Justin Meltzer

Mr. Atkins is the leader of Pillsbury’s Intellectual Property Litigation team. He is a trial and appellate lawyer with 20 years of experience. He is a registered patent attorney who personally handles all of his cases and has won jury verdicts on both sides of the courtroom. Recent victories include (1) getting two university co-inventors added onto two NIH cancer drug patents with annual sales of approximately $2B, (2) an infringement jury verdict for a consumer product against a major...

Ms. Knapp is a partner at Shounbach having joined the firm in 2013. Her legal career has been dedicated entirely to the practice of family law since completing a two year judicial clerkship with the Honorable William D. Hamblen (Ret.) in Prince William County Circuit Court. Ms. Knapp graduated from George Mason University School of Law 2011, however, law is a second career for Ms. Knapp. Prior to law school, she worked in public and media relations for six years, gaining oral and written advo...

Shirley Steinbach represents companies and individuals seeking to resolve a myriad of business and personal disputes through litigation, arbitration, mediation and settlement. She counsels clients to help them make sound strategic business and legal decisions. One client has said that “what most impresses me about Shirley is her professional demeanor and temperament. Lawyers who are all ‘fire and brimstone I-was-born-a-pitbull-and-will-fight-for-you (for an appropriate fee!)&rsquo...

Howard L. Nelson is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law and Oil and Gas Law. Howard L., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2018. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Howard L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Rich’s practice focuses on antitrust and consumer protection law. Rich has extensive experience securing clearance for deals from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Department of Justice (DOJ), navigating FTC and DOJ investigations and litigating antitrust and/or consumer protection claims. Rich began his legal career at the FTC, serving as a Staff Attorney and then as Senior Trial Counsel in the Bureau of Competition. At the FTC, Rich was a senior member of multiple trial teams, in...

Scott Oswald is an accomplished trial lawyer who has brought more than 40 trials to verdict and recovered more than $300 million in judgments and settlements for his clients, in cases ranging from wrongful termination to employer fraud. Mr. Oswald litigates employment lawsuits nationwide, with a special focus on whistleblower matters - including qui tam law, which can deliver monetary rewards to employees who expose fraud against the government. Since founding The Employment Law Group® la...

John E. Byrnes has been practicing exclusively in the area of family law since 1996. He practices in all of the northern Virginia circuit courts and juvenile and domestic relations district courts as well as the Virginia Court of Appeal. While most matters are amicably resolved thorough negotiation or mediation, John has extensive litigation experience. During his career, John’s practice has covered virtually every aspect of family law, from: complex equitable distribution matters invol...

Mark E. Shaffer is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation, Litigation - Construction and Litigation - Real Estate. Mark E., who practices law in McLean, Virginia, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Mark E. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Sean P. Schmergel has been consistently recognized as one the DMVs top divorce and family law attorneys, including by Washingtonian Magazine, Arlington Magazine, Super Lawyers and Best Lawyers. He co-founded Schmergel & Mersberger, PLC over 20 years ago and has continued to hone his legal practice before the local courts, developing a reputation as a zealous and thoughtful family law advocate. A resident of Northern Virginia for over 30 years, Mr. Schmergel holds a genuine concern for the...

Alan Winston Granwell is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Tax Law. Alan Winston, 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 Alan Winston is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.