David B. Smith

Lars Golumbic serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Litigation Practice. His ERISA litigation practice includes the defense of “excessive fee” and ESOP class actions brought against plan sponsors, fiduciaries, and service providers. Lars also represents health plan sponsors and health insurers in actions brought under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act. Additionally, Lars defends plan trustees, fiduciaries, companies and their board members, and service provide...

John Dalton is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. John, 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 John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Michael A. Robinson is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Robinson Law, PLLC, and he brings a distinguished record of public service and litigation experience to his current role. After earning his J.D. from Regent University School of Law in 2006, he began his legal career as a prosecutor in the City of Newport News and later in Fauquier County, Virginia. In Newport News, he was assigned to the Juvenile & Domestic Relations team and prosecuted nearly 1,000 cases in Juvenile and D...

Mustafa Ostrander is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Regulatory Law. Mustafa, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mustafa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Lillian Brown is a partner in the Transactional and Securities Departments and Chair of the Corporate Governance and Disclosure Group in the Corporate Practice Group. Ms. Brown advises clients, including public companies and their boards, on federal securities law compliance and corporate governance matters. She has extensive experience in SEC reporting and disclosure requirements, proxy and annual meeting matters, shareholder activism and engagement, shareholder proposals, and ESG matters. M...

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...

An incisive thinker and passionate client advocate, Monica Garcia Harms chairs Stein Sperling’s family law practice group, where she has practiced for more than fifteen years. Monica maintains a very robust and diverse family law practice, focusing her work not only on divorce, but on complex and often emotionally fraught matters such as custody, support, domestic violence, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, alimony, property distribution, grandparent visitation, contempt/enforcement act...

Area of Emphasis Jim Curry is the Managing Shareholder of the Firm’s Washington, D.C. office. Jim is an energy lawyer with years of experience in government service and private practice helping clients navigate difficult regulatory and strategic challenges throughout the energy sector. His clients include pipelines, utilities, energy producers, LNG terminals, investors, technology companies, chemical makers, and hydrogen infrastructure developers. Jim takes a pragmatic, business-minded ...

Laurie A. Amell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs and Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs. Laurie A., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2007. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Laurie A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Julie C. Mendoza is a Partner in the firm's International Trade practice. She has over two decades of experience skillfully defending a broad range of clients in major cases under U.S. import relief law and in U.S. customs matters. She practices before the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. International Trade Commission, the Office of the United States Trade Representative, the U.S. Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, and other U.S. government agencies. Ms. Mendoza has worked on Sect...