Jake Polivka

JJS Founder and longtime Managing Partner, Howard Alan Janet, passed away on September 18, 2025 due to complications from surgery. He was 70. In a career spanning nearly five decades, Mr. Janet led Janet, Janet & Suggs, his nationally acclaimed law firm, in securing justice and billions of dollars in life-changing compensation for his clients. Long considered one of the top lawyers in the country for medical malpractice, birth injury, and sexual abuse, he was the recipient of numerous pro...

Colleen Pleasant Kline is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Business Organizations (including LLCs and Partnerships), Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law and Venture Capital Law. Colleen Pleasant, who practices law in Baltimore, Maryland, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Colleen Pleasant is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal pract...

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

David A. Burkhouse is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Litigation - Labor and Employment. David A., who practices law in Columbia, Maryland, has been recognized since 2024. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which David A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Jill S. Distler is an associate in the Baltimore, Maryland, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. Her practice concentrates on representing management in employment litigation in state and federal court, in arbitration, and before the EEOC and state and local administrative agencies. Jill handles employment discrimination claims, including race, sex, age and disability discrimination, as well as harassment, retaliatory discharge, wage and hour, and non-compete/restrictive covenant issues. She also adv...

Michael A. Brown is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants, Medical Malpractice Law - Defendants and Product Liability Litigation - Defendants. Michael A., who practices law in Baltimore, Maryland, has been recognized since 2011. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Michael A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic an...

Herbert Goldman is a member in the Business Law Group. In his more than forty years of practice, he has acquired experience in many areas of commercial law, particularly corporate and partnership law, acquisition of healthcare practices, financing and business practices. He has developed a principal focus in financing transactions and has negotiated and closed numerous bank loans and arrangements, including financings in many leveraged buy-outs, complex institutional financings, industrial de...

Jerrold A. Thrope is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Litigation - Real Estate. Jerrold A., who practices law in Baltimore, Maryland, has been recognized since 2006. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jerrold A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Kathleen McGinley is a principal and the office litigation manager of the Baltimore, Maryland, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. She is an experienced litigator and represents private and public sector employers in all areas of employment law. Kathleen provides compliance advice and preventative training to employers, including the development and establishment of essential employment policies and handbooks to address multi-state needs. She also counsels employers on real-time, complex employment ...

Jonathan Schochor is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs and Medical Malpractice Law - Plaintiffs. Jonathan, who practices law in Baltimore, Maryland, has been recognized since 2008. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jonathan is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.