David R. "Dave" Johnson

Paul J. Abraham is the founder and CEO of PJI Law. After growing up in Northern Virginia, Mr. Abraham earned two academic majors at Cornell University and came back to Northern Virginia to obtain a Juris Doctor degree at the George Mason University School of Law. Mr. Abraham has represented clients in trusts & estates, litigation, and business law for over ten years. Additionally, Mr. Abraham has been an active participant in several legal pro bono programs, including the Family Legal Ass...

Benjamin Griffitts is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice. Benjamin, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Benjamin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Robert P. Trout has over 40 years' experience in civil and criminal litigation. His practice has concentrated primarily on complex commercial litigation and white-collar criminal defense, as well as the defense of administrative agency enforcement actions. He began his legal career at the Department of Justice, where he served for two years in the Criminal Division, followed by four years as an Assistant United States Attorney in Baltimore, Maryland. Mr. Trout served as Associate Deputy Indep...

Richard E. Lear practices primarily in the litigation area emphasizing insolvency, Chapter 11, and creditors’ rights and bankruptcy issues. For 25 years, Mr. Lear has served as counsel for institutional lenders, franchisors, leasing companies and landlords in connection with individual and business Chapter 11 cases and in workouts. He has also counseled clients regarding the effect of bankruptcy and insolvency on proposed bond refundings, conventional loan refinancings and other transac...

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...

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...

Steven L. Meltzer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Steven L., who practices law in Tysons, Virginia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Steven L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sheraz Barkat is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Civil Rights Law, Collaborative Law: Family Law, Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Sheraz, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Sheraz is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Theresa Small is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Trusts and Estates and Trusts and Estates. Theresa, who practices law in Fairfax, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Theresa is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kevin P. O’Brien is a partner in the firm’s Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation practice. His practice has concentrated in employee compensation and benefits for over 30 years. Kevin is widely known as a leader in a wide variety of subjects, including innovative defined benefit plan design, flexible benefits, ERISA fiduciary matters and executive compensation. Before joining the firm, Kevin worked in the Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration at the Labor Department ...