CHASENBOSCOLO - Key Persons
Ashley Strandjord began working at a family friend's law firm when she was 16. Through observing and learning the processes of trials, depositions and other facets of the law, she quickly fell in love with all aspects of litigation and decided she wanted to help people navigate the legal system.
Ashley earned her bachelor's degree in business administration at Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. She went on to attend Western Michigan University Cooley Law School in Michigan, where she earned her Juris Doctor, and she joined CHASENBOSCOLO in 2017.
Ashley previously represented New York State and its agencies as a volunteer Assistant Attorney General on a wide variety of state and federal matters. Most rewarding, however, was her experience performing pro bono wills and estates for cancer patients.
Her commitment to service extends outside of the office through community volunteer work as a member of the D.C. area chapter of Delta Phi Epsilon's alumnae association. In her free time, you can find Ashley hiking around the greater D.C. area, exploring national parks with her family, perusing secondhand bookstores and visiting local pick-your-own orchards.
Barry Chasen started the firm in 1986 with one employee-his secretary. In 1987, Benjamin Boscolo joined the firm and Tom Teodori followed in 1987. Ultimately, Ben and Tom became co-owners of the firm and together they have worked hard to expand the firm. After more than 30 years in business, ChasenBoscolo employs a large team of experienced lawyers and legal professionals. Barry takes pride in the fact that the attorneys at ChasenBoscolo represent the underdog. It is part of Barry's core values, and a firm value, to provide the firm's clients the very best legal representation regardless of their ability to pay.
Barry has been practicing law for more than 39 years and has tried hundreds of cases before juries in state and federal courts in Maryland, resulting in several reported decisions from the Maryland Court of Special Appeals and Court of Appeals. Barry's main practice areas are workers' compensation and personal injury. He has tried thousands of cases before the Maryland Workers' Compensation Commission. In addition to his work at the firm, Barry has lectured on workers' compensation law for numerous professional associations.
Barry came from a family of modest means. He attended college and law school at night and worked during the day to support himself. In 1968, Barry's education was interrupted when he was drafted into the Army. He attended Officer Candidate School and was commissioned as second lieutenant. Barry served as a military intelligence officer in Vietnam where he was twice awarded the Bronze Star. Before and after his military service, Barry worked for the Social Security Administration, where he held a variety of jobs, his first as a file clerk with an annual salary of $3,680.
Outside of work, Barry enjoys playing tennis and loves spending time with his family. He has been married to his wife for more than 40 years. He has three sons and three grandchildren. Barry's desire to help the underdog continues into his personal life. He and his wife have a passion for education and have endowed several scholarships enabling many students to attend college. Having obtained his undergraduate and law degrees by attending night school, Barry is committed to helping nontraditional students, like himself, reach their dreams. He and his wife also support feeding people in a very big way through Jose Andres' World Central Kitchen and So Others May Eat (SOME)
Ask Barry: Q: What is unique about CHASENBOSCOLO? A: We practice law in a very ethical, honest and straightforward way. When we give our word, people can "take it to the bank." We've earned that reputation in the community, one client at a time.Education
Barry M. Chasen started CHASENBOSCOLO nearly four decades ago with one simple guiding principle: Take Care of the Clients. This is the rule that still guides our work to this day. We recognize the uniqueness of each case we take on, but we still treat every one of our clients like they are family, and we take care of them every step of the way.
While Ben's clients remain the focus of his professional life, the single most important thing to him is family. Ben is married and has three children. He is most thankful for the time he gets to spend with his wife and children. One of the happiest of days in his life was when his wife Shari joined the CHASENBOSCOLO family as a trial lawyer.
John Everett's reason for becoming a lawyer is simple: he wanted to change people's lives. John often meets clients after a particularly traumatic incident when they are struggling through pain and dark days. He is forever grateful for the incredible opportunity to help others, turn their lives around and create positive change.
One of John's proudest moments as an attorney came when he represented a foster mother who was injured by her foster child and had her right leg amputated. The foster mother had a previous attorney who had lost a case for her and the amputation case was rejected by several other attorneys. John's persistence and faith in his client helped him get the justice and compensation that she deserved.
After graduating from Boston College with a Bachelor of Science degree in finance, John received his Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in Baltimore.
A Baltimore native, John cheers for the Ravens and Orioles and enjoys spending time with his wife, three daughters and two golden retrievers.
John T. Everett obtained a $2,250,000 personal injury settlement for a client who was driving his work vehicle when another driver crashed into his ba… Read More
Kevin Stillman strives to serve as a guardian for his clients when they've been injured by other people's actions. His love of helping others and crafting language inspired him to become an attorney.
Kevin earned a Bachelor of Arts degree, magna cum laude, in international affairs from The George Washington University and a Juris Doctor from The George Washington University Law School. His proudest accomplishment as an attorney was arguing and winning a case in the Maryland Court of Appeals.
He moved to the Washington, D.C., area in 2001 and has lived here ever since. When he's not working hard on behalf of his clients, Kevin enjoys trivia, cheering for the Atlanta Braves and spending time with his two Pugs, Flynn and Chewie.
Krista DeSmyter's desire to become an attorney began in middle school when she studied the Civil Rights Movement and decided she wanted to make an impact on social justice issues. A 2011 addition to the CHASENBOSCOLO team, Krista is passionate about protecting the livelihood of individuals and their families when they face difficult times.
She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and business administration from Hillsdale College in Hillsdale, Michigan, and she served as a captain for the school's NCAA Division II track and field team. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, magna cum laude, and was an editor and published author of the Law Review.
In her free time, Krista enjoys spending time with her husband and son, working out, playing basketball and watching sports, especially football and basketball.
Matthew Peffer has been practicing law at CHASENBOSCOLO since 1997. A native of Leesport, Pennsylvania, he concentrates his practice on District of Columbia workers' compensation cases. He has successfully tried thousands of cases before the Washington, D.C., Workers' Compensation Commission and won numerous cases before the District of Columbia Court of Appeals.
Education
1993 - B.A., University of Pittsburgh
1997 - J. D., Thomas M. Cooley Law School
Michael Reiter has always been intrigued by the law, but it was his father, who is also a lawyer, who inspired him to pursue a career in the legal field.
Mike is passionate about giving underdogs a voice against big corporations. He believes that a personal injury lawyer's role is to help make their community a safer place and to ultimately protect their clients' rights. Michael loves going to bat for his clients and fighting for them at trial, and he has done so countless times throughout his career. It means a lot to Mike to fight for the little guy. He has frequently had the opportunity to fight for clients who have had life-changing injuries through no fault of their own. Mike enjoys helping them not only on their legal cases, but he also strives to be there for them as a person through challenging times and to ultimately help them achieve closure.
Monique Lee became aware of injustices in the world while growing up in Baltimore City. But it was a middle school teacher's comments about Monique's passion for helping others that pushed her to pursue a career in law.
She attended Coppin State University in Baltimore and received her Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in criminal justice. She went on to earn her Juris Doctor, cum laude, from Western Michigan University Thomas M. Cooley Law School. Monique has practiced law for 10 years, and she enjoys protecting her clients and being a voice for people who don't otherwise have one.
Monique's proudest accomplishment as an attorney was when she received a favorable result for a client in a major Social Security disability case early on in her career. The case required years of persistence on her part. It went all the way to Federal Court and was even featured in the Baltimore Sun.
A Baltimore native, Monique is a die-hard sports fan and loves the Baltimore Orioles, but she also cheers on the Miami Heat and the Dallas Cowboys.