Joppatowne Lawyers

Ryan Spiegel chairs the firm’s Government Contracts practice and is a member of its Litigation, Corporate, and Science & Technology practice groups. His work spans a wide range of industries, includes general business and risk management counseling, and is characterized by outstanding client service, effective case strategy, and creative legal arguments. While he can be a tenacious litigator when necessary and maintains an excellent grasp of procedure, Ryan strives to understand his clients’ interests and goals and seek the best solution for them. He believes that resolving problems and disputes is more important than arguing for its own sake.
In recent...

Richard J. Steinmetz, Jr. is a partner at The Law Offices of Baldwin, Briscoe & Steinmetz, P.C. He joined the firm after seven years of working with Andrews, Bongar, Gormley & Clagett, P.A. in Waldorf, Maryland. Mr. Steinmetz primarily focuses on civil and criminal litigation with an emphasis in personal injury, business and real estate property disputes. Mr. Steinmetz grew up in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania. He attended East Stroudsburg University where he earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in Political Science in 1998. After graduating from East Stroudsburg University, Mr. Steinmetz moved to Washington D.C. He attended the Catholic University...

Chris is a partner at the firm, Dugan, McKissick & Longmore, LLC, whose practice areas include complex civil litigation, estate planning, zoning/land use and related real estate matters, and government contracts. His litigation practice focuses primarily on business and partnership disputes, construction-related contract disputes and other real estate related matters. He also represents clients in personal injury matters and leads the firm’s collections practice. Chris received his law degree, magna cum laude, from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1997 where he was Editor-in-Chief of the American Criminal Law Review and a Writing Law Fellow. Chris joined Dugan, McKissick and...

30 years experience as lawyer--10 years as a federal prosecutor employed by Tax Division of the United States Department of Justice and 20 years as solo practitioner in Oxon Hill, Maryland concentrating in family law, criminal law, tort law (including personal injury/auto accidents), civil rights, business counseling & litigation, and appeals. Reasonable fees and very high rate of satisfaction among former clients.

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...

Mark Goldstein, one of the founders of the firm, is a member of its Corporate, Financial Services, Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration practice groups. He concentrates on corporate, business, estate and tax planning and advises large and small corporations, general and limited partnerships, associations and proprietorships on sophisticated business planning issues. He represents a large number of estate planning clients and is well respected for his ability to communicate and implement complicated plans in a practical manner. Mark has significant experience in structuring and negotiating business and financing transactions, reorganizations and private placement syndications. He has served as...

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...

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...

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...

Michael G. Wolff is a seasoned veteran with more than 30 years of experience practicing bankruptcy law. He is a respected bankruptcy attorney responsible for handling complex cases. He has served as a Bankruptcy Trustee for over 20 years in Maryland. He also enjoys a superior reputation among his clients and peers. His bankruptcy practice has been featured in several national publications. He is rated AV – the highest awarded for legal ability and ethics – by Martindale-Hubbell legal directory.

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...

Maria has worked for over 15 years in helping businesses manage the challenge that immigration compliance presents to human resources management and helping individuals navigate the complex and lengthy immigration process. Maria considers her proactive approach to client matters to be her distinctive trademark. Maria handles - Work permits and visas for executives, professionals, and their family members i.e. H1B, L1, J1, Labor Certification - U.S. employment-based, business, trainee, and investor nonimmigrant visas and immigrant employment-based residency cases - Complex U.S. Citizenship

*Whenever possible, please contact me first via email: flee@steinsperling.com. Thank you.* Flora Lee always strives toward what she believes to be the right or best path, not the path of least resistance. Her drive to be better and do more, combined with her keen analytical ability, allows her to visualize and work to implement her clients’ goals. Flora was drawn to the legal profession by its unique combination of intellectual challenges, real-life stakes, and interpersonal collaboration. She works to understand her clients’ concerns even beyond the immediate case at hand, and to bring solutions that fit within their bigger picture. Prior to joining...

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...

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...

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.

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...

Nick is an accomplished attorney who is also co-owner and Broker of Union Preferred Realty where along with his team, he provides exceptional real estate services to homeowners, investors, sellers, with a special focus on the needs of union members.
When Nick is not in the office, you can catch him working with the next generation of lawyers and leaders at a Baltimore City’s largest high school, where he is the director of the Law and Leadership Program. Nick is a passionate individual who cares for others far more than he does for himself and works tirelessly to ensure the success...

Bill is a founding partner of Dugan, McKissick and Longmore, LLC, and has been practicing business, corporate, real estate, zoning and other transactional law since 1989 . He earned his law degree with honors from the University Of Maryland School Of Law and attended Franklin and Marshall College. He grew up in Baltimore City and moved to St. Mary’s County after spending summers clerking at a local law firm while in law school. He has been involved with numerous local boards and task forces concerning issues affecting the business community and community at large and has been active with the...

Sam is an associate with Dugan, McKissick & Longmore, LLC whose practice focuses on real estate transactions and related litigation. He also assists clients in the creation and management of homeowners associations and condominiums, foreclosures, tax sales, and drafting contracts, loan documents, and leases. Sam earned his law degree from the Penn State Dickinson School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University. Upon graduation from law school he served as law clerk to the Honorable Robert C. Nalley of the Circuit Court for Charles County, after which he joined the firm. Sam speaks Spanish and enjoys travelling...

JAMES J. GORNEY, a former insurance adjuster, is a graduate of George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia. He has been practicing law for over 25 years. His practice is primarily civil litigation with an emphasis in real estate, personal injury, commercial litigation, title insurance litigation, wills and estates. Mr. Gorney is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and currently serves as treasurer of the Charles County Bar Association. He is on the Board of Directors of the Charles County Chamber of Commerce and the Kiwanis Club of Laplata, is a member of the Attorney Grievance...

Top rated attorney George E. Meng concentrates his practice in the field of litigating estate, trust and real property cases. These include will contests, improper handling of estate or trust funds, disputes relating to distributions from estates and trusts, boundary disputes and title issues at both the trial and appellate level. Routine probate, wills, trusts and estate planning are also an integral part of his experience. In addition, Mr. Meng's practice experience includes personal injury litigation and civil litigation in a variety of fields. Mr. Meng has an established reputation among his clients and throughout the legal...

Tyler concentrates her practice in personal injury, workers compensation, bankruptcy and criminal law. She joined our firm after serving as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable DaNeeka Varner Cotton of the Circuit Court in Prince Georges County. While serving under Judge Cotton, Tyler was exposed to the intricacies of the civil and criminal processes handling a wide range of complex legal issues. While clerking, Tyler conducted extensive legal research and is knowledgeable on both civil and criminal concepts and procedures. This “behind the scenes” education is invaluable to her clients who face the prospect of appearing in...

Joe is our newest team member, joining the firm after practicing in La Plata for over 10 years at Barbour & Hangarter. We have known and respected Joe for a long time, and it is great to have him join us as “Of Counsel.” He is also admitted to practice in Virginia and the Federal Courts, which gives our firm more reach than before. Joe will concentrate his practice in Personal Injury litigation, Family Law, and Elder Law. Joe has a passion for personal injury litigation, and that is a full time job these days. He is a guy...

Kimberlee Gee is the Founder and Managing Member of Kimberlee Gee Legal, which is based in Washington, D.C. and Maryland and serves clients nationwide. Prior to founding Kimberlee Gee Legal in 2017, Ms. Gee worked as a Deputy Assistant General Counsel and in-house attorney for a small financial services corporation providing general oversight and execution of the Corporation’s ethics compliance program and providing high-level legal counsel to the Board of Directors and senior leadership officials on employment, personnel and HR compliance matters. Ms. Gee oversaw workplace investigations, trainings and the management of litigation, dispute resolution and individual appeal matters, representing...

Former Assistant State's Attorney for Wicomico County. Criminal prosecutor for ten years on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. Former judicial law clerk in Wicomico County. 18 years of trial experience in criminal law. Member of the Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney's Association.

Michael L. Kabik is a widely recognized leader in the Immigration Bar and legal community. A mentor to younger practitioners in the field, Mr. Kabik regularly directs and teaches Immigration Law Continuing Legal Education courses to other lawyers. Mr. Kabik concentrates his practice exclusively on Immigration Law and is Chairman of the Shulman Rogers' Immigration, Nationality, and Consular Practice Group. He provides clients with a broad full-service employment-based, family-based, naturalization, and litigation immigration practice. Clients include large, medium, and small businesses engaged in the domestic and international transfer of foreign personnel, including executives, managers, and other highly skilled professionals,...

Scott Hartinger practices primarily in the areas of personal injury, workers’ compensation, business litigation, traffic/criminal and family law, but has experience in all of the firm’s practice areas. Scott is also a trained mediator. Scott is a 1993 graduate of Mount Saint Mary’s College in Emmitsburg, Maryland and received his J.D. in 1996 from Widener University School of Law in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Following law school, Scott served as a Law Clerk for the Honorable James L. Ryan in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland. Scott practices in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, where he is admitted to practice...

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...

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...