Anticipating Business Opportunities. Delivering Legal Solutions.

Patricia M. Weaver was inducted as president of the Bar Association of Montgomery County (BAMC) for 2010-11 at the BAMC Annual Meeting & Law Day event in May. Ms. Weaver, chair of Paley Rothman’s Appellate Practice group, addressed the membership, thanking them for the opportunity and expressing her plans to “spotlight our good works and bring public attention to the positive impact that lawyers in Montgomery County are having in our local or larger communities.” She also had the honor of introducing the event’s keynote speaker, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley.

Three of the firm’s Family Law attorneys– Glenn M. Cooper, Howard B. Soypher and Bibi M. Berry –were included in the May/June 2010 Bethesda Magazine “Top Divorce Lawyers” article. Based on interviews with more than 50 full time divorce lawyers, Mr. Cooper was chosen—and Mr. Soypher was mentioned—among the top 25 who practice primarily in Montgomery County. Ms. Berry was among only 11 divorce attorneys to receive “Honorable Mention” recognition which was limited to those who “get positive reviews from peers.”

Linda D. Schwartz, chair of the firm’s Professional Ethics & Discipline practice group, co-chair of the Real Estate group and a member of its Estate Planning and Business/Commercial Transactions groups, has accepted an invitation to become a Fellow of the American Bar Association (ABA). The Fellows is a prestigious group of attorneys, judges, law faculty and legal scholars whose members have been elected by their peers for their outstanding achievements and dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession. Limited to one third of one percent of lawyers licensed to practice in each jurisdiction, the Fellows has since 1955 supported the ABA’s research efforts. Ms. Schwartz becomes the third Paley Rothman attorney to be chosen as a member of the organization, joining Glenn M. Cooper and Hope B. Eastman.

Paula A. Calimafde officially began her term as the Small Business Legislative Council (SBLC) chair at the organization’s annual meeting in March 2010. Ms. Calimafde, who chairs the firm’s Retirement Plans, Employee Benefits and Government Relations practice groups, will direct the SBLC’s representation of small businesses working in such diverse economic sectors as manufacturing, retailing, distribution, professional and technical services, construction, transportation and agriculture. The association’s membership consists primarily of major small business trade associations around the country and whose charter is to represent their members on Capitol Hill.

Arthur H. Blitz in February gave a presentation on “Special Needs Trusts” to a group of financial planners associated with Lincoln Financial Advisers in Tysons Corner. Mr. Blitz, who co-chairs the firm’s Real Estate and Financial Services practice groups and is a member of the Litigation and Business/Commercial Transactions groups, included an overview of both means-tested and non means-tested benefits, estate planning considerations, state requirements and the various options available for a Special Needs family.

Paula Calimafde was a co-presenter at a recent DC Bar Taxation Section Estate Planning Committee Luncheon.  Ms. Calimafde, a senior member of the firm’s Estate Planning practice group, spoke about Roth IRAs, their benefits, and some conversion strategies to take advantage of in conjunction with the expected changes in the law that take effect in 2010.

Arthur G. House has been certified as an international mediator and named to the Panel of Mediators of the International Mediation Institute (IMI), which is located in The Hague, Netherlands.  Mr. House, who chairs Paley Rothman’s Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group, is one of approximately 160 mediators in the world to receive the IMI certification.

Mark A. Binstock, a principal with the firm’s Litigation practice group, was a speaker at the recent 11th Annual Solo and Small Business Conference sponsored by the Maryland State Bar Association. Mr. Binstock’s presentation to the attorneys in attendance was on “Avoiding Mistakes in Estate Planning.”

David P. Shapiro made a presentation on the legal considerations of professional businesses engaging in social media. Mr. Shapiro belongs to Paley Rothman’s Business/Commercial Transactions, Mergers/Acquisitions, Health Law and Employment Law practice groups.

Paula A. Calimafde, the chair of the firm’s Retirement Plans, Employee Benefits and Government Relations practice groups, recently participated in the U.S. Small Business Administration Pension Roundtable that included Treasury and IRS officials, representatives of small business associations and private practitioners. Ms. Calimafde, who chairs the Small Business Council of America, joined with the other panelists in discussing a variety of estate tax, retirement plan and cafeteria plan issues.

Roy I. Niedermayer and Arthur G. House were included among the business law “go to attorneys” in a reader poll conducted by Washington SmartCEO. Mr. Niedermayer is a principal of the firm and a member of its Litigation and Appellate Practice groups. Mr. House, also a Paley Rothman principal, is a member of the Business/Commercial Transactions and Computer, Internet & Technology groups and chairs the Alternative Dispute Resolution group.

Robert H. Maclay and Deborah A. Cohn in November made their twice-a-year presentation on estate planning as part of the World Bank Pension Department’s Pre-Retirement Planning Series. Mr. Maclay, a member of the firm’s Estate Planning, Estate/Trust Administration, Tax and Health Law practice groups, spoke to unmarried U.S. citizens and couples comprised of two U.S. citizens on taking advantage of state and federal estate tax exemptions, the use of trusts and a variety of other topics of interest to the participants. Ms. Cohn, who also belongs to Paley Rothman’s Estate Planning, Estate/Trust Administration and Tax groups, provided an overview presentation on basic estate planning (e.g., defining and differentiating between a will, a revocable trust, power of attorney, medical directive, probate and its advantages and disadvantages) and then addressed non-U.S. citizens on a variety of issues, including the different tax systems that apply to individuals who are—and are not—domiciled in the U.S. for estate tax purposes, the federal estate tax exemption available in both scenarios and those assets subject to or exempt from tax in both situations. Ms. Cohn also chaired a full-day MICPEL program on Will Drafting and discussed ethics, standard of care and attorney-client privilege in addition to speaking on certain non-dispositive provisions, including probate avoidance strategies, beneficiary designations and joint property.