Edward "Ed" Williams

Doug Patin has an extensive government contracts practice. While this work has involved the entire spectrum of traditional government contract disputes, he has developed extensive experience in various aspects of government contract law including: federal fraud and False Claims Act issues, bid protests, mediation, and contract dispute litigation with the federal government. Doug's extensive teaching and writing efforts keep him current on changing case law and developments in the field. Doug ...

Goutam “Gooch” Patnaik is a partner of Desmarais LLP, where his practice focuses on representing innovators in their most challenging intellectual property and commercial matters, with a particular emphasis on patent and trademark disputes. He has particularly deep experience with Section 337 investigations before the International Trade Commission (ITC) and litigation in key patent venues such as the U.S. District Courts for the Western District of Texas, the District of Delaware...

Christine Dunn is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Individuals and Litigation - Labor and Employment. Christine, 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 Christine is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Bob Wellen, a partner of the firm, has practiced tax law for nearly 35 years. His practice involves planning, structuring and negotiating business transactions and representing taxpayers seeking private letter rulings from IRS and tax policy determinations from IRS and the Treasury Department and in controversies with IRS. He also serves as an arbitrator and as an expert witness in commercial disputes involving tax issues. Bob grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey. He graduated from Yale College...

Paula Calimafde chairs the firm’s Retirement Plans , Employee Benefits and Government Relations practice groups and is also a senior member of the Estate Planning , Tax and Nonprofit groups. She has more than 35 years of experience advising companies and tax-exempt organizations on qualified and non-qualified retirement plans and employee benefits, including non-qualified deferred compensation, welfare benefit and cafeteria plans. She is a nationally recognized leader in the field of cr...

Marc Fiedler is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice, Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs and Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs. Marc, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Marc is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Fred Goldberg is co-head of the firm’s Tax Group and global co-chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. Mr. Goldberg first joined Skadden in 1986, following two years as chief counsel of the Internal Revenue Service. From 1989 until 1992, Mr. Goldberg served as commissioner of the IRS, and during 1992 he served as assistant secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy. He returned to Skadden in December 1992. Working with his Tax Department colleagues in Skadden’s Washington, Ne...

Brian Benczkowski is a partner in Kirkland’s Washington, D.C., office. He is a member of the Firm’s Government, Regulatory & Internal Investigations Practice Group. Brian has deep and diverse government enforcement and investigations experience, bolstered by his service in multiple leadership positions at the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and on Capitol Hill. From 2018–2020, he served as the Senate-confirmed Assistant Attorney General for DOJ’s Criminal...

Kelly P. Dunbar is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Appellate Practice. Kelly P., 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 Kelly P. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Mr. Colten was born in New York City and has been a long-time resident of Virginia. After serving as Assistant Commonwealth's Attorney in Fairfax County for two years, Mr. Colten entered private practice in Northern Virginia. He was a founding member and principal of Surovell, Jackson, Colten & Dugan, P.C. and its predecessor and successor firms, prior to forming Colten | Watson | Vincent Law Group P.C. In 1965, Mr. Colten received his B.S. with a major in sociology from American Universi...