Litigation

The Firm:  This specialist operation is particularly well esteemed for its business and white-collar criminal defense litigation.  It has chalked up an impressive list of trial successes which this year include representing the bankruptcy trustee for Inphomation Communications, a Pikesville-based company that owned and operated the Psychic Friends Network.  The firm negotiated $4.1 million in a cash and stock settlement with MCI after three years of litigation, for what they claim was an inability to properly bill and collect on calls as promised.

The Lawyers:  Veteran litigator Ben Rosenberg was described by clients as "excellent -he could not be any better."  Also highly regarded is Gerry Martin, who has a terrific white-collar criminal defense practice, effective litigation skills and excellent judgment.  He has handled an internal investigation for a large client involving a large number of interviews and analysis of five years of e-mails and environmental data.  In the past year he has also taken two pieces of business litigation to verdict and handled several appeals.

Real Estate

The Firm:  This real estate practice enjoys an especially strong reputation for local zoning work, where clients expressed a "high level of confidence in their user-friendly legal staff."  In the past year the team has been busy representing local and national homebuilders in land acquisitions and developments where its skills have been to the fore.  A highlight was representing the developer in the leasing and financing of a large mixed-use project in Howard County, Maryland.

The Lawyers:  Barry Greenberg was recommended to researchers as a "consistently strong" lawyer, with particular expertise in land use.  Clients were full of praise for a "problem solver who takes a prudent and practical approach to any issue," and particularly valued the perspective he brings to transactions and his skill at "fitting pieces into the puzzle."  As well as land use, he serves as counsel to developers, investors and builders in all aspects of real estate projects.