John A. Merrigan

Laura Handman is the co-chair of the firm’s appellate practice and divides her time between the New York and D.C. offices. For thirty years, Laura has been providing pre-publication counseling and litigation services from complaint through trial and appeal to U.S. and foreign broadcasters, film studios, and book, magazine, newspaper and Internet publishers and non-profits. Laura has extensive experience in libel, newsgathering, privacy, right of publicity, reporter’s privilege and...

Luisella P. (“Sella”) McBride concentrates her practice on federal tax laws and regulations related to tax-exempt financings. She has served as bond counsel for a wide variety of public finance transactions, including the issuance of tax-exempt, fixed and variable rate bonds, advance and current refundings, leases and installment purchase agreements. She advises clients on issues related to private use, reissuances, exempt facility qualification and financing, arbitrage, and couns...

Evangelia (Eve) Pelonis assists clients on U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) matters relating to food, animal feed, food additives and ingredients, and dietary supplements. She helps clients achieve their marketing goals within the relevant legal frameworks and counsels them in all aspects of food development and marketing, from product formulation and manufacturing considerations to food labeling and advertising. Eve helps her clients with issu...

Justin Flint is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Ethics and Professional Responsibility Law. Justin, 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 Justin is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

John Parker Sweeney has more than 30 years of experience defending major class action and mass torts involving product liability and warranty, consumer protection, environmental, and toxic tort cases, allowing him to tailor an appropriate litigation response for any company to resolve "bet-the-company" risks. He regularly serves as national litigation counsel, creating and supervising comprehensive defense strategies in class action and mass tort cases across the country, most recently sweepi...

Elyse L. Strickland is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Finance Law and Family Law. Elyse L., who practices law in Potomac, Maryland, has been recognized since 2025. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Elyse L. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.

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.

Brandon H. Elledge is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Commercial Litigation. Brandon H., who practices law in Tysons, Virginia, has been recognized since 2016. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Brandon H. 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 ...

Jessie K. Liu is a top attorney recognized by Best Lawyers in the practice area(s) of Criminal Defense: General Practice and Criminal Defense: White-Collar. Jessie K., who practices law in Washington, District of Columbia, has been recognized since 2023. This recognition is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey, reflecting the high esteem in which Jessie K. is held by other top lawyers in the same geographic and legal practice area.