Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Results-oriented attorney and executive with several years of diverse leadership, management, financial technology and legal experience. I am passionate about advising FinTech and Blockchain projects that are revolutionizing electronic payments and international commerce. I have a broad range of experience in complex litigation including contract disputes, real estate litigation, regulatory litigation, insolvency proceedings, employment law, products liability actions and other civil and commercial matters. My experience includes litigation in state, federal and bankruptcy court for individuals, national and international companies as well as local government. I have also conducted electronic data discovery and forensic data acquisitions for extensive litigation cases. While attending Brown University to obtain my BA in Economics, I simultaneously served in the United States Marine Corps Reserve and then became a Private Client Group Associate with UBS Global Asset Management, Inc. in New York City, providing wealth management services to clients internationally. As a private real estate investor, I developed partnerships with leading real estate financiers in Maryland and Virginia to rehabilitate dilapidated neighborhoods. I have merged my passions for real estate, financial technology, and the law to represent my clients in a myriad of matters and disputes.
Sworn in as Baltimore’s first woman and first openly gay City Solicitor, following a unanimous confirmation from the Baltimore City Council. Accomplished groundbreaking legal advancements through a $1.2M settlement negotiation with Polymer-80, the primary manufacturer of ghost guns. Implemented the most comprehensive and rigorous injunctive terms established at the time of settlement, providing a significant precedent in the ongoing battle against senseless gun violence across the nation. Filed a lawsuit against Hanover Armory LLC for illegally selling untraceable ghost guns, resulting in a $62 million jury verdict, the largest ever against a Maryland ghost gun dealer. Secured more than $668 million to resolve our claims against opioid manufacturers and distributors, including a $266 million jury verdict against AmerisourceBergen and McKesson, and settlements of over $7.2 million from Walmart; $45 million from Allergan; $45 million from CVS; $152.5 million from Cardinal Health; $80 million from Walgreens; and $80 million from Teva.
Served as the city attorney in advising and counseling the Mayor, City Council, City Administrator, boards and commissions, department directors and employees in their official capacity for a city with an operating budget over $4 billion; Granted the first instance of full and effective compliance for the Baltimore Police Department on two sections of the Consent Decree: Transportation of Persons in Custody and Officer Assistance and Support; Initiated a lawsuit against the ATF to obtain the release of gun tracing data under the Freedom of Information Act; Introduced the City to blockchain technology and led the initiative for Baltimore to become the first municipality in the country to leverage this emerging technology to combat vacant housing; Following the oil spill in eastern Ohio, collaborated with the Administration, DPW, and City Council to prevent the processing of wastewater at Back River and safeguarded the City's waterways from potential contamination; Led the Law Department to institute consumer protection on local level by drafting a new local ordinance aimed at preventing abusive, unfair, and deceptive trade practices against our residents. Testified on behalf of the ordinance that resulted in City Council's approval and subsequently signed into law in October 2023; Led the Law Department to authoring the Reproductive Options for Everyone (ROE) Act, a resolution urging that City funds should not be employed to facilitate the investigation of individuals seeking abortion care in Baltimore; Led the Law Department to draft a resolution opposing book bans in Baltimore City; Initiated legal action against Hyundai and Kia for jeopardizing public safety and abusing police resources by failing to install industry-standard anti-theft technology in their vehicles; Secured settlements exceeding $9.2 million in 2023 from cases involving PCB contamination, antitrust issues, and opioids.
Served as the deputy city attorney and a chief solicitor in advising and counseling the Mayor, City Council, City Administrator, boards and commissions, department directors and employees in their official capacity for a city with an operating budget over $4 billion. Worked aggressively on the Mayor's call to tackle vacant housing by collaborating with City Council, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, and the Department of Housing and Community Development to establish a new track for Baltimore City In Rem Tax Foreclosures. Introduced and leading the pilot program to utilize blockchain technology for recordation of land titles, land valuation, permit tracking and the use of smart contracts to simplify the process for purchasing vacant properties and incentivizing investment in Baltimore City. Led and developed the legal framework for Mayor Scott’s Squeegee Collaborative Working Action Plan that provides a comprehensive plan to preserve public safety and protect the rights of the workers while achieving an 85% reduction in crime associated with squeegee workers. Advanced the Mayor’s legislative agenda in the Maryland General Assembly. Negotiated and presented high-profile settlements for approval before the Board of Estimates. Advocated for the City in Consent Decree hearings. Assisted the City Solicitor in the administration and operation of the City's Law Department, such as, the preparation of the department budget; assigned and supervised over 130 attorneys and support staff. Provided legal counsel for civil suits, actions, and proceedings.
Part of a team that represented Johns Hopkins Health System Corp. in defending employment-related claims under state and local laws, including retaliation and breach of contract. Assisted in drafting motions and briefs, conducted in-depth factual and legal research and analysis for pre-trial motions and hearings, and managed discovery of electronically stored information (ESI) from document identification and retrieval through production and analysis of privilege. Part of a team that represented AltaGas in a contested application to obtain regulatory approval in Maryland and the District of Columbia for its $9 billion acquisition of WGL and Washington Gas Light Company. Assisted the team to obtain approval for the transaction in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, creating a $17 billion North American energy company. Part of a team that represented both Exelon Corp. and Pepco Holdings Inc. in their proposed merger, securing the approval of the Maryland Public Service Commission to bring together Exelon’s three electric and gas utilities – BGE, ComEd and PECO – and Pepco Holdings' three electric and gas utilities – Atlantic City Electric, Delmarva Power and Pepco – to create the leading mid-Atlantic electric and gas utility. Part of a team that represented the liquidators of a Zurich-based financial services company that was the subject of Swiss insolvency proceedings. Assisted the team in advising overseas counterparties to derivatives and other financial contracts in Lehman’s U.S. bankruptcy proceedings. Part of a team that represented county government, police department, and individual defendants in labor and employment litigation where current and former employees and representative organizations claimed racial discrimination and retaliation. Represented major hotel company in premises liability litigation and negotiated numerous favorable settlements.
Developed effective partnerships with top real estate investors in Maryland. Focused on rehabilitating dilapidated neighborhoods to increase total community property values.