Attorneys across the litigation, business, government and technology divisions promoted to Of Counsel.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 18, 2011) - Venable LLP is pleased to announce that six of the firm's attorneys have been elevated to Of Counsel: Heather Deans Foley, James C. Fraser, Suzanne Fay Garwood, Jonathan L. Pompan, Steven J. Schwarz, and Winifred M. Weitsen. The six new Of Counsel, resident in the firm’s Washington and Baltimore offices, come from a range of key practices, including bankruptcy and restructuring, product liability, financial services, regulatory, patent prosecution, and SEC and white-collar criminal defense.
“We appreciate the hard work and dedication that each of these attorneys has put forth and we look forward to their continued success,” said Karl A. Racine, Venable’s managing partner.
Below is some background on Venable’s new Of Counsel:
Heather Deans Foley, a Baltimore-based member of Venable's Bankruptcy and Creditors' Rights practice, focuses on complex litigation in the bankruptcy and commercial law contexts, including contract disputes, fraudulent conveyances, and the enforcement of creditors' rights. A significant portion of Ms. Foley's practice is also devoted to representing secured parties in all aspects of single asset real estate, including foreclosures, receiverships and loan workouts.
Ms. Foley has successfully litigated matters in state, federal and bankruptcy courts across the country. In addition to a broad range of litigation experience, she has also assisted clients with resolving matters through both mediation and arbitration. She received her J.D., cum laude, from University of Richmond School of Law in 1999 and her B.A. from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1994.
James C. Fraser, a Baltimore-based member of Venable's Products and Personal Injury practice, is a litigation attorney with extensive trial and appellate experience in product liability, commercial litigation, and criminal litigation matters. He has successfully tried to verdict both jury and non-jury cases, and has conducted appellate oral arguments. Mr. Fraser has represented pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers in product liability cases across the country, and has represented businesses of all sizes in commercial litigation matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Prior to entering private practice in 2001, Mr. Fraser served for six years as an officer and attorney in the United States Air Force. His Air Force service included tours as a prosecutor, defense counsel and appellate counsel.He received his J.D., with distinction, from University of Iowa College of Law in 1995, and his B.A. from Michigan State University in 1992.
Suzanne Fay Garwood, a member of Venable's Regulatory group in the firm's Washington, DC office, focuses her practice on state and federal law relating to consumer credit and financial services. She has assisted mortgage lenders, banks and thrifts with issues arising under federal and state laws. Ms. Garwood represents clients from all aspects of the financial services industry before Congress, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Reserve Board and other federal banking agencies. She is also experienced in issues related to credit unions, representing them with regard to field of membership, mergers and other significant regulatory matters.
Ms. Garwood is President-Elect of Women in Housing and Finance. She received her J.D., with distinction, from Ohio Northern University, Claude W. Pettit College of Law in 1997, and her B.S. from Bryant University in 1993.
Jonathan L. Pompan, a member of Venable's Regulatory group in the Washington, DC office, focuses his practice on providing comprehensive legal advice and regulatory advocacy to a broad spectrum of clients, including for-profit and nonprofit organizations and trade associations. His experience ranges from advising on complex tax-exemption and transactional matters to day-to-day antitrust, contracts, intellectual property, privacy, corporate governance, and compliance matters. Mr. Pompan also advises clients on consumer protection issues, specifically with regard to advertising and promotions, as well as consumer credit and financial services laws and regulations. He has extensive experience representing clients in matters before Congress, federal and state regulatory agencies, and state Attorneys General, and in connection with government investigations, enforcement actions, and private litigation involving claims such as false advertising or unfair and deceptive trade practices. Mr. Pompan previously served as in-house counsel at a large trade association and worked in federal government, including the U.S. House of Representatives and Federal Trade Commission.
Mr. Pompan received his J.D. from Washington University School of Law in 2001, and his B.A. from George Washington University in 1998.
Steven J. Schwarz, a member of Venable's Patent Prosecution practice in the Washington, DC office, focuses his practice on all aspects of intellectual property law, with a particular emphasis on patents. Mr. Schwarz has developed patent strategies and prosecuted patent applications in the mechanical, medical device, electro-mechanical, internet and related technologies. He has also counseled clients on issues of patentability, freedom to operate, and infringement. Mr. Schwarz also combines his patent prosecution and client counseling skills with his litigation experience to assist clients in establishing and managing patent portfolios.
Mr. Schwarz received his J.D. and M.I.P. from Franklin Pierce Law Center in 2000, and his B.S. from Lehigh University in 1997.
Winifred M. Weitsen, a Washington-based member of Venable's SEC and White Collar Defense practice, focuses on defending companies and corporate executives facing criminal investigations, as well as civil and regulatory government enforcement actions. She has represented clients in matters involving antitrust, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, health care and government contracts fraud, and securities regulation. Ms. Weitsen is experienced in conducting comprehensive internal investigations on behalf of corporate management, audit committees, and special committees of the board of directors, and counseling clients on compliance and internal control issues.
Ms. Weitsen serves as Vice Chair of the DRI Government Enforcement and Corporate Compliance Committee. She received her J.D., cum laude, from University of Dayton School of Law in 2000, and her B.A. from University of Michigan in 1990.
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Note: An American Lawyer top 100 law firm, Venable LLP has attorneys practicing in all areas of corporate and business law, complex litigation, intellectual property and government affairs. Venable serves corporate, institutional, governmental, nonprofit and individual clients throughout the U.S. and around the world from its headquarters in Washington, DC and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia.