Top best Employment Lawyers in Silver Spring near me | 37 available

In the course of my twenty-eight year legal career, I have visited 47 of the 50 states. I have had cases from as far west as Hawaii and as far east as Boston. I have the unique ability to communicate effectively with all kinds of people from all walks of life and solve legal problems in creative and efficient ways.. In 2017, Expertise, a national ranking company, reviewed 150 Employment Lawyers in the Washington, DC Metro area and selected my firm for an award as a top 16 Employment Lawyer. I have won this award six more times between 2018-2023. I have offices in New York City and Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside of DC. I have won Appeals in eight different Appeals Courts. In 2020, I was selected to be in 2020 Top 100 Attorneys Magazine.. I will fight wherever and no matter how long I have to on behalf of my clients. I have litigated cases in New York, Massachusetts, Arizona, Alabama, Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, California, Virginia, West Virginia, Washington, DC, Maryland, Texas, and Mississippi, where I and local counsel obtained a successful $870, federal jury verdict. In 2012, I won a case against the Secret Service (Department of Homeland Security) for a federal employee; a case that had been previously litigated for 19 years, winning a total of $458,000. I am admitted to practice law in two states, the District of Columbia and 15 Federal Courts. I have won appeals in nine different Appeals Courts.. Our law firm has also garnered national media attention. In Hayes v. Napolitano, Civil Action No. 12-825 (ABJ) (2012), I represented New York City, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) Chief against DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano's Chief of Staff. in a sexual harassment case which was covered by NBC, CNN, Fox News, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post. The case resulted in the Chief of Staff resigning and a $175,000 settlement without Mr. Hayes being forced to resign.. In Keegan v. Social Security Administration, MSPB No. PH-1221-15-0121-W-1, I represented my client Michael Keegan before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Mr. Keegan’s testimony pertained to the Social Security Administration misleading Congress as to the need for $500,000,000 to replace the National Computer Center, when no such outlay was needed and the actual building was never replaced. The case made national news as well.. In another national case, Taylor Johnson v. Department of Homeland Security, M.S.P.B, Case No: SF-0752-16-0320-I-1, we represented Senior Immigration and Enforcement Agent, Taylor Johnson, who reported extensive abuse of the EB-5, USCIS Immigrant Investor Program regarding the refurbishing of a Las Vegas casino, headed by an investor group, represented by Rory Reid, Esq., son of U.S. Senate Minority leader, Harry Reid (D-NV). Ms. Johnson testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs regarding her whistle blower matter. The matter was resolved to the satisfaction of the parties.. We also represent businesses in employment and business litigation.  I have won jury trials both representing the employee and the employer. Between 2015 and February 2020, I represented Ergo Solutions, Inc., against two former employees who asserted sexual harassment and retaliation claims. After years of litigation, we obtained two DEFENDANT'S VERDICTS, in 2018 and 2019 respectively. I was also successful in getting a class action suit dismissed against my client. I am thankful to Ergo for selecting my law firm to represent them in this matter.. Having worked on employment law cases from both the employer and employee end, provides me with a unique ability to understand how each of the sides develops its case strategy. We take the time to listen to our clients, understand their frustrations and help them from a legal and financial perspective.. In August, 2019, I won a major appeal in Mount v. DHS, 18-1762, a ground breaking decision in which The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit held for the first time that a Federal whistleblower exhausts his perceived whistleblower claims before the Office of Special Counsel if he includes sufficient factual basis to enable the agency to investigate. This opinion effectively makes it more difficult for MSPB Administrative Judges to dismiss perceived whistleblower claims.. Actively involved in the legal community, I am a member of both the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association, serving on the Judicial Nominations Committee and a member of the New York Employment Lawyers Association where I serve on the  Solo Practice Committee. I have testified before the Maryland House of Delegates, House Ways and Means Committee on the Maryland Civil Rights Tax Relief Act (CRTRA), with the aim to prevent the taxation of non-economic damages in the employment law settlements and awards. That testimony helped produce legislation exempting pain and suffering damages in employment cases from state tax.. I have also served as an expert witness in legal malpractice cases on both the Plaintiff and Defendant sides.. In addition to employment litigation, my law office has reviewed, drafted and negotiated hundreds of employment contracts as well as many high dollar sales commission agreements, separation agreements, employee handbooks and offer letters. We provide clients the necessary confidence to navigate the challenging waters of job change and solid advice to companies as to avoiding legal pitfalls when unfortunately they have to dismiss employees.. Licensed in the following states:. •    Maryland (2001). •    New York (1996). •    Washington, DC (2003). Admitted to Practice in these following Federal Courts:. The Supreme Court of the United States; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Armed Services; The United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; The United States Circuit Court of Appeals for the First Circuit; The United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; The United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit; The United States Court of Federal Claims; The United States District Court, District of Maryland; The United States District Court, District of Columbia; The United States District Court, Southern District of New York; The United States District Court, Eastern District of New York; and The United States District Court, District of Colorado. I have also published several books, including, Maximize Your Employment Lawsuit With My Top Secrets, which guides enabling clients to maximize the attorney-client relationship to give their cases the best chance of winning.. Tough, aggressive and vigorous litigation are the qualities I utilize on a daily basis to fight and achieve justice for my clients.

I am passionate about resolving conflict without the aggravation, time and expense of going to Court.  I serve only as a neutral which means I think as a neutral, not as an advocate. But I  am a tenacious advocate for the possibilities of settlement and self determination.  I have resolved hundreds of cases helping families, employees and teams understand the core issues and learn and grow from conflict, whether the context is the workplace, an elder or estate matter or a parenting and family issue.  Moreover, I'm one of eight Maryland mediators featured on a statewide demonstration video of good mediation practice.  Finally, when I'm not mediating you'll find me on the Anacostia RIver rowing.

I am an employment lawyer. I represent employees and counsel small businesses in workplace disputes relating to the rate, method, and sufficiency of employee compensation. I focus my practice on litigating claims wherein the central questions are: (1) determinations of status or classification as employee or independent contractor; (2) questions of employee classification as exempt or not exempt for purposes of Federal and State overtime compensation requirements; and (3) disputes as to owed or unpaid wages and/or commissions.In my career as an attorney, I have litigated several hundred Federal and State employment law claims including Class Actions and Collective Actions. I am an active member of the National Employment Lawyers Association, Maryland Employment Lawyers Association, and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association. I am also co-chair of the Employment Law Section of the Bar Association of Montgomery County, Maryland.

As a seasoned attorney with eighteen years of legal experience, I am comfortable in the courtroom and the boardroom.  I became an attorney in order to help people and to bring quality, affordable legal representation to individuals and businesses alike.  Everyone deserves a zealous advocate who is willing to fight relentlessly to achieve the best results for their circumstances.  I will be that advocate for you.. I am a native New Yorker, born in Brooklyn.  I attended the City University of New York’s John Jay College for undergraduate studies and I graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law in May, 1997.  After law school I clerked for the Honorable Bonita J. Dancy at the Circuit Court for Baltimore City before joining the State of Maryland Office of the Public Defender in September, 1998.  At the Public Defender’s office I represented hundreds of indigent juveniles and adults charged with criminal offenses ranging from DUI and other traffic offenses to robbery, carjacking and murder.. After leaving the Public Defender’s office, I entered the private practice of law where I handled white-collar criminal defense and personal injury cases, including excessive force cases filed under 42 U.S.C. § 1983.  While in private practice I represented one of the first individuals charged with a criminal offense in connection with the theft of millions of dollars by officials of the Baltimore City Public Schools.. I joined the Baltimore City Solicitor’s Office in 2004.  There I litigated complex civil matters in the local and federal courts, including construction negligence and police excessive force cases.  While employed at the Solicitor’s office, I served as a Board Assistant on the Maryland State Board of Law Examiners where I actually wrote the Bar Exam.  From 2005 – 2008, I wrote essay questions which appeared on the Maryland Bar Examination and the Practicing Attorney’s Bar Examination.  I also assisted in crafting the Board’s analysis of the answers to bar essay questions and graded completed exams.. After leaving the Baltimore City Solicitor’s office, I served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia.  In that capacity I litigated complex employment discrimination and constitutional claims in defense of the District of Columbia government.  I was promoted to Chief of Civil Litigation Section II at the Office of the Attorney General in 2011 and held that position until September of 2015.  I managed a team of up to eleven attorneys, four paralegals, and an administrative assistant and supervised over two hundred cases, including complex employment discrimination matters, whistleblower protection act cases, police excessive force cases, Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act cases, and other constitutional matters.. In addition to teaching a course where I help law school graduates acquire the skills needed to pass the Maryland Bar Exam, I have taught at the National Association of Attorney’s General Training and Research Institute and a Trial Advocacy course at Georgetown Law School for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy.. “Mere access to the courthouse doors does not, by itself, assure a proper functioning of the adversary process.” –Thurgood Marshall. I believe everyone is entitled to the highest level of legal representation possible.  I believe in fighting for my clients to achieve their desired results.  And I believe in serving my clients to the best of my ability.  Do not attempt to access the courthouse doors without proper legal representation.