New Market 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...

Anu B. Kemet, a co-founder of Kemet Hunt Law Group, practices law in the areas of construction law, business development, civil litigation, bankruptcy, and personal injury. Mr. Kemet heads the firm’s business law practice, including start-ups, construction litigation, franchise negotiations, labor relations and contracts. He is responsible for a diverse caseload with substantial litigation experience. Prior to his career as an attorney, Anu served honorably in the United States Army, held the chief operating officer position for a private elementary school, and co-founded Delights of the Garden, the first full service raw food vegan restaurant chain in the U.S. Mr. Kemet...

Robert J. Weltchek will soon be entering his fourth decade of practice as one of the most esteemed and respected trial attorneys in the country. Mr Weltchek is a creative and tenacious advocate for his client’s interests, evidenced by his impeccable record of recovering landmark verdicts. His success has not gone unnoticed. Best Lawyers in America has recognized Weltchek as one of the top personal injury lawyers in the country.

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...

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...

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...

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...

As one of the most respected Baltimore discrimination lawyers, I promise you a full and realistic analysis of your options, rights and remedies, and a plan that fits your individual circumstances. From a strong employment contract to a fair severance agreement, or coaching to help resolve controversy or avoid job loss; or if you face wrongful termination, sexual harassment, or discrimination in your Maryland workplace, and need to fight a battle in the courts. Contact Kathleen Cahill, Maryland sexual harassment and wrongful termination attorney. Let’s discuss what you need and let’s get it done.

Maryland Bankruptcy Attorney Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Chapter 7 Bankruptcy Debt Relief

James D. Cardea received his undergraduate degree from Western Maryland College and graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law, where he received American Jurisprudence Awards in Legal Analysis, Research and Writing (1992) and Domestic Relations (1994). He was also a Staff Editor for the University of Baltimore Law Review from 1994-1995 and was awarded membership to the Heuisler Honor Society. Mr. Cardea has been selected for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America™ since 2011. Mr. Cardea has also been recognized as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in Maryland™ by The American Trial...

Jonathan Schochor is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, and the American University School of Law, where he was Associate Editor-In-Chief of the Law Review. He has served as a Board Member, Secretary, Vice-President, and President of the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, and has further served as the Maryland State Delegate and Governor of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America. Mr. Schochor has been requested to teach and lecture both nationally and locally by institutions such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Additionally, he has been a guest expert on a...

Seth Kossman is a shareholder in the Firm's Tax Group, focusing his practice in the areas of tax controversy and tax compliance matters. He heads the Firm's Tax Controversy Subgroup, leading a team of more than 20 attorneys who spend a significant part of their practice in this area.

Mr. Kossman represents a diverse group of the Firm's clients on tax planning, federal and state tax controversy, tax compliance and transactional matters. His clients include corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships and individuals.

Prior to his legal career, Mr. Kossman was a member of the tax practice of a national accounting firm and...

Ari S. Casper is a seasoned litigator and trial attorney, and the founding partner of The Casper Firm, LLC, a high-end litigation boutique in Maryland. Throughout his career, Mr. Casper has represented individuals and companies in high stakes litigation in a broad spectrum of cases, including complex commercial, products liability, catastrophic injury, class action, and whistleblower matters. He has obtained multiple verdicts and settlements in excess of $10,000,000. Among his recent accomplishments, The National Law Journal recognized Mr. Casper in its Big Money Wins of 2013 in Duncan v. Hyundai, where a jury in Pulaski County, VA...

Litigation attorney focusing on auto accident, work injuries and criminal defense.

Attorney Jackelyn “Niky” Wooding is a Maryland licensed attorney and a graduate from Prairie View A&M University, with a B.A. degree in Political Science. She spent several years working for Fortune 100 corporation in the areas of finance and strategic partnerships. After her work in the the corporate sector, Jackelyn attended North Carolina Central University School of Law, where she excelled in the Intellectual Property (IP) curriculum, and was a member of the moot court, President of the IP Law Society, and interned at the United State Patent and Trademark Office.

Following her admission to the Maryland Bar, Jackelyn...

Heather Dickerson graduated from Villanova Law School and became a Maryland Lawyer in 1991. During the 1990's, she worked for Maryland's largest and busiest bankruptcy law firm. In the 2000's she has had her own law practice where she has provided top notch bankruptcy representation with a kindness 2nd to none. Much of her practice comes from referrals from other clients. Friends, family members, co-workers and neighbors have become bankruptcy clients after being referred to her. Best of all, Mrs. Dickerson is charging the same fee from 1995 in 2020! Strong representation, kindness, respect, and legal fees...

Mr. Elira is the founding partner of The Elira Law Firm, LLC. As a licensed Maryland attorney and passionate advocate for justice, Mr. Elira takes a unique approach to lawyering by showing the client that he genuinely cares about the client as well as the case. Mr. Elira enjoys helping his clients face and overcome their legal challenges. Mr. Elira identifies with his clients and will work tirelessly to ensure that they are treated fairly in the courtroom and that their case gets the best possible resolution.