Ellen MacDonald Farrell

Erika Harmon Arner is a nationally recognized leader in trial practice before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and related appeals to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. She consistently ranks as one of the top three female attorneys appearing in PTAB trials and was named a PTAB Litigator of the Year by Managing Intellectual Property. She has argued and won a number of landmark cases at the PTAB and Federal Circuit for both patent challengers and patent owners. Erika&rs...

David Dixon is the co-leader of Pillsbury’s nationally ranked Government Contracts & Disputes practice group, a five-time winner of the Law360 Practice Group of the Year. David concentrates his practice on counseling and disputes regarding the formation and administration of government contracts at the federal level.

William Walsh is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Closely Held Companies and Family Businesses Law. William, 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 William is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rama Taib-Lopez is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Arbitration. Rama, who practices law in Rockville, Maryland, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Rama is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Personal injury and medical malpractice victims, and those who have been injured by the federal government, turn to Karl Protil when they need a lawyer who has a 20 year record of winning such cases. Clients depend on Karl when the stakes are high, and when their situations call for a lawyer who is not afraid to take chances when it comes to bringing the much needed emotional and financial closure they deserve. Victims benefit from his unique technical skill-set which includes both deep knowl...

Craig E. Chason is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Securities / Capital Markets Law. Craig E., who practices law in Tysons, Virginia, has been recognized since 2021. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Craig E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Scott A. Bowman’s practice focuses on providing personal tax and estate planning counseling to wealthy individuals and families, advising them on structuring their wealth to minimize income, estate, gift and generation-skipping transfer taxes over multiple generations. He advises on trustee and family governance structures throughout the estate and trust administration process to preserve business enterprises and manage potentially sensitive family circumstances. Scott is experienced in...

Carole A. Rubin is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Family Law and Family Law Mediation. Carole A., who practices law in Reston, Virginia, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Carole A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Alonso J. Cisneros is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Real Estate Law. Alonso J., who practices law in Bethesda, Maryland, has been recognized since 2026. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Alonso J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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...