Darnestown Lawyers

Heidi Boas has dedicated her legal career to assisting asylum-seekers, refugees, and other immigrants through her work with the U.S. Government, United Nations, and non-profit organizations.

Ms. Boas joined Wilkes Legal in 2018 after four years of government service with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and the Department of State. From 2014-2017, Ms. Boas worked at the Arlington Asylum Office, where she adjudicated the asylum claims of applicants from around the world. As a Senior Asylum Officer, Ms. Boas handled complex applications for asylum, including long-pending cases involving national security and terrorism-related issues. Ms. Boas also managed a team of...

JASON A. RUBEN, ESQ.
Education: Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law
Honors, Health Law Certificate
Bachelors of Science in Political Science and Bachelors of Science in Communications at Towson University


Areas of Practice: Criminal Defense, Personal Injury, Medical Malpractice, and Government Relations.


Experience:

Jason Ruben began his legal career working in the State’s Attorney’s Office for Montgomery County Maryland. There he gained an invaluable understanding and in-depth knowledge into the Maryland criminal justice system.


Jason then began working at the Network for Public Health Law. The Network for Public Health Law provides legal assistance and helpful resources to local, state and federal...

Gary Gerstenfield is a well-known and respected criminal defense attorney who is highly soughtafter for his effective trial skills and advocacy. He obtained his Juris Doctor in 1990 from the Catholic University of America, where he served as senior staff member of the prestigious Journal of Contemporary Health Law & Policy. Upon entering the bar, Mr. Gerstenfield returned to school in Boston where he obtained a certificate in DUI defense from the nationally known College of DUI Defense presented at Harvard Law School.

Michael Fried has spent over 25 years practicing law, and more specifically tax related law. As the principal founder of Fried Law Firm and now 1 of 2 partners at Fried & Rosefelt, LLC, Michael S. Fried actively helps clients by handling bankruptcies, business purchases, federal and state tax problems, partnership and shareholder relationships.

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

Debbie Cohn’s keys to professional success are as diverse as her eclectic client base that consists of professionals, business owners, retirees, and non-U.S. citizens. Yet perhaps her most critical—and comforting—characteristic is an ability to explain complex concepts in a way her clients can understand. Debbie’s approach to estate planning is equal parts pragmatic and creative, which helps put her clients at ease with the knowledge that their families will be cared for and protected, and their asset protection and wealth management goals will be met. And her wealth of experience and vast knowledge of the law allow her to blend...

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

Ron Dweck is Chair of the firm’s Corporate practice group, and a member of the Tax, Nonprofit and Science & Technology groups. Ron acts as general counsel to a number of companies, including large and small corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and business organizations in various fields. As such, he knows a great deal about many different practice areas and applies that knowledge to better serve his corporate clients. His corporate work includes preparing and negotiating a wide variety of business contracts, as well as counseling in conjunction with executive compensation, corporate governance and risk & litigation management. He has...

Jim Hammerschmidt is Co-President of the firm, Co-Chair of the Employment Law group, and a member of its Litigation and Appellate Practice groups. His practice includes a range of commercial, corporate, and employment counseling and litigation, but his primary task is listening. The first thing Jim does when meeting with a client is ask, “What is your goal?” In doing this, Jim is able to determine the client’s expectations and whether we will be able to meet them. Only then can he really set about meeting his clients’ business needs.
Jim has extensive experience representing and counseling clients on employment law...

Cristen Rose’s practice encompasses a wide variety of commercial & business litigation, with significant experience in mass torts, class actions, product liability defense, environmental litigation, contractual disputes and regulatory compliance. As a member of the firm’s Regulatory Law & Litigation practice group, she devotes a significant portion of her practice to the regulation of pesticides and other chemical products under the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Cristen also has extensive experience representing companies that are subjects of investigations by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the...

Linda Schwartz is a senior member of the Professional Ethics & Discipline, Estate Planning, Estate & Trust Administration, Corporate, and Real Estate practice groups. She has considerable experience in complex real estate and commercial transactions, business planning, executive succession planning, and estate planning and administration for both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. For more than 30 years, she has served as counsel to prominent national, regional and local developers and business owners. In 2006, she was elected to the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.
Throughout her legal career, Linda has been active in public service. She is a former Assistant Attorney...

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

Immigration Lawyer, Lynn Garfinkel, Esq., has been helping clients prevent and solve problems for eight years. She recently launched Garfinkel Immigration Law, LLC to better serve client needs.Lynn Garfinkel represents clients seeking green cards, temporary and permanent visas, family and work petitions, deportation defense, naturalization, and religious, political, and gender based asylum, and benefits under the Violence Against Women Act. Ms. Garfinkel has experience with a variety of employment based petitions, including intracompany transferees, specialty occupations, professionals, researchers, and more.Finally, Ms. Garfinkel successfully represents clients at consulates around the world. Ms. Garfinkel is currently Chair of the Asylum...

Iris practices bankruptcy and civil litigation as it relates to bankruptcy (foreclosure, eviction, FCRA and FDCPA claims).

Christopher R. Wampler is a graduate of Bridgewater College, Virginia, and the Catholic University School of Law. Chris has been practicing Bankruptcy Law since 1987 in Maryland, DC, & Virginia. In the past, Chris has served as President of the Wheaton Kensington Chamber of Commerce, served as a member of the Prince George's County Judicial Selections Committee, and was involved in the Montgomery County Bar Association Pro Bono Program. Chris has also worked on the Law Foundation of Prince George's County Homeless Project for which he received an award for his service to the community.

As an experienced immigration lawyer, I am dedicated to providing exceptional legal guidance and representation to clients from all over the world. With a deep passion for immigration law, I have helped countless individuals and families navigate the complexities of the immigration system. My expertise covers a wide range of immigration matters, including deportation proceedings, asylum cases, cancellation of removal, VAWA, U visas, and more. I have also assisted numerous families with their green card applications and family petitions, such as N400. In addition to family-based immigration, I have helped businesses and individuals with their employment-based immigration needs, including assisting students with...

For more than 40 years, Art House has been working with businesses of all types as a corporate lawyer and litigator. He chairs the firm’s Science & Technology and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice groups, and is a member of the Corporate practice group. Art brings responsiveness and an ability to offer practical solutions to his clients, understanding that his clients’ business needs drive the deals, not the lawyer.
Art’s background in enterprise development, licensing for technology-based companies and assisting both established and start-up businesses in developing legal, business alliance and acquisition strategies gives him unique insight into the real-world problems facing...

I, Aldo J. Terrazas, have been handling civil and criminal cases in State and Federal Courts for over 30 years. As a seasoned litigator, I have presented hundreds of cases to juries and in bench trials. In the realm of personal injury resulting from accidents, I manage all aspects of each case. This includes communicating with clients about what to expect, dealing with insurance companies, obtaining all necessary medical records, and ensuring that clients are fairly compensated for their injuries. Similarly, in criminal matters and immigration cases, I ensure that clients understand what is at stake and the probable outcomes...

Experienced bankruptcy attorney with over 10 years of experience

Mr. Bramzon is truly a counselor at law. Upon the gravest of circumstances, individuals have been seeking the counsel, help, and defense of Lonny Bramzon for years. He is a master of negotiations. He has a remarkable ability to communicate and connect with clients and adversaries alike. His understanding of the psychology of government agents and attorneys is bar none. He has been able to save the lives and liberty of countless individuals when the circumstances appeared hopeless. Despair does not exist in Lonny’s vocabulary. His ability to speak to a jury and eloquently present his legal issues to...

1981, New York; 1985, U.S. District Court, Southern and Eastern Districts of New York; 1991, Maryland and District of Columbia; 1992, U.S. District Court, District of Maryland and U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia; 1993, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit; 1997, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit; 1999, U.S. Supreme Court Law School: Hofstra University School of Law, J.D. Member: Montgomery County Bar Association, Maryland State and New York State Bar Associations; The District of Columbia Bar; Association of Trial Lawyers of America (formerly until name change); Bar Association Sections and Committees: Commercial Litigation; Real Estate; Estates...

Jim Rathvon, chair of the firm’s Regulatory Law & Litigation practice group, maintains a broad environmental, chemical, food and drug and consumer product regulatory and litigation practice. He focuses on the regulation of pesticides and other chemical products under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), the Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and other complex federal regulatory programs. His environmental law work ranges from counseling and advocating on regulatory and licensing issues to defending clients in government enforcement proceedings to representing them in federal arbitrations...

Victor Rosenberg, a founding member of the firm, is also a member of its Corporate, Tax, Estate Planning, and Estate & Trust Administration practice groups. He concentrates his practice on corporate, real estate, business, estate planning, probate and tax matters and is also involved in family wealth preservation and business continuity through the establishment of charitable trusts of all types, private foundations, family partnerships and limited liability companies.
Victor is active in trust reformation as well as the financing and sale of beneficial interests in trusts. He has extensive experience in structuring and negotiating business and financing transactions, including the sale...

Almost three decades as a trusted legal adviser to small businesses, over a decade of operating a small brick and mortar business which also sells on line. I have a 360° view and understanding of how small businesses work from a legal, practical perspectives.

Jeffrey Hord is an Associate in the firm’s Employment Law and Litigation practice groups. He is an experienced, aggressive litigator who is admitted to practice in all the state and federal courts throughout Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. A true trial lawyer, Jeff has successfully represented both individual and corporate clients in complex litigation, as well as in administrative proceedings before state and federal agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the National Labor Relations Board, the U.S. Department of Labor, and various local human rights commissions.
Prior to joining Paley Rothman, Jeff was a senior associate at several well-known...

My journey to citizenship began when I arrived in the USA from Bolivia at the age of 12. The struggles my family and I faced motivated me to become an immigration attorney, helping those in similar situations. I specialize in removal defense, naturalization, humanitarian relief, family immigration, and litigation. Ofrezco servicio en español también I offer compassionate, client-centered support at every step because that's how I wanted to be treated. I prioritize regular updates and clear explanations. You won't experience radio silence here – I'm always accessible for questions. Immigration law is more than a profession; it's a mission to fight for families...

Kirk Rankin was born in Washington DC and graduated with Honors from The George Washington University Law School in 1993. He studied finance and economics at The American University where he graduated in 1987. Mr. Rankin founded the Law Offices of Kirk Rankin and Associates nearly 20 years ago after practicing law for 5 years with another attorney.

Mr. Rankin was admitted to the Bars of Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. He is also admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for Maryland, Virginia, as well as the USCIS and all Immigration Courts.

Together with...

Marshall Yaap is a private practice family lawyer based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. His practice primarily focuses on helping clients throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia resolve issues related to divorce, legal separation, alimony, child custody, separation agreements, prenuptial agreements, property division, child support, and civil protection cases. Marshall’s practice also focuses on international family law issues. Marshall strives to achieve the best possible results for his clients while providing individual attention and guidance at all times.

Peter Randolph takes particular pride in spotting risks his clients had not previously seen and in crafting solutions to mitigate those risks and advance client interests. His multi-jurisdictional practice is focused on probate and trust administration, business and taxation. Our clients’ lives don’t stop at the state line and Peter has ensured that he can advise clients comprehensively on issues that affect their lives and livelihoods across the region and as far west as California.

Peter advises executors, trustees, and beneficiaries in the areas of probate and trust administration, including pre and post-mortem planning, and estate and fiduciary income tax....

Although physically in Maryland, I practice in California using electronic communications and the airlines when necessary. My clients are willing to work virtually with a lawyer because it reduces their expense substantially. They pay much less in fees for the highest quality product.