News and Events
2010
Pasternak & Fidis, P.C., will co-sponsor a nearly month-long run of the play Around the World in 80 Days at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda this spring.
The play, an off-Broadway hit that has been described as “Monty Python meets Jules Verne,” will be enjoying its Washington-area premiere. It features just five actors who make lightning-quick costume changes to portray 39 characters. The play is based on the well-known 19th-century adventure novel.
For more information see our Press Release: Pasternak & Fidis Partners with Round House Theatre
The Estate Planning & Administration Group welcomes Elizabeth Sun-Young Kim as an associate. Ms. Kim received her J.D. in 2006 from the George Mason University School of Law. She graduated cum laude and with University Honors in 2000 from Miami University’s School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Management Information Systems and double minors in Arts Management and Violin Performance. Before coming to Pasternak & Fidis, Ms. Kim worked at General Counsel, P.C. in McLean, Virginia, where she advised her business owner clients in business succession planning and provided estate planning services to individuals, couples, and families
Three P & F partners have been named in the December, 2009 issue of Washingtonian in an article entitled “Washington’s Top Lawyers.” Nancy Fax is listed as one of the “great trust-and-estate lawyers ….who won’t let you down when it comes to managing your wealth and planning for the future.” Faith Dornbrand and Linda Ravdin are named among the top family law attorneys who can help you “minimize the damage” of a divorce.
Divorce & Family Law Group partner Linda Ravdin was a faculty member at the Legal Education Institute’s 27th Annual National CLE Conference in Vail, Colorado in January. Her topic was “Premarital Agreements: Tips to Keep you Client Out of Court.” Linda, and Estate Planning & Administration partner Marcia Fidis are the co-authors of a book, Premarital and Domestic Partnership Agreements, published by MICPEL in September 2009.
Nancy Fax has been elected to the Membership Selection Committee of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC). Her term begins in March 2010.
On October 2, 2009 at the 54th Annual Estate Planning Seminar of the Washington State Bar Association in Seattle, Nancy Fax presented a program entitled “Domestic Asset Protection Planning.” The presentation addressed practical and effective strategies for protecting assets from claims of creditors.
The Montgomery County Community Foundation (MCCF), an affiliate of the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region (CFNCR), has nominated Nancy Fax to return to the board. She previously served as a member of the MCCF board and as board chair from 200_ to 200_. Ms. Fax also serves as co-chair of CFNCR’s Marketing and Development Committee.
Business, Real Estate & Litigation associate Jeremy Rachlin was invited to participate in a panel discussion at his alma mater, the University of Maryland School of Law in November 2009. The panel’s title was “Myths and Realities about Small/Mid-Sized Firm Practice.” Jeremy engaged 50 current Maryland Law students in a discussion on how to best position themselves for employment with smaller and mid-sized firms, the types of complex legal issues that are often presented to small and mid-sized firms, and how small and mid-sized firms may be better able to weather the present economic troubles than large law firms.
Divorce & Family Law Group partner Anne (Jan) White was named to the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Managing Partner Nancy Fax and Divorce & Family Law Group partner Linda Ravdin were named among the top 25 women lawyers in 2010 Maryland Super Lawyers. Nancy Fax , N. Alfred Pasternak and Marcia Fidis have also been chosen for inclusion in the specialty of Estate Planning and Probate. Anne (Jan) White, partner in the Divorce & Family Law Group, as been selected as a Maryland Super Lawyer in the 2010 edition in the specialty of Family Law along with Divorce & Family Law Group partners, Linda Ravdin and Faith Dornbrand.
2009
Real Estate & Litigation Group Associate Jeremy Rachlin has been selected as an Associate member of the Montgomery County, Maryland chapter of the American Inns of Court for the 2009-2010 term. He was also invited to join and now serves on the Circuit Court Bench-Bar Committee of the Montgomery County Bar Association. This Committee acts as a liaison between the attorneys of the Montgomery County Bar and the Montgomery County Circuit Court judges, court clerk’s office, sheriff’s office and other Circuit Court personnel.
Vicki Viramontes-LaFree, a partner in the Divorce & Family Law Group, has been selected for inclusion in the 2010 edition of Best Lawyers in America in the specialty of Family Law. Linda Ravdin, Faith Dornbrand and Anne (Jan) White, partners in the Divorce & Family Law Group, are also named for the specialty of Family Law. Managing Partner Nancy Fax and Estate Planning & Administration Group partner, Marcia Fidis will be included for the specialty of Estate Planning and Probate. Selection for inclusion in Best Lawyers is based on a rigorous peer-review survey and is considered a singular honor.
Managing Partner Nancy Fax will be named as a Maryland Super Lawyer in the 2010 edition of Super Lawyers in the specialty of Estate Planning and Probate. She is joined by N. Alfred Pasternak and Marcia Fidis who have also been chosen for inclusion in the specialty of Estate Planning and Probate. Anne (Jan) White, partner in the Divorce & Family Law Group, as been selected as a Maryland Super Lawyer in the 2010 edition in the specialty of Family Law along with Divorce & Family Law Group partners, Linda Ravdin and Faith Dornbrand.
In October, the Potomac Legal Aid Society presented a continuing legal education seminar entitled: “Child Custody in Both Traditional and Non-Traditional Families in the Metro Area.” Divorce and Family Law Senior Associate Lucy Nichols organized the program and was a presenter. This program covered custody issues in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Estate Planning & Administration Group partner Marcia Fidis and Divorce & Family Law Group partner Linda Ravdin co-chaired a seminar entitled “Premarital Agreements” in September. Marcia and Linda discussed their new book, Premarital and Domestic Partnership Agreements, published by MICPEL this fall. The program was sponsored by MICPEL, the Maryland State Bar Association Family Law Section, the University of Maryland School of Law and the University of Baltimore School of Law. (For more information on this book, see the press release on our website at www. pasternakfidis.com/PressReleases)
The DC Academy of Collaborative Professionals, an organization of attorneys and financial and mental health professionals who offer collaborative divorce services to clients has elected Anne (Jan) White President-elect.
In September 2009, partners Marcia Fidis and Linda Ravdin published Premarital and Domestic Partnership Agreements, a new book put out by MICPEL, which deals in depth with premarital and domestic partnership agreements under the laws of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and Virginia. For more information see our Press Release: New Book Provides Handy Guide to Premarital Agreements
Estate Planning & Administration Group attorney, Oren Goldberg, was sworn into the DC bar in April and admitted to the Maryland bar in June.
In April 2009 founding partner, Al Pasternak participated in a presentation at the Montgomery County Bar Association's Annual Meeting on the use of mediation to resolve disputes in probate and estates and trust matters.
Al Pasternak has been named Mediator of the Month by Creative Disputes Resolutions in their May 2009 E-Newsletter. CDR describes Al as "one of the leading trusts and estates attorneys in Maryland and DC for decades. Al is a founding partner of the well-respected law firm of Pasternak & Fidis in Bethesda, a fellow of the American College of Estate and Trust Counsel, a Maryland and DC Super Lawyer in Estate Planning and Probate, and a Certified Public Accountant as well. In addition to his law practice, Al serves as a mediator for probate matters (wills, trusts and estates) and tax and business disputes."
On June 2, 2009, Estate Planning & Administration partners, Anne Coventry and Marcia Fidis presented a workshop on the estate planning process and the steps to accomplish estate planning objectives. This program was part of the 2009 Elder Law Series sponsored by Montgomery County Cooperative Extension.
Anne (Jan) White, a senior partner in the Divorce & Family Law Group has been elected President-Elect of the District of Columbia Academy of Collaborative Professionals.
Divorce & Family Law partner, Vicki Viramontes-LaFree gave a presentation on military retirement benefits for the Family Law Section of the Frederick County, Maryland Bar Association on March 16, 2009. The presentation was entitled, "The Military Family Divorce: Hot Topics Every Attorney Should Know in Navigating Military Retirement and Family Law."
Linda Ravdin, a partner in the Divorce & Family Law Group was a faculty member on a continuing legal education seminar entitled, "The Unmarried Couple: Rights and Responsibilities Without the Marriage Certificate" on May 14, 2009 sponsored by the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL). Her topic was domestic partnership agreements.
Linda Ravdin, has become a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation.
On June 2, 2009 Managing Partner, Nancy Fax, spoke at a program sponsored by the DC Bar, Estates, Trusts and Probate Law Section on the status of future enactment of the Uniform Trust Code in Maryland.
In May 2009, Divorce & Family Law Group partner Anne (Jan) White taught a 3-day course in Collaborative Law sponsored by the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers (MICPEL) in Columbia, Maryland.
Nancy Fax will be speaking at a Skills Training for Estate Planners CLE program sponsored by the ABA, Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law at New York Law School in New York City on July 14, 2009.
Roger A. Hayden, II, a senior partner in the firm's Business, Real Estate and Litigation Group, attended an intensive three day training course in Collaborative Law, an emerging dispute resolution process to avoid litigation, and is now a certified Collaborative Law attorney for civil disputes.
In December 2008, Faith Dornbrand completed formal mediation training offered by the Collaborative Professionals of Northern Virginia.
In March 2009 Marcia Fidis and Anne (Jan) White were speakers at the D.C. Bar on the topic of "What Estate Planning Attorneys Need to Know About Divorce Law."
Anne Coventry gave a speech in March 2009 at a D.C. Bar Estates, Trusts & Probate Law Section program on the topic of "Estate Freeze Techniques and Grantor Trusts."
Vicki Viramontes-LaFree gave a lunchtime presentation on military retirement benefits for the Family Law Section of the Frederick County, Maryland Bar Association in March 2009. The presentation was entitled: "The Military Family Divorce: Hot Tips Every Attorney Should Know in Navigating Military Retirement and Family Law."
Washingtonian (February 2009) names P & F partners Linda Ravdin and Faith Dornbrand in its latest list of top area divorce lawyers. It gives Ms. Ravdin the additional distinction of being in the metro area's top 25. "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" includes Ms. Dornbrand, a veteran of the domestic relations bar, on a list of only 88 local practitioners. Cautioning against "using someone who doesn't practice regularly in the field, the articles calls Ms. Ravdin "an experienced pro" who is "the one to call if you're interested in breaking - or forcing a spouse to live up to - a prenup."
P & F attorney Morriah Horani is quoted in the February 2009 issue of Washingtonian on the subject of pets who are caught up in custody disputes during a divorce ("Who Gets the Dog?") Ms. Horani's quoted advice: to "start a paper trail" if you want to make sure you can keep Fido because "sharing custody of a pet can be tricky." See Ms. Horani's in-depth treatment of this topic in the P & F Reporter "Strategies for Winning the Dog Fight: Pets and Divorce” Winter 2008.
"Finding Good Financial Help" in the January 2009 issue of Washingtonian names three P & F partners in their list of 160 of the area's top financial planners, wealth managers, accountants and estate planners. Nancy Fax, Marcia Fidis and Alfred Pasternak are among the 67 estate experts who were chosen by a Washingtonian survey of hundreds of financial experts who were asked: "Whom would you trust with your own money?" Ms. Fax was highlighted as a "top vote-getter." All three partners are fellows of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (ACTEC) and Ms. Fax is an ACTEC Regent. The Washingtonian article suggests those looking for an estate attorney ask for ACTEC credentials because "Only persons who...are recognized by their peers are invited to become fellows of the college."
Pasternak & Fidis, P.C. is pleased to announce that Anne W. Coventry has become a Shareholder in the Firm. Ms. Coventry, who joined the Firm as a Senior Associate in 2007, is a member of the Estate Planning & Administration Practice Group where she concentrates in sophisticated estate planning for high net-worth individuals and families. Her expertise includes federal estate and gift tax matters, estate planning with qualified retirement assets, life insurance, deferred compensation and planned charitable giving. She is a graduate of the Marshall Wythe School of Law at the College of William & Mary where she was on the Law Review and was named to the Order of the Coif. Ms. Coventry is a member of the Maryland, Virginia and District of Columbia Bars.
Nancy Fax and Marcia Fidis were named among the top 25 women lawyers in the 2009 edition of Maryland Super Lawyers. Ms. Fax was also listed among the top 50 lawyers in the state. Faith Dornbrand, Linda Ravdin and Anne (Jan) White were listed for the practice area of Family Law and N. Alfred Pasternak, along with Ms. Fax and Ms. Fidis, were listed in the Estate Planning & Probate specialty.
2008
Linda Ravdin made a lunchtime presentation on premarital agreements at the Frederick County, Maryland, Bar Association on December 15, 2008. The presentation was entitled: "Premarital Agreements: How to Create a Valid, Litigation-Proof Agreement and Post-Execution Issues."
Anne Coventry, an attorney in the Estate Planning & Administration Group, has been selected as the Vice Chair of the Estate Planning Committee of the Taxation Section of the DC Bar.
P & F Managing Partner, Nancy Fax, spoke at the Duke Estate Planning Conference in Durham, NC in October 2008 on the topic of “Practical Drafting under the Uniform Trust Code.” In January 2009 she was in Orlando, FL at the Heckerling Institute on Estate Planning, speaking on “Estate Planning in the 21st Century.”
Divorce & Family Law Partner, Linda Ravdin was a speaker this fall at the American Bar Association Family Law Section CLE Conference in Scottsdale, AZ. The title of her presentation was “Premarital Agreements: How to Create a Valid, Litigation-Proof Agreement and Post-Execution Issues.” In December, 2008 she will again speak on the topic of premarital agreements to the Alabama Chapter of the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers.
Business, Real Estate & Litigation Partner, Mitchell Alkon recently served as a Panel Chair for the Commission on Common Ownership Communities in Montgomery County, Maryland. Mr. Alkon also serves as a Professional Representative to the Commission which was founded to advise the County Executive and the County Council on ways to handle common ownership of property in communities; promote public awareness of the rights and obligations of living in common ownership communities; eliminate disputes; and maintain property values and quality of life in community associations.
In September, Divorce & Family Law Partner, Faith Dornbrand received advanced training in negotiation skills at the Program on Negotiation at the Harvard Law School. The training was sponsored by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers of which she is a Fellow. Ms. Dornbrand is certified as an arbitrator by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers. She is also an active and enthusiastic practitioner of collaborative law, and in October attended a collaborative law boot camp for collaborative attorneys, coaches, child specialists and financial neutrals from D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Ms. Dornbrand, well known for her effectiveness in the courtroom, continues to hone her skills in alternative dispute resolution methods to provide her clients with effective alternatives to litigation.
The Best Lawyers in America, an annual publication, has named Nancy Fax and Marcia Fidis in the specialty of Trusts & Estates and Linda Ravdin and Anne (Jan) White in the specialty of Divorce & Family Law.
Jeremy Rachlin, an Associate in the Business, Real Estate & Litigation Group, was recently re-elected as a Voting Alumnus to the Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society ("ODK"), University of Maryland College Park chapter. During his senior year at Maryland in the spring of 2002, Mr. Rachlin was selected for membership in ODK based upon his scholarship and service to the University of Maryland, and he is pleased to continue his involvement with this distinctive group. Mr. Rachlin also serves as a volunteer mentor to first-year law students at the University of Maryland School of Law. In this capacity, he offers guidance on a range of issues from adjusting to the law school curriculum, finding internships during law school, to identifying possible career paths after law school.
Divorce & Family Law Group partner, Anne (Jan) White, attended the 9th Annual Networking and Educational Forum for Collaborative Professionals of the International Academy of Collaborative Professionals (IACP) in New Orleans in October.
In October of this year, Divorce & Family Law attorneys, Lucy Nichols and Morriah Horani, jointly presented a program on child custody, visitation, child support and parentage issues at a mediator training session of the Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division of the D.C. Superior Court.