Attorney Profiles

HOWARD N. BIERMAN - Lafayette College (B.A.1986); George Washington University, National Law Center (J.D. 1989); Mr. Bierman is uniquely qualified to represent and advise mortgage lenders on the spectrum of issues that arise throughout the mortgage lending and foreclosure process. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Massachusetts, and frequently appears on behalf of mortgage lenders in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts in all three local jurisdictions. He holds Virginia and Maryland Property and Casualty insurance licenses and, thus, is particularly able to counsel his clients on applicable insurance issues. In addition, Mr. Bierman is a licensed real estate broker in Maryland and D.C. and therefore can provide both insight and access with regard to the local real estate market to REO departments. He is experienced in all facets of commercial and residential loan transactions including drafting loan documents, conducting settlements, and creating workout/debt-restructuring agreements. In addition, Mr. Bierman is actively involved in the local community. He is a past Vice President of the Board of Directors of Northern Virginia Family Services, the largest non-profit human services agency in Northern Virginia, and he volunteers and served on the Board of Directors of Horton's Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization providing tutoring and mentoring services to children who live in public housing developments in Washington, D.C.

JACOB GEESING - University of Oklahoma (B.A.); George Washington University, National Law Center (J.D.); In addition to years of experience overseeing a high volume foreclosure practice, Mr. Geesing has extensive litigation experience in all areas of mortgage lending law. He regularly represents mortgage lenders in all local bankruptcy, state, federal and appellate courts. Mr. Geesing briefed and argued two landmark Maryland mortgage lending cases, Island Financial, Inc. v. Ballman, 607 A.2nd 76 (Md. App. 1992), and Drew v. First Guaranty Mortgage Corp., 379 Md. 318 (2003). Mr. Geesing has defended lenders in many adversary proceedings in bankruptcy courts, and has litigated claims involving a wide variety of theories of lender liability including, for example, claims made by borrowers under TILA, HOEPA, the FDCPA and a host of local consumer protection statutes. Mr. Geesing is a former Vice Chair of the Real Property Transactions Committee of the District of Columbia Bar.

CARRIE M. WARD - State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany (B.S. 1990); The American University, Washington College of Law (J.D. 1993); Ms. Ward has represented mortgage lenders and servicers in the mortgage debt collection process including loss mitigation, foreclosure, bankruptcy, eviction and REO settlements for her entire legal career. She is licensed to practice in the State of Maryland and District of Columbia. She combines her knowledge of mortgage lending law with her trial advocacy skills competently representing the firms’ clients in state, appellate and federal courts. Having been counsel to local mortgage companies in the State of Maryland, Ms. Ward understands the nuances of lender compliance with local rules as well as compliance with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Home Ownership Equity Protection Act and Truth in Lending Act and actively counsels the firm’s clients on regulatory and compliance matters. She is a member of the Mortgage Banker‘s Association of America, National Association of Professional Mortgage Women, State of Maryland Bar Association, and District of Columbia Bar Association. She was the Secretary of the National Foreclosure Professionals (NFP) in 2003 and 2004. Presently, Ms. Ward is the Chair of the Education Committee of the American Legal and Financial Network (AFN) and is the attorney liaison to the AFN Servicer Advisory Board.

MATTHEW D. COHEN - Lehigh University (B.A. 2000); George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 2005). Mr. Cohen is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and litigates claims arising out of all aspects of the foreclosure process as well as mortgage lending law. Mr. Cohen holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from Lehigh University; worked as an accountant for two years; and was Executive Editor of the Civil Rights Law Journal at George Mason University School of Law.

STEPHANIE R. MONTGOMERY - North Carolina A&T State University (B.A 1993); North Carolina Central University School of Law (J.D. 1997). Ms. Montgomery is licensed to practice law in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and North Carolina, and manages the Title Curative Department. Ms. Montgomery has been the UCC Counsel for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and has managed the Pre-closing Department at a title company in Maryland for three years. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the North Carolina State Bar Association.

KEVIN R. FEIG - State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany (B.S.1990); Albany Law School (J.D. 1997); Mr. Feig is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the State of New York. He primarily focuses on creditors rights in bankruptcy proceedings. Prior to joining the firm, his practice concentrated on finding solutions for consumer financial problems and bankruptcy law matters, he also practiced in the areas of real estate settlements and transactions; debtor/creditor law; real estate workouts and reorganizations.

DARINE K. TABBARA - Ms. Tabbara is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia. She is the supervising attorney of the firm's Bankruptcy Department, where her primary focus is on creditors' rights in all aspects of bankruptcy proceedings. She has expertise in substantive and procedural bankruptcy matters, and has represented clients in all facets of the Bankruptcy Code in Chapter 7, 11 and 13 cases. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Tabbara was an associate in a bankruptcy boutique law firm where she practiced debtor/creditor law and financial restructuring and reorganizations.

MARK GALBRAITH - University of Minnesota (B.A. 1984); George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 1992). Mr. Galbraith is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia.  He uses his extensive experience in commercial and residential loan transactions, real estate settlements, landlord/ tenant law, estates and trusts, and property management to serve clients in pre-sale or post-sale issue resolution, foreclosure sale compliance, clouds on title, bankruptcy, and property conveyance.   Mr. Galbraith has litigated on behalf of creditors and debtors in all three jurisdictions, and is practiced at delivering real-world solutions to difficult and unusual problems arising from financial distress.

DAVID EASWARAN - The University of Rochester (B.S. 2004); The Ohio State University (J.D. 2007); Mr. Easwaran is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia.  His primary focus is on handling post sale Virginia accounting matters.

KYLE BLACKSTONE - The University of Michigan (B.A. 1997); University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D. 2004); Mr. Blackstone is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland. His primary focus is on handling foreclosures in the state of Maryland. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Blackstone worked as a real estate settlement attorney and title insurance underwriter at a title company in Montgomery County, Maryland.