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Admitted to the Bar of the
Court of Appeals of Maryland in 1978, after receiving the degree of Juris
Doctor from The Catholic University, Columbus School of Law in 1977. Also
admitted to the Bar of the Court of Appeals of the District of Columbia, the
federal district court bars for Maryland and the District of Columbia, a number
of U.S. Courts of Appeal and the Supreme Court of the United States of America
(1981).
From 1977 to 1979, staff attorney
with the Office of the General Counsel of the United States Department of
Agriculture (USDA), PACA Division. Acted as Presiding Officer in adjudicating
disputes between buyers and sellers of produce. Became knowledgeable about
the PACA through working on numerous PACA cases as staff attorney.
From 1980 to 1982, Assistant
Public Defender for Montgomery County, Maryland. Represented numerous criminal
defendants in jury and bench trials. Also represented produce companies in
PACA cases during this time.
Since 1982, concentrating
full-time on PACA cases, representing produce companies in all segments of
the produce industry - growers, shippers, brokers, terminal market receivers,
retailers, exporters and importers - from every major shipping and receiving
point in the nation, in hundreds of cases before USDA and the federal courts.
Highest rating by Martindale-Hubbell -AV- "A" (very high to preeminent)
in Legal Ability, and "V" (very high) as a General Recommendation.
Actively involved in many
legislative and regulatory changes under the PACA since the early 1980's.
In 1995, was an advisor to the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association
which spearheaded the 1995 amendments to the PACA before Congress and USDA.
In 1999, appointed to United's Hunts Point Task Force overseeing industry's
response to Operation Forbidden Fruit.
In 1995, authored a book on
the PACA, published by the United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association, entitled
A User's Guide To The New PACA, to assist produce businesses in understanding
and doing business under the PACA. Completed a second revision to this guide
in 1998 entitled, A User's Guide to the PACA.
Since the early 1990's, writes
a bi-monthly op-ed column for the national produce industry newspaper, The
Packer, under the title "PACA Perspectives". These columns discuss
current topics under the PACA.
Legal consultant to the trinational group that developed the Dispute Resolution
Corporation, an organization under the auspices of NAFTA dedicated to resolving
produce disputes between produce companies in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
Assisted in preparing the By-Laws and Rules of Mediation and Arbitration for
the DRC. Appointed as a mediator and arbitrator to resolve disputes under
the DRC.
Frequent speaker at produce
industry conventions and seminars on the PACA.
Admitted to the bar of the
Court of Appeals of Maryland and the bar of the Supreme Court of New Jersey
in 1992, after receiving the degree of Juris Doctor from Widener University
School of Law. Also admitted to the federal bars of Maryland and New Jersey,
and several U.S. Courts of Appeal.
Before 1992, became familiar
with PACA through a family produce business.
Since 1992, concentrating
full-time in representing produce companies in all segments of the produce
industry - growers, shippers, brokers, terminal market receivers, retailers,
exporters and importers from every major shipping and receiving point in the
nation. The cases include hundreds of PACA trust actions in the federal courts
and many reparation disputes before USDA. In the course of representing produce
companies in these cases, developed a thorough understanding of produce company
operations, and PACA law, as well as a good working relationship with PACA
personnel in each PACA office across the country.
Assisted in the preparation
and review of the Users Guide to the PACA and PACA Perspectives articles that
appear in The Packer.
Periodically writes articles
for national produce industry credit reporting service agency, Red Book, published
by Vance Publishing Company. These articles discuss various legal issues arising
under PACA.
Frequent speaker at seminars
on the PACA.
Admitted to the Bar of the
Supreme Court of Virginia in 1987, after receiving the degree of Juris Doctor
from the Georgetown University Law Center. Also admitted to the Bar of the
Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, the Bar of the Court of Appeals
of Maryland, the federal district court bars for Virginia, Maryland and the
District of Columbia, and a number of U.S. Courts of Appeal.
From 1987 to 2001, civil litigator
at Conlon, Frantz, Phelan & Pires, LLP in Washington, D.C. Represented
numerous corporate and individual parties in jury and bench trials in the
state and federal courts of Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.
Also became experienced probate and guardianship practitioner in these jurisdictions.
In 1994, became familiar with
PACA and began representing produce companies before USDA in reparation matters
and disciplinary proceedings, and in PACA trust actions in the federal courts.
Also represented numerous farmers before USDA/NAD and the federal courts in
payment limitation matters, disaster relief cases, conservation reserve disputes,
and a variety of other farm program cases.
Joined McCarron & Diess
in 2002 to concentrate on PACA law and cases.
Admitted to the bar of the
State of Maryland after obtaining the degreeof Juris Doctor from American
University, Washington College of Law in 2004. Also admitted to the federal
bar of Maryland. Introduced to PACA while working as a law clerk at McCarron
& Diess in the spring and summer of 2003. Joined McCarron & Diess
as an associate after graduation from law school in 2004.
While in law school, became
familiar with civil litigation and bankruptcy proceedings while researching
and editing practitioners' guides with a professor who is an expert in the
fields. Also gained litigation experience by representing low-income clients
as a student attorney in the International Human Rights Law Clinic. Taught
Constitutional Law in a local high school as a Marshall-Breennan Fellow.