Kevin J. Zhao

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...

Laurie L. Kirkland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Employment Law - Management. Laurie L., 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 Laurie L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Debra A. Harrison is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Energy Law. Debra A., 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 Debra A. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

David is a principal in the law firm of Blankingship & Keith, P.C. in the City of Fairfax. He is a civil litigator with over 30 years of trial practice, primarily before the various Virginia Circuits Courts in Northern Virginia as well as the Federal Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia. He also has substantial appellate experience arguing before the Supreme Court of Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. His practice has concentrated on commercial ...

Robert W. Zelnick is a nationally recognized intellectual property (IP) lawyer with an established record of success. Although he is also a registered patent attorney, for more than two decades Robert has focused his practice on trademark, unfair competition and false advertising matters, where he counsels clients on complex IP issues and serves as lead counsel for major clients in federal trial and appellate courts. According to client feedback in World Trademark Review, as the former head o...

Patrick J. Potter is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Bankruptcy and Creditor Debtor Rights / Insolvency and Reorganization Law. Patrick J., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2019. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Patrick J. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Sandweg is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Immigration Law. John, 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 John is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

Douglas W. Ell enjoys solving difficult problems relating to employee benefits. His creative redesign of one benefit program saved a client over $20 million each year and was recently approved by the IRS. He drafted the first 401(k) plan in professional sports. Mr. Ell has represented a number of nationally recognized corporations, unions and multiemployer plans. He has litigated nationally with great success and persuaded Congress to make important changes in employee benefits laws. He has s...

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...

Janis Claire Kestenbaum is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Privacy and Data Security Law. Janis Claire, who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2020. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Janis Claire is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.