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The firm is pleased to announce the hiring of Tracey J. Coates as an associate in the Litigation and Family Law practice groups. A graduate of Smith College who earned her J.D. at the Hamline University School of Law, she clerked for then- Chief Presiding Judge John S. Leonardo of the Pima County (Ariz.) Superior Court and served as a Staff Attorney for the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau in Baltimore. Ms. Coates is a member of the American Bar Association, D.C. Bar Association, Maryland Bar Association and the Montgomery County Bar Association.

Bibi M. Berry, a member of the firm’s Family Law practice group, was elected to the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA) Family and Juvenile Law Section Council at the MSBA Annual Meeting held in June in Ocean City, Md. Members are chosen based on their contribution to the advancement of issues important to the section, their reputation in the legal community and their willingness to serve. Ms. Berry becomes part of a group whose purpose is to improve the administration of justice in family and juvenile law. She previously sat on the Bar Association of Montgomery County’s (BAMC) Case Watch Committee of the Family Law Section and served on the association’s Executive Committee.

Deborah A. Cohn, a senior member of the firm’s Estate Planning, Estate/Trust Administration and Tax practice groups, has been chosen as the chair-elect of the Maryland State Bar Association Estates & Trusts Section Council. Ms. Cohn, who is a former co-chair of the Bar Association of Montgomery County’s Estate & Trust Law Section, will be responsible for developing and promoting the section’s legislative agenda, which later this year is expected to focus on the Maryland Trust Code that is being studied by legislators over the summer.

Howard B. Soypher was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML), a national organization whose members are recognized for maintaining the highest degree of professionalism, integrity and excellence in the practice of family law. He becomes one of only 30 attorneys in the state of Maryland to be named to the prestigious group, joining Paley Rothman colleague Glenn M. Cooper as an AAML Fellow. Mr. Soypher, who is a member of the firm’s Litigation and Family Law practice groups, has received numerous honors in recent years, the most recent of which were a mention in the May/June 2010 Bethesda Magazine “Top Divorce Lawyers” selections and being named a 2011 Maryland Super Lawyer “Rising Star” in Family Law.

Paula A. Calimafde, who chairs the firm’s Retirement Plans, Employee Benefits and Government Relations practice groups, is also active as the current chair of the Small Business Council of America (SBCA). She recently presented U.S. Senator Mike Johanns (R-Nebraska) with the 2011 SBCA Congressional Award for his work in repealing the expansion of the 1099 filing requirements. Earlier in May, she participated in an American Bar Association (ABA) Tax Section program (“Looking Into the Crystal Ball: Tax Reform Legislative Proposals”) for the Employee Benefits Committee at the ABA Tax Section Meeting, where she discussed upcoming legislative proposals and their potential impact on retirement and health & welfare benefit plans. The SBCA is a national nonprofit organization which represents the interests of privately-held and family-owned businesses on federal tax, health care and employee benefit matters.

Mark A. Binstock and Howard B. Soypher, both members of the firm’s Litigation practice group, recently spoke at the Suburban Hospital Estate Planning Journal Club’s monthly meeting. They made their presentation—entitled “Avoiding Litigation in Estate and Trust Matters”—to a group of members that included accountants, financial planners, investment advisors, insurance professionals, trust officers, bankers and other estate planning attorneys.

Deborah A. Cohn made a presentation on May 16 as part of the D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education’s (CLE) Annual “Basic Estate Planning Series.” She delivered her lecture—entitled “The Will and Estate Plan for Married Couples with a Combined Taxable Estate Between $2 and $10 Million”—to attending attorneys at the D.C. Bar offices in NW Washington.

Deborah A. Cohn has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel, a national organization of lawyers whose members are elected by demonstrating the highest level of integrity, commitment to the profession, competence and experience as trust and estate counselors. She is also a member of the International Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP-USA) and currently serves on the Section Counsel of the Estates & Trust Law Section of the Maryland State Bar Association.  Ms. Cohn, a member of Paley Rothman’s Estate Planning, Estate/Trust Administration and Tax practice groups, devotes much of her practice to the estate, gift and other tax concerns of non-U.S. citizens.

Paley Rothman is proud to announce the hiring of Ethan L. Don as an associate. He will focus his practice as a member of the firm’s Employment Law practice group and will also work with the Litigation group. Mr. Don, who previously worked in the Washington, D.C. offices of two prominent international law firms, was a cum laude graduate of American University’s Washington College of Law. He is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bars.

Paula A. Calimafde in February spoke to a record crowd at The Association: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore as part of the organization’s Planned Giving Round Table, which brings together professionals from a variety of disciplines who may be involved in some aspect of a planned gift to charity. In her presentation—entitled “The Estate Tax: A Primer for 2011, 2012 and Beyond”—she discussed how to take advantage of the new gift provisions and GST (Generation Skipping Tax) exemption levels, explained the new “portability” component affecting married couples and provided insights into whether estate planning documents should be updated in conjunction with estate tax changes

James R. Hammerschmidt recently delivered the welcoming speech at the 4th Bi-Annual Federal Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is currently the Chair of the FBA L& E Law Section, which addresses issues in labor relations and employment law. Mr. Hammerschmidt, who is a member of the firm’s Litigation, Appellate and Employment Law practice groups, serves on the FBA L & E Law Section Board of Governors, as well as the Maryland Chapter Board of Governors.

Jeffrey A. Kolender and Deborah A. Cohn participated in a “Business Toolbox Seminar” at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Chamber of Commerce recently, conducting a session on succession planning for business owners and advisors.  They discussed issues and strategies involved in passing financial interests and control of a closely held business to family members, key employees or outsiders.  Mr Kolender (chairman) and Ms. Cohn are members of Paley Rothman’s Estate Planning and Estate/Trust Administration practice groups.