Tuesday, August 19, 2008, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Thursday, August 7, 2008, Chief Operating Officer, David H. Anderson (right), receives a check from Bethesda Transportation Solutions' Employee Outreach & Marketing Specialist Jennifer Zucker (left), in recognition of 95% of Lerch, Early & Brewer's employees responding to Bethesda Transportation Solutions' annual commuting survey.

Friday, August 1, 2008, On behalf of Wisconsin Place Development, April H. Birnbaum, an associate within the firm's Land Use & Zoning practice group, has been confirmed by the County Executive this week to the Friendship Heights Transportation Management District Advisory Committee replacing Steve Robins, a principal within the Land Use & Zoning group, whose 8-year term expired.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Monday, July 21, 2008, Steve Robins, a principal in the firm's Land Use And Zoning Group, welcomed Maryland Attorney General Doug Gansler to the firm for a meet and greet session.

Douglas F. Gansler was elected on November 7, 2006 to succeed the retiring J. Joseph Curran, Jr. as Maryland’s Attorney General.

Lerch, Early & Brewer, Chtd., founded in 1950, is a full-service commercial law firm serving businesses, individuals and non-profit organizations throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008, Richard G. Vernon, head of the Employment and Labor practice group, provided management training to the senior management of a national association. The training entitled "Making World Class Decisions With Respect To Your Employees", addressed the legal and day to day roles of supervisors and managers, the principal employment laws about which management needs to know, and practical considerations for hiring, directing, and terminating employees.

Tuesday, June 17, 2008, Robert G. Brewer, a Principal within our Land Use and Zoning practice group, was recently installed as Counsel to the Board of the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce.  Patrick L. O'Neil, a Principal within our Land Use and Zoning practice group as well, was recently installed as Vice-President of Economic Development & Government Relations for the BCC Chamber of Commerce.  

Friday, June 6, 2008, Raymond J. Sherbill, a Principal in our Business and Taxation group, was recently elected President of the National Capital Area Chapter of ORT America.  ORT is a non-governmental organization that educates and provides other training assistance to over 300,000 people worldwide.  Additional information about ORT America can be found by clicking here. 

Monday, June 1, 2008, Rick Vernon, Chair of our firm's Employment and Labor Group, wrote an article entitled: “Whatever Happened To The Good Old Days When Employees...”  The article can be viewed by visiting our Employment and Labor Group page.

Friday, May 30, 2008, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Thursday, May 29, 2008, Jeff VanGrack, founder and co-chair of the firm’s Community Associations Group, recently served as the firm’s representative in awarding the Lerch, Early and Brewer Academic Achievement Award to Jarek Gramzinski of Northwest High School. Jarek, “Northwest’s version of Rudy” according to Jeff, will be continuing his education in Indiana with an emphasis on Engineering. 

The Lerch, Early and Brewer Academic Achievement Award is given annually by the firm in recognition of the graduating four-year football player with the highest cumulative grade point average. 

Monday, May 21, 2008, Marc Engel, a principal in our Employment and Labor Group, has been involved in a number of notable engagements over the past week:

On May 16, 2008, Mr. Engel's Employment Law Group met.  At the meeting, Dr. Alan Gregerman, the President of Ventureworks discussed his latest book, Surrounded by Geniuses, Unlocking the Brilliance in Yourself, Your Colleagues and Your Organization, which recently won the Axiom Award as one of the best business books of 2008.

On May 19, 2008, Mr. Engel spoke to a group of Heads of School of nine independent private schools.  Marc addressed strategies for improving hiring, managing employees, and reducing the risk of employment claims.

Monday, May 19, 2008, Marc Engel, a principal in our Employment and Labor Group, recently authored an article titled "Client Alert: Maryland Legislature Reverses Changes in Leave Pay Practices."  The article can be found by clicking here.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008, Alison W. Rind, of the firm's Commercial Lending Group, and Jeffrey VanGrack, of our Community Associations Group recently received recognition for some of their outstanding volunteer work.

Ms. Rind earned the "2008 President's Citation" from the Montgomery County Bar Foundation for her 4 consecutive years of outstanding success as co-chair of The Annual Golf & Tennis Charity Classic.

Mr. VanGrack was recognized with the Community Association Institute's "Rising Star Award" for his broad contributions to the organization over the past two years, particularly as chairman of CAI's planning committee.  His contributions were cited as having been an integral factor in much of the group's growth during his tenure.  

Monday, May 12, 2008, Frank S. Baldino, Chair of our firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group, continues to author bi-monthly columns for the Estate Planning Journal.  His latest article, entitled  “Estate Tax Deduction for Qualified Family-Owned Business Interest Denied” can be found on the Estate Planning and Probate Group page.

Wednesday, April 30, 2008, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008, Harry Lerch, of the firm’s Land Use and Zoning Group was featured in the Metro section of today’s Washington Post. The article discusses the 200-foot-tall office building proposed by the Meridian Group to be built on top of the Bethesda Metro Center and the controversy surrounding it. You can view the informative piece, titled “Bethesda Zoning Dispute Is Case of Goliath vs., Well, Goliath”,  by clicking here.

Thursday, April 17, 2008, Alison Rind, Arnie Spevak, and Joel Aronson of our Commercial Lending Group recently presented a seminar entitled "Closing the 504 Loan".  The presentation was divided into two parts: "Taking the Mystery Out of the 504 Process" and "Modification and Workout of the 504 Loan".  The two-part seminar focused on the ins and outs of the 504 loan process, including various government regulations that must be followed, and were attended by lenders from numerous banks and lending agencies throughout the region.
 
Steven A. Robins, a principal in the firm's Land Use and Zoning Group, was a speaker at the Georgetown Law Center on Tuesday morning.  Mr. Robins spoke before a large group of law students on the topic of the entitlement process in his presentation entitled “The Challenges of the Entitlement Process: Case Studies”.  Through the use of case studies, the event highlighted the impact of governmental agencies, citizens, traffic and transportation, the environment and other relevant issues in land use today.  

Monday, March 31, 2008, Six Lerch, Early & Brewer lawyers were named "Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers" in a recent study by Law & Politics magazine.  The 2008 Washington, D.C. edition recognizes outstanding lawyers throughout the D.C. metropolitan area.  Individuals recognized from our firm include:

- Joel S. Aronson, Business Litigation
- Robert G. Brewer, Land Use & Zoning
- Harry W. Lerch, Land Use & Zoning
- Stanley J. Reed, Criminal Defense: White Collar
- Deborah E. Reiser, Family Law
- Harry C. Storm, Business/Corporate

Super Lawyers is published as a special supplement in leading newspapers and city and regional magazines across the country.  The magazine's selection methodology is a combination of a regional survey, individual candidate research, and peer evaluation. Only 5 percent of the total lawyers in the region are selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers. The firm congratulates our six recognized lawyers for this fabulous accomplishment.  A special congratulations goes to Deborah Reiser, a principal of our Family Law Group, who received special acknowledgment as one of Super Lawyers' "Top 50 Women."

Friday, March 28, 2008, Marc Engel, a principal in the firm's Employment and Labor Group, recently hosted the Employment Law Group Seminar.  The seminar featured security specialist, Sam Blackstone, who discussed how to prevent and handle violence in the workplace.  The Employment Law Group is designed for human resources professionals, providing members with information on developments in the field, as well as the best practices in preventing and avoiding litigation.  

Mr. Engel also spoke recently with executives at Lee Hecht Harrison on negotiating employment agreements and network strategies.  Click here for more information on our Employment and Labor Law Group.    

Friday, March 14, 2008, On Friday, March 14, 2008, Steven A. Robins, a principal in our firm's Land Use and Zoning Group, served as Chair of the 34th annual Public Safety Awards.  

The Public Safety Awards honorees this year included a 911 dispatcher and firefighters who rescued five children from a burning home last year in Kensington. Seventeen others from the Park Police, Fire & Rescue, and Correction & Rehabilitation departments were recognized.  Mr. Robins, who lead the event for a 7th consecutive year, was also recognized with two awards of his own.  The event drew more than 1,000 business and community leaders from throughout the County.  For more information and video coverage of the awards, see nbc4.com.  

Friday, March 14, 2008, Frank S. Baldino, Chair of our firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group, continues to author bi-monthly columns for the Estate Planning Journal.  His latest article, entitled  “CA-11 Allows Discount to Corporation's Stock for Entire Built-In Capital Gains Tax” can be found on the Estate Planning and Probate Group page.

Monday, March 10, 2008, Rick Vernon, Chair of our firm's Employment and Labor Group, wrote an article entitled: “Beware the Org Chart.”  The article can be viewed by visiting our Employment and Labor Group page.

Monday, March 10, 2008, Martin J. Hutt, a principal in the firm’s Land Use and Zoning Group, was recently featured in an article in the Gazette. The article discusses Mr. Hutt's success representing local developers planning to construct a new condominium complex in Bethesda. 

The Montgomery County Planning Board recommended approval of the developer’s project on Thursday, which may allow for the development plan to go forward,  as well as rezoning for part of the site, from a residential zone to a transit-residential zone. This would make way for additional density in areas within walking distance of the Metro stations. To read more on Mr. Hutt and the local project, click here.

Tuesday, March 4, 2008, Raymond J. Sherbill, a principal in the firm's Business and Taxation Group, was recently featured in an article in the Maryland Daily Record.  Mr. Sherbill was recognized for his extensive work with the Combat Soldiers Recovery Fund.  

The not-for-profit organization, which was established to provide financial support to wounded combat soldiers and their families, has raised over $130,000 over the past year.  The donations have been dispensed in their entirety to soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.  Click here to access the Daily Record's article on Mr. Sherbill and his work.

Friday, February 29, 2008, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Thursday, February 28, 2008, Rick Vernon, chair of our firm's Employment and Labor Group, recently published an article in the February edition of the Industrial Launderer entitled "Confidentiality Policies Can Be Sticky Wickets".  Mr. Vernon discusses some of the hazards employers may face when drafting a broad "confidentiality" policy. Industrial Launderer is a monthly publication that covers issues within the textile industry.  The article can be accessed by clicking here.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, J. Bradford McCullough, a principal in the firm’s Litigation Group, helps promote and participate in the “Thanksgiving in February” event that takes place throughout the area today. Mr. McCullough is on the Board of Directors and chair-elect of Interfaith Works, the organization that encourages local restaurants to donate a percentage of their revenues today to support local agencies that provide food to the needy.

Interfaith Works, which was formerly known as Community Ministry of Montgomery County, is a nonprofit representing over 100 Montgomery County congregations, of various faith traditions, with the common goal of serving and advocating on behalf of those who are poor or otherwise in need of assistance. To see a brochure of participating restaurants, please click here.

Thursday, February 21, 2008, Marc Engel, a principal in the firm's Employment and Labor Group, was a guest on the Blueprint for Wealth radio program on January 16, 2008. 

He addressed questions on what businesses and financial advisors need to know about mediation as well as strategies for making mediation successful. The show aired on Sunday, February 10, 2008 between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. on WTNT AM 570 and also streamed live through the station's website.  To hear a recording of WTNT's live stream, click here.

Monday, February 11, 2008, Sigrid Haines, chair of our firm's Health Care Group, recently published an article titled "Obtaining Patient Consent: No Longer Just the Doctor's Job."  Ms. Haines discusses the expanding requirements being imposed on hospitals to document informed consent for medical procedures.  The article was published in the December edition of the Teaching Hospitals and Academic Medical Centers newsletter.  The newsletter is distributed by the American Health Lawyers Association.

Wednesday, February 6, 2008, Marc Engel, a principal in the firm's Employment and Labor Group, was featured in today's Business section of the Washington Post.  In the  article, titled "Good Counsel," Mr. Engel discusses the sources of good career advice and guidance.  

The discussion follows an Accoutemps study showing that many people turn to their spouse or significant other for guidance.  To view the article online, click here.

Friday, January 25, 2008, On Wednesday, January 16, Lauri Cleary, a partner in the firm’s Litigation Group and its Labor and Employment Group spoke to the award-winning Montgomery County, Maryland Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (MC-SHRM) on “Lessons Learned in Maryland Litigation.”  Ms. Cleary discussed the current climate of suits by employees and others against employers in Maryland, and, more specifically, in Montgomery County Circuit Court and in the Maryland federal courts (the District of Maryland and the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals), as well as litigation avoidance and “coping” strategies.  Learn more about MC-SHRM at their website.

In local news, Harry Lerch of our Land Use and Zoning Group responds to questions from the Montgomery County Gazette on the Bethesda Metro 4 building proposal.  The article may be viewed by clicking here.

Thursday, January 17, 2008, Rick Vernon, chair of our firm's Employment and Labor Group, recently published an article in the Staffing Advisor entitled "A Change in the Game Plan: New Rules for Paying for Accrued Vacation Time in Maryland".  The Staffing Advisor is a Human Resource newsletter distributed throughout the Washington D.C. metro area.  The article can be viewed by visiting our Employment and Labor Group page.

Marc Engel, a shareholder in the Employment and Litigation Groups, wrote an article entitled: “A Smart Resolution: 10 Measures Employers Should Take in 2008 to Improve Employment Practices and Reduce the Risk of Litigation.”  The article can be viewed by visiting our Employment and Labor Group page.

Wednesday, January 16, 2008, Frank Baldino, Chair of our firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group, continues to author bi-monthly columns for the Estate Planning Journal.  His latest article, entitled "Property Transferred to FLP is Included in Estate", can be found on the Estate Planning and Probate Group page.

Friday, December 4, 2008, April Birnbaum, an associate in our Land Use and Zoning Group, was officially sworn in on December 11th to Maryland State Bar Association.  

The firm is also very proud to announce that Patrick O'Neil is now a principal in our Land Use and Zoning and Community Associations groups.

Monday, November 19, 2007, Frank Baldino, Chair of our firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group, continues to author bi-monthly columns for the Estate Planning Journal.  His latest article, entitled "Age Limitation of Kiddie Tax Is Increased", can be found on the Estate Planning and Probate Group page.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Deborah Webb, a principal in our Family Law Group, has been on the speaking circuit recently. On Nov. 13, she presented a seminar on “Marital Settlement Agreements” for the Montgomery County Bar Association. On Dec. 10 she will be co-presenting a seminar on “Helping your Client Survive a Child Custody Evaluation” in Baltimore, MD on behalf of the National Business Institute.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007, Two members of our Community Associations Group recently received recognition from the Community Associations Institute.  Jason Fisher was honored at the Washington Metropolitan Chapter's annual dinner on Saturday, November 3 as the 2007 CAI Maryland Advocate of the Year for his work as an advocate of legislative issues on behalf of the Institute.  In addition, Jeff VanGrack was recently elected to the Board of Governors of the College of Community Association Lawyers, which exists to recognize those "who have distinguished themselves through contributions to the evolution or practice of community association law".  Congratulations to both Jason and Jeff for these well-deserved honors. 

Thursday, November 1, 2007, Today, members of our Community Associations Group presented a seminar entitled "How To Be An Effective Board Member."  The seminar covered topics such as the roles and responsibilities of community association board members, board meetings, and successful collection policies.  A copy of the presentation that was given can be downloaded by clicking here. (PDF format)

Monday, October 22, 2007, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Wednesday, October 3, 2007, Lauri Cleary was one of the recipients of the 2007 John Carroll Society "Pro Bono Legal Service Awards" presented on Sunday, September 30. The award is “for outstanding contributions to the Archdiocesan Legal Network of Catholic Charities", a pro bono program that serves the legal needs of the poor and homeless in the Washington, D.C. area.  The awards were presented by His Excellency the Most Reverend Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington, at the John Carroll Society’s Red Mass Brunch following the Mass at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, which was attended by Chief Justice Roberts and Associate Justices Scalia and Thomas of the United States Supreme Court. Additional information about the John Carroll Society can be found by clicking here.

Monday October 1, 2007, The firm welcomes four principals to the firm today, all of whom come to the firm from the Bethesda, MD-based firm of Ridberg, Sherbill & Aronson LLP.  The four attorneys are:

Joel S. Aronson joins as a member of our Litigation and Commercial Lending Groups.  He received his B.A. degree magna cum laude from Providence College in 1979. In 1982, he received his J.D. degree from the George Washington University National Law Center. He concentrates his practice primarily in the areas of commercial and employment litigation, with a particular focus on creditor’s rights issues and the representation of clients in the lending and financial industries.

Ted Goldstock also joins the firm as a member of its Business and Taxation and Litigation groups.  He counsels businesses on numerous aspects of corporate law, and also represents clients in business-related disputes and litigation. He received his A.B. degree, magna cum laude, from Dartmouth College in 1980. In 1983, he received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law. 

Stuart Schwager joins the firm as a principal in the Business and Taxation and Litigation groups.  He represents businesses in a broad array of corporate law, franchise law, and litigation matters. He was born in 1967 in Cortland, New York, and received his A.B. degree, cum laude, in Political Science, with a minor in Philosophy, from Colgate University in 1989. He received his J.D. degree from George Washington University in 1992.

Ray Sherbill also joins the firm as a principal in the Business and Taxation Group.  His corporate practice is broad, and involves advising businesses of all sizes in a variety of transactional, financial, and tax-related matters, as well as the handling and resolution of disputes. He obtained his undergraduate degree in American History at Boston University in 1979. He received his J.D. from the George Washington University Law School, with honors, in 1982.

Additional information about all firm attorneys can be found by clicking here.

Thursday, September 27, 2007, On September 12 and 13, Lauri Cleary of our Litigation Group, spoke at Adventist Risk Management, Inc.’s annual Risk Management Conference, which took place this year in Corpus Christi, TX. The conference was attended by several hundred leaders and educators representing religious and educational institutions affiliated with the Seventh-day Adventist Church across North America. Ms. Cleary spoke on “The Legal Pitfalls of Teacher Employment Contracts” and “Protecting Children vs. Reclaiming the Fallen.”

Monday, September 17, 2007, Today, the firm welcomed two new associates to its ranks:  Julie A. Reddig and Emily B. Rachlin.

Ms. Reddig joins the firm's Employment and Litigation groups. She received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2005, and her B.A., magna cum laude, in History, along with a Certificate in Latin American Studies and a Minor in International Relations in 2002. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Reddig worked as an associate with the Baltimore firm of Niles, Barton & Wilmer, LLP, and served as a Judicial Intern for The Honorable Richard D. Bennett. She is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia. 

Emily Rachlin joins the firm's Litigation Group. She received her J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Maryland School of Law, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif. She received her B.A., cum laude, in Psychology and Criminology from the University of Maryland in 2003. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Rachlin served as law clerk for The Honorable Mary Ellen Barbera with the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. Ms. Rachlin is admitted to practice in Maryland and is a member of the Montgomery County Inns of Court. 

Additional information about all of the firm's attorneys can be found by clicking here.

Monday, September 17, 2007, This afternoon, the firm welcomed Greg Knoop, a LEED-certified architect with the firm Oudens and Knoop, for an informative discussion on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification process.  This topic is particularly timely, with a significant number of "green" buildings and developments currently planned or in progress throughout the region.  Mr. Knoop discussed the process involved in applying for LEED certification, as well as many of the detailed points that affect whether or not a project meets LEED criteria.  Additional information about the architecture firm Oudens and Knoop can be found by clicking here.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007, The firm is proud to welcome Alex S. Tanouye, who recently joined the firm as an associate in the Estate Planning and Probate Group.

He comes to the firm from the Law Office of Virginia A. McArthur in Washington, D.C., where he worked as an associate.  Mr. Tanouye received his J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2005. While there, he completed 40 hours of mediation training with the Baltimore Mediation Center. He received his B.A., with Honors in Government and Politics, from the University of Maryland in 1999, where he was elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa and received a Department of Government and Politics Award for Academic Excellence. He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and before the U.S. Tax Court.

Thursday, September 6, 2007, The firm recently welcomed two associates to the firm:  April H. Birnbaum has joined as a member of our Land Use and Zoning group, and Michael J. Neary has joined as a member of our Litigation and Employment and Labor groups.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Birnbaum worked as a law clerk with the firm of Rich & Henderson, P.C., providing support in matters related to environmental and land use litigation. She received her J.D., with a Certificate of Concentration in Environmental Law, from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2007. In 2003, Ms. Birnbaum received her Master of Environmental Studies degree, with a concentration in Environmental Policy, from the University of Pennsylvania. She received her B.A. degree, with a distinction in Environmental Studies and Urban Studies, from the University of Pennsylvania in 2002.  Her admittance to the Maryland Bar Association is pending.

Mr. Neary's practice includes the representation of individuals and businesses in a variety of civil and commercial litigation matters, as well as the representation of employers in the litigation and resolution of employment-related disputes. He graduated magna cum laude from Loyola College in Maryland where he was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha. He received his J.D., with honors, from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2006. Mr. Neary is admitted to practice in Maryland.

Wednesday, September 5, 2007, Frank Baldino, Chair of our firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group, continues to author bi-monthly columns for the Estate Planning Journal.  His latest article, entitled "Age Limitation of Kiddie Tax Is Increased", can be found on the Estate Planning and Probate Group page.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007, Rick Vernon, chair of our firm's Employment and Labor Group, recently published an article which appeared in the Legal Times entitled "Don't You Say a Word:  Corporate confidentiality policies can run afoul of labor law if not carefully drafted".  The article as it ran in the Times may be viewed by clicking here (subscription required).  To view the article in text format, please click here.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007, Rick Vernon was also recently quoted in an article in the Washington Business Journal on the responsibilities of employers for providing an allergen-free workplace.  The article may be viewed by clicking here (subscription required). 

Tuesday, July 17, 2007, Frank Baldino of our Estate Planning and Probate Group was recently elected to the Section Council of the Estate and Trust Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association.  The Council is responsible for managing the Section and overseeing Section activities such as programs and meeting, and the sharing of information related to estate and trust law with fellow attorneys throughout the state of Maryland.  Additional information about the Estate and Trust Law section can be found by clicking here. 

Monday, July 16, 2007, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007, Lerch, Early & Brewer is a sponsor of the 2007 Montgomery County Chamber's Annual Dinner, held this evening at the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.  The event will feature the installation of a new Chairman and Board Members for the Chamber, as well as recognition of accomplishments and the advancement of goals that were achieved during 2006-07.  Steve Robins is a Past-Chairman of the Chamber.  Additional information about the Chamber is available by clicking here.

Monday, June 18, 2007, The firm is pleased to announce that Steve Robins, a principal in our Land Use and Zoning Group, was recently selected as one of 35 members of the "Greater Washington Legal Elite" by Washington SmartCEO magazine.  "Legal Elite" awardees are selected by a panel of legal industry experts based upon the attorney's accomplishments during the past 12 months.  Mr. Robins, whose work during the past year includes serving as lead counsel for numerous high profile real estate development projects throughout the region, joins past awardees Robby Brewer, Rick Vernon and Marc Engel as members of the prestigious group.  Additional information about SmartCEO Magazine can be found by clicking here. 

Monday, June 18, 2007, Patrick O'Neil, an associate in our Land Use and Zoning and Community Associations groups, was recently sworn-in as Vice-President of Economic Development for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce at the Chamber's annual dinner.  Patrick, who served as the Chair of the Chamber's Transportation and Parking Committee during the past year,  will assume his new role beginning July 1, 2007.  Additional information about the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber can be found by clicking here. 

Friday, June 15, 2007, Frank Baldino, Chair of our firm's Estate Planning and Probate Group, continues to author bi-monthly columns for the Estate Planning Journal.  His latest article, entitled "Remittance Was Deposit and Was Refunded to Taxpayer", can be found on the Estate Planning and Probate Group page.

Friday, June 15, 2007, The latest issue of our Commercial Lending Group's monthly newsletter, the Commercial Lending Bulletin, is now available for download.  Click here to download a copy in PDF format.

Monday, June 11, 2007, On Sunday, June 10, the firm helped co-sponsor Shepherd's Table's Jazz Age Benefit:  "Celebrating Acts of Thoughtful Giving."  Shepherd's Table is a Silver Spring MD-based organization, founded in 1983, that provides food and other services to the needy and less-fortunate throughout Montgomery County.

The program featured an awards presentation that honored Montgomery County Executive Isaiah Leggett and several locally based schools and businesses for acts of charity and support of Shepherd's Table. The event, which was held at the Chevy Chase Women's Club, also featured performances from local jazz and ragtime acts, as well as an array of food donated by local restaurants.  For additional information about Shepherd's Table, and how one might volunteer or support them, you may visit their website by clicking here.

Thursday, May 24, 2007, Deborah Webb and Rhian McGrath of our Family Law Group each spoke recently at the “2007 Women’s Law Day” at the Montgomery County Commission for Women Counseling and Career Center.  Deborah spoke on child custody issues, while Rhian discussed child support issues.  Additional information about the Montgomery County Commission for Women can be found by clicking here.

Wednesday, May 23, 2007, Steve Robins was quoted today in a Washington Post article concerning a proposed Montgomery County tax increase on builders of real estate projects.  You may view the article by clicking here (registration required).  Steve is a principal in our Land Use and Zoning Group.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007, Marc Engel will be speaking this evening at the meeting of the Business Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association on best practices for improving hiring, employee performance and retention.  

Additionally, Marc also recently spoke at a meeting of the Montgomery County Society of Human Resources Managers on the topic of “So Who is Retaliating? What HR Professionals and Employers Need to Know About Retaliation Claims and How to Prevent Them.”  Marc is a principal in our Employment and Labor Group.

Tuesday, May 22, 2007, This morning, Alison Rind and Arnie Spevack of our Commercial Lending Group presented a seminar in our offices entitled "Closing a 504 Loan – Taking the Mystery Out of the 504 Process".  The presentation focused on the ins and outs of the 504 loan process, including the various government regulations that must be followed.  The seminar was attended by lenders from numerous banks and  lending agencies throughout the region.  Ms. Rind and Mr. Spevack will present the seminar for a second time on Tuesday, June 5, at 8:00 A.M.  Limited space remains for this date, and if you are interested in attending, please contact Benjamin Harris at 301-961-6096.

Thursday, May 17, 2007, Tomorrow, Jeff VanGrack and Paul Alpuche will present the 7th annual Lerch, Early & Brewer Academic Achievement Scholarship Award at the Northwest High School (Germantown) awards ceremony.  This year's award recipient is Derek Sheely, a four year starter for the Northwest football team.  Derek, who worked as an intern with the firm this past year and will be attending Penn State University in the fall, will receive a $500 scholarship.  The award is presented annually to the Northwest football player who played on the varsity team for four years and maintained the highest cumulative GPA.

Wednesday, May 16, 2007, David Anderson, Chief Operating Officer for the firm, was recently the recipient of the "Transportation Benefits Coordinator of the Year" award at Montgomery County's 20th annual Transportation Awards Ceremony, held on Monday, May 14 at the Bethesda Marriott Hotel & Conference Center.  Mr. Anderson was selected as this year's recipient due to his "encourag(ing) employees to participate in alternative commuting options" and the "time, effort and enthusiasm that he and his staff out into promoting transit options and programs."  Patrick O'Neil, an associate with the firm's Land Use and Zoning Group, serves on the advisory committee of Bethesda Transportation Solutions, which was an award recipient along with Mr. Anderson.

Monday, May 14, 2007, Marc Engel, a principal in our Employment and Labor Group, recently authored an article which appeared in the Business Gazette "Legal Review" supplement.  The article, entitled "Seven Steps to make Mediation Successful", deals with practical tips and strategies that can be used during the mediation process.  The article can be found by clicking here.