1/4/2019: F&P Announces 2019 Attorney Promotions

Franklin & Prokopik would like to celebrate 2019 by recognizing attorneys who have been promoted to either principal or counsel. These people have demonstrated to be both astute and discerning in the courtroom as well as with their peers at F&P. In addition, they have earned honors within the legal community. Join us in congratulating these members of the F&P team and thanking them for their hard work and devotion to the firm.

F&P’s new principals and counsel are:

Lindsey Lewis, principal, Richmond

John Archibald, counsel, Baltimore

Nirav Patel, counsel, Herndon

1/2/2019: Bert Randall to Speak at the MACo Winter Conference

F&P principal Bert Randall is slated to speak at the Maryland Association of Counties (MACo) Winter Conference,”Charting the Course.” The conference will be held January 2-4, 2019 at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Md. Bert will be speaking on January 3 at 2:00pm during the “When Green Fades to Gray: Workplace Standards in the Cannabis Era” session.  Specifically, he will provide an overview on the national landscape of laws and regulations, advice on county workers’ comp, and termination policies and practices based on case law.

The MACo conference focuses on policies and issues facing Maryland at the start of a new legislative session. Topics will also address how various county governments work and will assist newly elected officials at all levels become up-to-date with local government needs.

For more information regarding MACo, please visit their website at http://www.mdcounties.org/.

 

12/27/2018: Lynn Fitzpatrick Receives Workers’ Comp Honor

Lynn McHale Fitzpatrick, a principal in F&P’s Herndon office, has received the distinction of being elected to the Fellows of the College of Workers’ Compensation Lawyers class of 2019. The college honors attorneys, in the field of workers’ compensation, who have been practicing 20 years or longer, and are nominated based on “the highest professional qualifications and ethical standards, character, integrity, professional expertise and leadership.” In addition to this, an attorney has also written and/or lectured on the topic of workers’ compensation and has shown to be a scholar in the field.

The annual induction dinner will be held at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables, FL on March 16, 2019 following the Workers’ Compensation Midwinter Meeting and the College of Worker’s Compensation Lawyers (CWCL) Symposium. For more information about the CWCL visit http://www.cwclawyers.org/.

11/30/2018: Gone But Not Forgotten – F&P Commemorates Bob Franklin

Last Friday, November 23, commemorated five years since the passing of Robert (Bob) T. Franklin.  Bob practiced law for three decades and was a founding partner of Franklin & Prokopik, P.C.  His legal expertise was wide-ranging and spanned personal injury and workers’ compensation defense to trucking and transportation.  He created F&P’s 24-hour response team that handles the investigation of trucking accidents and caring for the driver. Bob had served as general counsel to the Maryland Motor Truck Association, Restaurant Association of Maryland and the Towing and Recovery Professionals of Maryland.  His devotion to his work and inner drive propelled him to the top of his industry as a recognized leader, especially in transportation law.   Bob was also a much-in-demand speaker and was the author of many legal articles.

A friend and colleague, Bob’s presence is greatly missed at F&P every day.  Rather than looking back with sadness, we honor his legacy by remembering all the good times that were shared.  We know that is what he would have wanted.

 

11/16/2018: F&P Partners with the Baltimore Claims Associations for Toys for Tots

This holiday season, F&P is once again partnering with the Baltimore Claims Association and participating in Toys for Tots. The program was started in 1947 by Marine Corps Reserve Major Bill Hendricks when his wife wanted to donate a doll to a child during the holiday season and discovered there were no existing groups or organizations able to assist.  The mission of the program “is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.”  Last year, Toys for Tots distributed more than 18 million toys to 7 million children throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.

We are accepting voluntary donations until December 5. The drop boxes are located in the reception area on the 6th floor. Please see below for guidelines regarding donations:

  • All toys should be brand new and unwrapped.
  • Toys for Tots does not accept realistic looking weapons, gifts with food or stuffed animals. If donated, such items will NOT be distributed.
  • Suggested items for pre-teen/teen groups include: (If this is the category you wish to donate to) sporting equipment/bags/balls; books, backpacks, cosmetics, purses, watch/wallet gift sets, bath gift sets, board games, radio control cars/trucks, hand-held electronics, skateboards/helmets, curling irons, hair straighteners, and hair dryers.

Giving back to the community is a core value at F&P, and we are proud to participate in this endeavor.

If you would like more information about Toys for Tots and its mission, please visit www.ToysforTots.org.
Visit our Corporate Social Responsibility page to learn more about the organizations and programs F&P supports.

11/8/2018: Bert Randall to Speak at Roetzel’s Executive & Corporate Counsel Forum

Franklin & Prokopik principal, Bert Randall, is slated to speak on November 15 at Roetzel’s Executive & Corporate Counsel Forum in Cleveland, Ohio. He will be speaking on medical marijuana in a session titled, “The Grass Isn’t Always Greener – Medical Marijuana at Work.” The full-day program offers “legal updates, case studies and panel discussions.”

This networking event unites the Ohio business and corporate counsel communities as well as having leaders from a variety of industries represented. For more information regarding this event, please visit Roetzel’s website at .https://www.ralaw.com/media/events/executive-corporate-counsel-forum-2018-2018-11-15/.

 

11/1/2018: Franklin & Prokopik Receives Ranking in U.S. News 2019 “Best Law Firms”

Franklin & Prokopik is proud to announce that we have received a ranking in the 2019 Edition of U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Best Law Firms.”  The firm is ranked in the Baltimore Metropolitan Tier 1 for Workers’ Compensation Law and the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Tier 3, also for Workers’ Compensation Law. To be eligible for a ranking, nominees must have at least one lawyer recognized on the Best Lawyers in America list. Principals Bert Randall and Lynn Fitzpatrick, of the Baltimore and Herndon offices respectively, were each awarded the Best Lawyers distinction in Workers’ Compensation for 2018-2019.  Bert was also recognized for Employment Law in 2019.

The “Best Law Firms” rankings are based on a combination of client feedback, information provided on the Law Firm Survey, the Law Firm Leaders Survey, and Best Lawyers peer review.

 

 

 

 

10/25/2018: F&P Principals Randall and Goorevitz Present at USLAW Retail & Hospitality Exchange

F&P principals Bert Randall and Tamara Goorevitz presented at the USLAW Network Retail & Hospitality Exchange last Tuesday, October 23, in Chicago, Il.  Bert’s topic was “Managing Risk When Your Employee is the Aggressor” and Tamara’s was “Transportation Claims are Not Just for the Trucking Industry.”

The Retail & Hospitality Exchange is a highly interactive educational program that is specifically designed for corporate counsel, litigation managers, risk professionals and claims personnel to engage in dialogue with USLAW member attorneys and outside experts from a cross-section of jurisdictions, to focus on trending retail legal issues.  Attendees and industry stakeholders participate in roundtables, coming together for topic-specific discussions to learn more about the critical legal issues facing the industry.

10/15/2018: F&P Welcomes Six New Attorneys in Fall 2018

Franklin & Prokopik is proud to announce that six new attorneys have joined the firm this fall – four associates and one counsel in our Baltimore office and one associate in our Richmond office.

Simone Williams joins the Richmond office and will concentrate her practice in liability defense and trucking and transportation. Prior to F&P, Simone worked at a personal injury firm, handling wrongful death claims, automobile and trucking accidents and excessive force claims.

A former F&P employee, Natalie Johnson, has rejoined the firm as an associate concentrating in workers’ compensation and employers’ liability. She previously worked in our Baltimore office as a paralegal for five years before attending law school.

Adam Shareef  is adding to the firm’s liability defense and trucking and transportation team.  Adam previously served as a judicial clerk for the Maryland Court of Appeals and has experience working on cases involving toxic torts, asbestosis defense and personal injury.

Ali Manzoor comes to us as an associate attorney from McCabe, Weisberg & Conway. He concentrates his practice in liability defense and trucking and transportation. He has also served as corporate counsel for the Allegis Group.

Marni Sperling also joins the F&P liability team concentrating on liability defense and trucking and transportation. Prior to F&P, Marni served as a judicial law clerk in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County.

Timothy Coffman is counsel at F&P and brings 28 years of legal experience, concentrating his practice in workers’ compensation and employers’ liability. Before joining F&P, Tim was the senior associate at the Law Offices of Henry Holzman and Associates. He has additional experience in personal injury, social security and family law.