusts, silent trusts, and best practices when planning for the disposition of family business assets.. Oren believes: “The goal of estate planning, especially when a family business is concerned, should be the efficient transfer of ownership and control, while minimizing taxes and the potential for intra-family conflict.” To that end, Oren often advises clients to take the “long view” with their estate planning, recognizing that the process is ongoing, will require collaboration with accountants and financial advisors, and may involve annual reviews to identify how changing circumstances often open new planning opportunities.. Oren is admitted to the Bar in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and South Carolina (inactive). Prior to joining the Firm, Oren received his LL.M. in Taxation, as well as the Certificate in Estate Planning, from Georgetown University Law Center. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law where he was Publications Editor of the South Carolina Journal of International Business and President of the Sports and Entertainment Law Society.. After law school and before moving to the D.C. Metro area, Oren clerked for the Charleston County Probate Court in Charleston, South Carolina. Oren’s wife, Laurel, was raised in Charleston, and they maintain ties to the city through the Piccolo Spoleto program, where Laurel’s father directs a program on early music.. Oren graduated from New York University, Tisch School of the Arts with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Film and Television Production. Before attending law school, Oren worked as a film and video editor, but today he more often uses these skills to edit videos of his daughters’ performances.. A native New Yorker and dual American-Israeli citizen, Oren is bi-lingual in English and Hebrew, enjoys visual and performing arts, and particularly cherishes his time with family, including daughters, Hannah and Ellie, and their Sheepadoodle, Penny. When they are not rehearsing for or performing in a musical theater production, playing basketball, or participating in activities at Temple Micah in Washington, DC, the Goldbergs often can be found hiking area parks and trails with Penny, or visiting extended family in New York, South Carolina, Florida, New Zealand, or Israel.

Neil S. Hyman is the founding Member of The Law Office of Neil S. Hyman, LLC, where he focuses his practice on employment-related litigation and regulatory matters. Neil regularly represents clients in federal and state trial and appellate courts and before the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and local agencies including the Maryland Commission on Human Rights and the Montgomery County Office of Human Relations.. Neil maintains an active counseling practice as well, working closely with clients to proactively avoid lawsuits by counseling and advising employers on their obligations under the various employment laws, drafting employee handbooks, executive contracts and non-competition agreements and conducting internal employment practices audits and investigations of alleged discrimination and other wrongdoing.  Neil also assists clients with I-9 compliance and audits.. Prior to founding the firm, Neil worked for several Montgomery County firms where he honed his litigation and employment law knowledge and practice.  That experience included assisting numerous employers in resolving FLSA and wage and hour disputes as well as obtaining significant settlement or awards on behalf of individuals for sexual harassment, ADA and wage and hour claims.  During that time, Neil also gained significant experience in general commercial litigation including representing homeowners in HOA disputes, shareholder disputes, business dissolution and real estate related matters.. Although he was born and raised in Greensboro, NC, Neil has long time ties to the Washington, DC metro area, having received his undergraduate degree from the University of Maryland.  Neil obtained his law degree from University of Louisville, Louis D. Brandeis School of Law.  Neil lives in Silver Spring with his wife, three children and dog.  His passions include soccer, basketball and spending time with his family at the beach.

My practice as a civil litigation attorney focuses primary on real estate law civil litigation issues such as landlord representation and property managers of residential and commercial real estate. This representation includes the drafting of leases, policy and procedure drafting for residential fair housing compliance and litigation. In addition to landlord representation, I handle complex litigation matters of all types, including commercial and construction litigation as well as discrimination cases and business torts.

Mr. Ogens serves as the Chairman of the Family Law Practice Group. Mr. Ogens’ practice as family law attorney is focused on the negotiation, settlement, and litigation of family law matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia. He handles a variety of divorce matters, including separation and divorce, annulment, alimony and child support issues and analysis, child custody and visitation issues, and the identification, valuation, classification, and division of marital and non-marital property. He also provides preparation and analysis of separation and property settlement agreements and prenuptial agreements. His experience as a family law attorney helps him serve as an effective mediator and arbitrator in family law disputes.

Mr. Syed graduated cum laude from the University of Rochester (1997) and obtained his law degree from the George Washington University Law School (2000).  In 2007 he completed the Harvard Law School Program of Instruction for Lawyers (mediation workshop).. Mr. Syed founded The Syed Law Firm, PLLC in 2011 and has developed a thriving immigration, litigation and international business practice.  His past experience includes several years in the antitrust and business disputes section of the law firm of King & Ballow with offices in Nashville, TN and La Jolla, CA.  Mr. Syed previously practiced litigation at Ashcraft & Gerel, LLP in Washington, D.C. with offices and active cases nationwide focusing on tort and complex civil disputes.  He has also worked for the Civil Litigation Branch of the District of Columbia Office of Attorney General (formerly D.C. Office of Corporation Counsel), as well as Rizvi, Isa, Afridi and Angell, a leading corporate law firm in Karachi, Pakistan.

Mr. Shubin has litigated and tried a variety of cases in courts throughout Maryland, District of Columbia and Northern Virginia in front of judges and juries. His primary focus is on representing victims in personal injury matters, such as auto mobile accidents and premise liability cases. In addition, Mr. Shubin represents clients in a variety of business matters. He frequently provides legal advice for  new businesses and drafts organic documents for such businesses.