Washington, D.C., (January  23, 2007)—Venable LLP is pleased to announce that 17 of the firm's attorneys have been elected to partnership status: Theodore W. Atkinson, Harry I. Atlas, Jennifer J. Bruton, Darek S. Bushnaq, Stephanie L. DeLong, James P. Dvorak, Jr., Terry L. Elling, Edward S. Evans, III, Christina Lee Gaarder, Jeffri A. Kaminski, Michael A. Leber, Norman Lencz, Rebecca Goldsmith Lombard, Gregory J. Ossi, Andrew D. Price, Lisa A. Tavares, and David R. Warner.  The promotions were effective January 2, 2007. 

“Each of these lawyers has demonstrated professional excellence, dedicated client service, and commitment to the firm and the communities in which we work,” said Karl A. Racine, managing partner.  “We look forward to their continued success as Venable partners.”

Theodore W. Atkinson, a member of the firm’s Advertising, Marketing, and New Media Group, focuses his practice on litigating matters for advertising and marketing clients.  Mr. Atkinson received his J.D. from William & Mary’s Marshall-Wythe School of Law (1995) and his B.S. from Old Dominion University (1992).  He is a resident of Venable’s Washington office.

Harry I. Atlas, a member of the firm's Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation Group, focuses his practice on tax-deferred retirement plans, executive compensation, mergers and acquisitions, and Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation matters.  Mr. Atlas received his J.D. from the University of Maryland (1997) and his B.T.O. from Ner Israel Rabbinical College (1994).  He is a resident of Venable’s Baltimore and Washington, D.C. offices. 

Jennifer J. Bruton, a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group, focuses her practice in commercial real estate acquisition, disposition, finance, development, and leasing.  She has significant experience in capital formation for real estate transactions, including joint ventures, mezzanine financing, commercial loans, and securitized financing transactions.  Ms. Bruton received her J.D. from Wake Forest University (1997) and her B.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1993). She is a resident of Venable’s Washington office.

Darek S. Bushnaq, a member of the firm’s Business Division, focuses his practice on bankruptcy, creditors’ rights, and financial services law.  Mr. Bushnaq received his J.D. from Washington and Lee University (1997), his M.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1994), and his B.A. from Grinnell College (1990).  He is a resident of Venable’s Baltimore office. 

Stephanie L. DeLong, a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group, focuses her practice on real estate finance acquisitions, development, and securitization. Ms. DeLong works extensively with Fannie Mae on their commercial mortgage-backed securities product lines. Prior to becoming an attorney, Ms. DeLong worked for The JBG Companies, a local developer. Ms. DeLong received her J.D. from George Washington University (1999) and her B.A. from the University of California at Santa Barbara (1993). She is a resident of Venable’s Washington office.

James P. Dvorak, Jr., a member of the firm’s Business Division, focuses his practice onequity and debt securities, business entities, mergers and acquisitions, federal securities laws, and general corporate matters.  Mr. Dvorak received his J.D. from the University of Virginia (1997).  His M.A. (1991) and B.A. (1990) are also from the University of Virginia.  He is a resident in Venable’s Tysons Corner, Va. office. 

Terry L. Elling, a member of the firm’s Government Contracts Group, focuses his practice on government contract matters including claims, bid protests, procurement fraud, prime contractor-subcontractor disputes, and international government contracting issues.  Mr. Elling received his LL.M. from the U.S. Army’s Judge Advocate General’s School (1991).  His J.D. (1982) and B.A. (1979) are from the University of Illinois.  He is a resident of Venable’s Washington office. 

Edward S. Evans, III, a member of the firm’s Real Estate Group, focuses his practice on complex matters such as the acquisition, sale, financing, leasing, and management of real property. Mr. Evans received his J.D. from the University of Baltimore (1997) and his B.S. from the University of Delaware (1994). He is a resident of Venable's Baltimore office. 

Christina Lee Gaarder, a member of the firm’s Product Liability and Toxic Torts Group, focuses her practice on pharmaceutical, automotive, general products liability, and commercial litigation.  Ms. Gaarder received her J.D. from the University of Virginia (1995) and her B.S. from Duke University (1992).  She is a resident of Venable’s Baltimore office.

Jeffri A. Kaminski, a member of the firm’s Patent Prosecution Group, focuses his practice on resolving intellectual property issues in the computer hardware, software, Internet, wireless, and telecommunications fields.  Mr. Kaminski received his J.D. from Ohio Northern University (1996) and his B.S.E.E. from the University of Pittsburgh (1992).   He is a resident of Venable’s Washington office. 

Michael A. Leber, a member of the firm's Business Transactions Group,practices corporate and securities law, with a particular focus on Maryland corporation law as it relates to real estate investment trusts (REITs),mutual funds and other registered investment companies, and business development companies.  Mr. Leber received his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania (1997), his M.A.in economics from Duke University (1993), and his A.B. from Bowdoin College (1992).  He is a resident of Venable’s Baltimore office. 

Norman Lencz, a member of the firm's Business Division, focuses his practice on a broad range of international, federal, state, and local tax matters. He advises clients on taxissues relating to corporations, partnerships, limited liability companies, joint ventures, REITs and RICs; tax-free and taxable mergers, acquisitions and spin-offs; compensation planning; installment sales and like-kind exchanges; and real estate development and investment.  Mr. Lencz received his J.D. from Columbia University (1995) and his B.S. from the University of Maryland (1990).  He is a resident of Venable’s Baltimore office.

Rebecca Goldsmith Lombard, a member of the firm's Intellectual Property Litigation Group, focuses her practice on FDA regulatory and antitrust litigation proceedings.  Ms. Goldsmith Lombard received her J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law (1997) and her B.A. from Brandeis University (1993).  She is a resident of Venable's Washington office. 

Gregory J. Ossi, a member of the firm’s Labor and Employment Group, focuses his practice on all aspects of labor and employee benefits law. Mr. Ossi received his J.D. from Catholic University (1997), his M.S. from the University of Virginia (1991), and his B.S. from Washington and Lee University (1990).  He is a resident of Venable's Tysons Corner, Va. office.

Andrew D. Price, a member of the Trademark, Copyright, and Licensing Group, has an international practice focused on searching, registering, and policing brand names, logos, slogans, and trade dress – the look of products and packaging. He devotes much of his time to global trademark strategy and large portfolio management, and counseling clients on the Madrid system for the international registration of marks. Mr. Price received his J.D. from Southern Methodist University (1996) and his B.A. from Vanderbilt University (1991). He is a resident of Venable's Washington, DC office.

Lisa A. Tavares, a member of the Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation group, focuses her practice on the design and implementation of qualified retirement, health, welfare, and executive compensation plans.  Ms. Tavares received her LL.M. from Georgetown University (2002), her J.D. from Boston College (1995), and her B.A. from Spelman College (1990).  She is a resident of Venable's Washington office. 

David R. Warner, a member of the Labor and Employment Group, focuses his practice on complex labor and employment litigation and counseling,representing both private and public sector clients.  Mr. Warner received his J.D. (1996) and B.A. (1993) from Georgetown University.  He is a resident of Venable's Washington office. 

Please let us know if you would like to speak with any of the new partners.  Photos of each are available on request.

One of the American Lawyer’s top 100 law firms, 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, D.C. and offices in California, Maryland, New York and Virginia.