Christopher G. Smith

Michael Spafford is a partner in the Investigations and White Collar Defense practice of Paul Hastings and is based in the firm’s Washington, DC office. Mr. Spafford’s practice focuses on white-collar criminal defense, government investigations, regulatory enforcement, internal investigations, and related litigation. He has represented financial institutions, funds and other companies, as well as individual clients in numerous high-profile government investigations and parallel li...

Jim Cannon focuses his practice on diverse international trade matters including antidumping and countervailing duty cases, market access proceedings, export controls and various customs matters. Mr. Cannon assists clients to address import competition, in open foreign markets for their exports or obtain tariff concessions. He regularly appears before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Court of International Trade, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Department of...

Edward W. Cameron is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation and Litigation - Construction. Edward W., who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2010. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Edward W. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

RJ Hamilton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. RJ, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which RJ is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bruce Serchuk focuses his practice on tax issues as they relate to debt securities, particularly tax-exempt bonds. What do you focus on? Public finance I advise clients regarding the tax aspects of tax-exempt bond transactions, acting primarily as bond counsel, borrower’s counsel and underwriter’s counsel. I have participated in a wide variety of bond transactions, including financings for governmental facilities, student loans, multifamily housing, stadiums and nonprofit hospital...

Paul Varela counsels clients in contract planning, administration, and complex dispute resolution matters nationally and internationally in the engineering and construction industry. His broad range of legal experience includes government and private data centers, roads, bridges, tall buildings, nuclear and conventional power facilities, environmental remediation, biomedical centers, energy and chemical projects, airports, professional sports stadiums, pharmaceutical projects, mass transit, a...

Betsy Karmin's clients rely on her as a trusted business advisor who has extensive knowledge of a wide range of real estate matters as well as a practical "can do" approach to getting deals done. She concentrates her practice on a broad range of commercial real estate transactions, including financing, restructuring, joint ventures, development, leasing, acquisitions and sales. Betsy has extensive experience representing landlords and tenants in office and retail leasing, as well as lenders a...

Douglas B. Farquhar has more than 30 years of experience as a prosecutor and defense and regulatory attorney. Since joining the firm in 1997, he has advised pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers and wholesalers, compounding pharmacies, and individuals on a wide range of enforcement activities, including consent decrees, criminal investigations, debarment issues, arbitration proceedings, civil seizures, FDA inspection issues, and injunctions. Mr. Farquhar has a broad-based understand...

Carol L. Ehlenberger is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law. Carol L., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2013. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carol L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bill Christiansen specializes in biotechnology patent matters, with particular emphasis on U.S. and international patent procurement, strategic management of patent portfolios, investment due diligence, early stage company counseling and competitive patent position analysis. He received his B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics (with honors) from Oregon State University (1991). After obtaining a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/ Biophysics/Molecular Biology from the University of Notre Dame (1995), for wh...