April 2023

With more and more Baby Boomers seeking to retire, we are witnessing an uptick in business owners looking for an exit strategy. For some, a sale of their business may be a good option. Many small business owners, however, have little prospect of identifying a viable partner to acquire the business, especially in an environment where sellers increasingly outnumber buyers. Ultimately, a founder’s only recourse may be a management buyout by a (hopefully) well-prepared and engaged team of key employees. Unfortunately, often those managers who are the most qualified to take over the business may not have sufficient personal resources, borrowing power, or risk-tolerance to pay the owner what he or she thinks the business is worth.

How can the business owner receive full value for the business, without taking too much personal financial risk? Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fit-all solution. The following are a few common way to approach this issue.

As depicted in the movies, pursuing a divorce can be emotionally punishing and financially taxing, especially when children are involved. While this can certainly prove to be true, life doesn’t always imitate art and not all divorces are created equal.

Like any life-altering decision, initiating a divorce proceeding should be carefully considered and preferably not entirely fueled by resentment, anger, and fear. Those who are contemplating divorce should first consult with a family law attorney to learn about the process, gain a better understanding of their rights under the law, and learn how to best protect those rights in the most cost-effective manner. Knowledge is power; so is the guidance of a competent and trusted family law attorney. 

Many individuals have charities or causes that are important to them, and they naturally want to support these causes. Charitable giving is of particular interest to those who may not have anyone to inherit their legacies or those who are motivated by income or estate tax minimization. There are many ways to give, either during life or after passing, and each has distinct benefits and considerations. This article explores the most common gifting strategies.

With the growth of many of our practice areas, together with our commitment to meet the ever-changing needs of our clients and the greater business community, the firm has added new members to our team in recent months. We hope you will join us in welcoming them and, as always, you are welcome to stop by and meet them!

Boyd Rutherford

Boyd joined the firm earlier this year to help develop a practice in government relations and lobbying, at the local, state, and federal levels, and to expand its existing government contracting and procurement practice.

Christopher Walter

Chris recently joined the firm to lead its busy Estate Planning and Estate & Trust Administration Practice Groups. Prior to joining the firm, Chris practiced at a small boutique firm in Towson, where he was the head of the Estate Planning Department. He has extensive experience in all facets of estate planning, as well as estate and trust administration. 

Vanessa De Ugarte

Vanessa is a paralegal at the firm supporting our busy Family Law and Litigation Practice Groups. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland and is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.

Yessica Magana

Yessica is a legal assistant for the Estate Planning Practice Group. Yessica’s education and administrative background make her a valuable member of the team.

Jackie Edwards

Jackie works as a paralegal supporting our litigation attorneys. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland. When Jackie is not in the office, she enjoys spending time with her nine grandchildren.

Sophie Skalny

Sophie joined the firm after graduating from James Madison University. She is the friendly face you will see when you walk through our doors. Sophie assists the firm as its Client Serviced Associate, as well as the Receptionist.

Melissa De Ugarte

Melissa joined the firm to support the Community Association Practice Group. She currently attends the University of Maryland and is pursuing her Bachelor's Degree.

Brianna Mincy

Bri is a legal assistant supporting the Business & Transactional and Commercial Litigation Practice Groups. She currently serves a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard and is a recent graduate from Morgan State University.

As Lt. Governor, Boyd K. Rutherford visited all 76 Maryland State Parks and chronicled his visits. Please join us to hear all about his adventures and to receive a signed copy of his book signed---Rutherford’s Travels.

Please join us on April 21st!

Registration is required for this event. Coffee and light refreshments will be served.

Careers at the Firm

Our firm always has room to grow! We are looking for capable and hard-working individuals to join our team. Are you are in search of a firm with a team-oriented culture, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a “work hard, play hard” mentality? We invite you to send us your resume even if you don’t see a position on our career page that meets your hopes and expectations.

Show Your Support!

The Community Foundation of Howard County supports many of the nonprofit organizations in our community through their grant program. The operational grants provide support for the day-to-day costs of running a non-profit organization. Operational grants are unrestricted income to help an organization carry out its goals without imposing the requirement to develop activities directly attributable to the grant. In 2022, the operational grants helped support 45 local organizations. You can help support the operational grant program at the Community Foundation by visiting their website and electing to contribute to the Local Giving, Better Living Fund.

Over $15M for BWI Marshall

U.S. Senators announced an infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funding for BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport.



The funding comes through the Federal Aviation Administration’s Airport Infrastructure Grant Program.

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