Zachary Greenbaum attends IADC’s 50th Annual Trial Academy
We're thrilled to share that our Associate, Zachary Greenbaum, recently participated in the International Association of Defense Counsel's (IADC) 50th Annual Trial Academy at Stanford Law School.
Karen Herzog – ADTA Vice Chair Appointment
Karen Herzog has been named Vice Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee for the Association of Defense Trial Attorneys.
Megan Freeman Bar Admission
Megan is now admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Maryland and D.C., as well as the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.
General Liability Spotlight
Margaret Fonshell Ward and Downs Ward Bender Herzog & Kintigh have been selected to be the Maryland counsel as part of a consortium of attorneys that will be acting as Assistant Counsel to the Attorney General representing the State of Maryland for all claims arising from the recent collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland. In the early morning of March 26, 2024, the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore, Maryland collapsed after it was struck by a cargo ship leaving the Port of Baltimore. As result this catastrophe, six individuals lost their lives. Additionally, traffic patterns [...]
New in Maryland
More Protection for Attorney-Expert Communications In 2023, the Maryland Rule regarding expert witness disclosures, Maryland Rule 2-402, was amended to include protections for draft reports or disclosures, as well as certain attorney-expert communications. The communications that are still discoverable include: (i) communications that relate to compensation for an expert’s study or testimony; (ii) communications that identify facts or data that the attorney provided and the expert considered; and (iii) communications that identify assumptions that the party’s attorney provided and the expert relied on in forming the opinions to be expressed. Which Courts are they Talking About? [...]
Firm News
Elaine R. Wilford joined the firm in January 2023. Elaine is primarily handling cases within our general liability and insurance practice. Zachary S. Greenbaum and Megan G. Freeman were sworn in to the District of Columbia Bar in June 2023. Margaret Fonshell Ward received a defense verdict in March 2023 in a construction defect case after a successful argument that the Plaintiff’s claims were barred by the statute of repose. Karen M. Herzog accepted the invitation to become a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, The Trial Lawyer Honorary Society. Margaret Fonshell Ward presented “Humanizing the Insurance Company [...]
Baltimore Sun: Maryland AG Asks To Hire 5 Law Firms To Help With Key Bridge Litigation
The Maryland Office of the Attorney General is seeking authorization to hire five law firms to assist in what is expected to be a lengthy and complicated legal fight following the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge.
U.S. News – Best Lawyers® “Best Law Firms”
Downs Ward Bender Hauptmann & Herzog, P.A. published in U.S. News and World Report as a Maryland First-Tier firm U.S. News – Best Lawyers® brings you the 12th edition of the"Best Law Firms" publication. The 2022 rankings incorporate more than 8.2 million evaluations of more than 115,000 individual leading lawyers from more than 22,000 firms. More than 2,000 firms received a national ranking this year. Of those, more than 500 firms received at least one Tier 1 national ranking. Achieving a tiered ranking in U.S. News – Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" signals a unique [...]
Morgan Carlo Downs and Ward & Herzog merge to form Downs Ward Bender Hauptmann & Herzog, P.A.
Law firms Morgan Carlo Downs and Ward & Herzog have merged to form Downs Ward Bender Hauptmann & Herzog, P.A., effective Jan. 1, 2019. The merger fosters the expansion of services and growth of both firms. “Our new firm, in which all seven partners are litigators with extensive trial experience, will allow each of us to be stronger and to offer our clients new and expanded services in each of our practice areas,” said Partner Margaret Fonshell Ward. Among the firm’s practice areas are medical professional and long-term care liability defense, health care licensing, insurance defense, insurance coverage, employment practices [...]
Mary Alane Downs receives 2019 AV Preeminent Rating
Mary Alane Downs, founding partner of Downs Ward Bender Hauptmann & Herzog, received the highest possible rating in both legal ability and ethical standards.