1003 "K" Street NW, Suite 635 Washington, DC 20001 Call Today: 866-435-2821

Representing the People of Maryland, Virginia and
the District of Columbia—One At A Time

Personal Information

I have lived in the Washington, D.C. area since 1971. I received my J.D. from the Washington College of Law at American University in 1974. After working at the Federal Aviation Administration, I became a solo practitioner in 1976. The bulk of my practice during this time has been criminal defense, domestic relations and bankruptcy. I have a broad and deep variety of criminal trial experience in both local and federal courts, trying cases ranging from prostitution to first degree murder and just about everything in between. My criminal practice includes white collar, blue collar and "no collar" offenses. I am an experienced negotiator, having dealt with prosecutors in the District of Columbia and all the neighboring jurisdictions in Maryland and Virginia.

I have handled domestic relations cases of all sorts, including divorce, separation, support and adoption throughout the area. I have expertise in the unique problems faced by military personnel, particularly with regard to retirement and benefit issues. I am the person to go to when the JAG officer runs out of answers. As capable and knowledgeable as the JAG officers might be about military matters, they simply do not have the experience or the expertise to advise about civilian courts.

The bankruptcy aspect of my practice focuses on consumer issues, primarily Chapter 7 (liquidation) and Chapter 13 (repayment plans). I review with the client the circumstances that led to considering filing a bankruptcy petition. Where necessary and when asked, I give basic debt-management counseling as a prelude to the filing of a petition, sometimes going so far as to show the client why filing for bankruptcy protection is not the best option. Although filing for protection has lost much of its stigma over the last several years, it is still an extremely serious step with major long-term consequences and should be considered only as a last resort. If I do not believe that filing for protection under the bankruptcy laws is the right thing for you, I will tell you so, tell you why, and offer practical alternatives.

I am admitted to the following Bars:

• District of Columbia Court of Appeals
• Maryland Court of Appeals
• Virginia Supreme Court
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (includes Bankruptcy)
• U.S. District Court for Maryland (includes Bankruptcy)
• U.S. District Court for Eastern District of Virginia
• Bankruptcy Court for Eastern District of Virginia

Please note that the accompanying pages are intended as nothing more than general guides and are not a substitute for a detailed evaluation of your particular situation.

If you require additional assistance, or have other questions, please contact me and I will be glad to assist you.