FUNK & BOLTON - Key Persons
Ann is an accomplished attorney with over thirty years of experience as a transactional lawyer, where she has represented banks and other lenders with loans secured by commercial real estate and business assets, including negotiating and preparing loan documents, due diligence with respect to the borrower and its assets, especially real estate assets intended to serve as collateral, and related matters. Her practice is not limited to Maryland and Virginia where she is barred, as she has handled many transactions involving collateral located in other states, using local counsel as needed while achieving and maintaining continuity with the negotiated loan terms.
Ann also represents borrowers, owners, managers purchasers and sellers of commercial real properties, including multifamily, office, warehouse, retail and mixed use properties. She manages the acquisition, sale and financing of these properties, including negotiating and drafting purchase and sale agreements, title and survey analyses and other due diligence issues, and preparing deeds, assignments, bills of sale, and other conveyancing documents, all with the goal of consummating the transaction.
Ann has presented and been a panelist at and authored course materials for various symposia and continuing legal education programs, and has been a guest lecturer at George Mason University Center for Real Estate Entrepreneurship. She authored "Real Estate Workouts From the Lender's Perspective," The Practical Real Estate Lawyer, Vol. 27, No.4, 2011.
Ann graduated seventh in her class from T.C. Williams School of Law at the University of Richmond, and received her Bachelor of Arts cum laude from Concord University. Over her career she has been a partner at very large, medium sized and smaller law firms, and enjoys bringing her large firm expertise to her clients while providing a more personal and efficient focus to her clients' needs.
Job Titles:
- Government
- Government Relations Coordinator
Ash-Lynn Randolph is a Government Relations Coordinator in the Firm's Government Relations Practice Group. She joined Funk & Bolton, P.A. in 2025, bringing with her a strong background in Maryland politics and a deep commitment to public service.
Before joining the Firm, Ash-Lynn worked as a Legislative Aide to Senator Pamela Beidle, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, where she managed constituent services, legislative scheduling, and policy tracking. She has also gained experience supporting state-level policymaking and advocacy through roles with members of the Maryland General Assembly and through active involvement in a number of political campaigns across the state.
Ash-Lynn holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and is currently pursuing a Master's in Public Policy at UMBC, specializing in Public Management. She remains committed to fostering strong relationships between government, clients, and communities.
Job Titles:
- Firm As a Principal
- Principal / Public Affairs
Ben Groff joined the Firm as a Principal in our Public Affairs Practice Group in 2023. He is an experienced attorney and public affairs professional. He works to find a way to victory for diverse client interests and brings a strong track record of delivering for clients in the public policy, transportation, and clean tech fields, among others.
Committed to doing work that matters and taking on issues and clients that will be truly transformational for the community at large, Ben has comprehensive expertise and real-world skills leading political and issue campaigns. He has worked to build and nurture stakeholder engagement, and has nuanced understanding of, and expertise with, policy development and strategic communications. Within our team, he has a special focus on media production. His relationship-based, practical approach to communicating on an issue and finding tailored solutions has led to meaningful success for our clients.
Ben earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Paul Smith's College. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Firm 's Public Affairs Practice Group As Principal
- Principal Non - Attorney / Public Affairs
Ben Smith joined the Firm's Public Affairs Practice Group as Principal, Non-Attorney in 2023. He is a public affairs professional with extensive background and experience in the political arena and policy making spaces. Ben crafts creative and effective policy solutions for a wide range of clients. He builds media campaigns that convert complicated issues into cogent and persuasive messaging for policy makers and their constituents. His strengths also include campaign management, strategic planning and implementation, and stakeholder engagement.
Previously, Ben served as Executive Director of the Maryland Democratic Party, and his past political work includes managing a high-profile, competitive County Executive campaign to victory, as well as providing services for over two dozen elected officials at state and municipal levels. His advocacy campaign experience includes public health, government reform, clean energy, and economic justice issues.
Ben earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Maryland School of Law, and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Kentucky, where he graduated summa cum laude.
Bryan has over 40 years of complex civil litigation experience, including serving as lead trial counsel in multiple jury and bench trials in Federal and State court. Bryan represents and advises employers, insurers, corporations, welfare plans, retirement plans, broker-dealers, financial professionals, and individuals. He provides counsel in a wide array of matters, including ERISA actions, fiduciary advice, plan design, contract disputes, employment disputes, intellectual property, regulatory proceedings, arbitration, and other complex litigation.
Among his broad experience as a litigator, Bryan has represented:
A large property and casualty insurer in regulatory proceedings related to the insurance impact of climate change;
Health plans and insurers in ACA and ERISA related matters, including a surgery center, mental health, and managed care claims;
Disability insurers in state and federal court in connection with a wide variety of disability claims;
Life insurers in connection with millions of dollars of overseas death claims;
An employer in discharging employees starting a competing business with company documents and information;
A life insurer against claims by a national bank arising from lapse of life insurance coverage;
One of the largest intellectual property companies in the world in defending against claims by a national bank;
A local bank in connection with a wide-scale credit card fraud scheme involving millions of dollars;
Multiple parties in connection to interference with contracts and business relationships claims;
Multiple parties on contract related issues, including mediation and arbitration of contract matters; and
A wide array of parties in appellate proceedings, including appeals to the Maryland Supreme Court; appeals to the Second, Third, and Fourth Circuit Courts of Appeal; and amicus counsel in the Supreme Court of the United States.
Bryan has conducted jury trials in the United States District Courts for the Districts of Maryland, Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the District of Columbia, and the Circuit Courts for Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Cecil County, and Howard County, Maryland.
For over 40 years, David represented insurance companies and insurance trade associations before the Maryland Insurance Commissioner and the Maryland General Assembly. He also had an appellate litigation practice in federal and state courts on insurance regulatory matters and local government law. David co-founded Funk & Bolton in 1996, serving as our Chairman and Managing Principal until 2018.
In 1989, David was instrumental in creating the League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland, the state trade association for life and health insurance companies doing business in Maryland. For many years he also served as general counsel to the Local Government Insurance Trust, an insurance pool for counties and municipalities in Maryland. His knowledge and insight in these two areas created the foundation on which our Firm continues to grow.
Between 1990 and 1996, David served as debt policy counsel to the City of Baltimore. During this time, he helped to structure innovative financings, including the expansion of the Baltimore City Convention Center. In 1995, David chaired Prince George's County Debt Policy and Management Committee.
In 1994, Governor-Elect Parris N. Glendening asked David to chair the Transition Policy Group on Efficiency and Effectiveness in Government, which included transition oversight for the Maryland Insurance Administration. From 1995 to 1996, David chaired the Governor's Commission on Baltimore City Automobile Insurance Rate Reduction.
Don advises insurers, reinsurers, insurance brokers and administrators on regulatory, investment, transactional, governance, and international insurance business matters. He provides effective insight on insurance-related restructurings, mergers, acquisitions, reinsurance transactions, fronting arrangements, multi-state licensing projects, financial and market conduct examinations, insurance product development and approvals, surplus lines placements, affinity insurance programs, and captive and self-insurance arrangements. Don also is experienced in insurance run-offs and assisting insurers overcome regulatory issues regarding impaired assets. Trusted by his peers, Don has also been selected as an arbitrator in commercial insurance disputes.
With over 35 years of experience providing legal advice on insurance matters, Don's background reflects a blend of corporate and private practice. He served as general counsel to National Interstate Corp. (Nasdaq: NATL), Meritain Health, Inc., and Performax, Inc., as well as group general counsel to The St. Paul Companies' Global Specialty Underwriting segments, and group counsel to USF&G's Claim Legal National Coverage Program. In keeping with Funk & Bolton's tradition of providing creative and practical solutions, general counsel and financial professionals often look to Don for advice on corporate governance, insurance regulation, insurance company investments, and general insurance business issues.
Don is a perennial Top Crab cyclist in the MS Chesapeake Challenge century ride, a distinction given to the top fund raisers.
Don is the former and founding chairman and president of the Navy Youth Hockey Association in Annapolis.
Eric graduated summa cum laude from Tufts University in 1980 and received his law degree from Emory University School of Law in 1983, graduating in the top 20% of his class. After graduation, Eric served as a law clerk to the Honorable Joseph W. Hatchett of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit.
Eric co-heads the Creditors' Rights & Financial Transactions practice group at Funk & Bolton. He represents banks, finance companies, servicers, and other types of lenders on workouts, bankruptcies, foreclosures, and litigation in Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Eric has spent over 35 years of legal practice handling creditors' rights matters. His clients rely on his ability to design creative approaches to difficult credit situations.
At Funk & Bolton, Eric has expanded the Creditors' Rights & Financial Transactions practice group, developing close working relationships with financial institutions in Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Financial institutions trust Eric because he is extremely responsive to their legal needs and provides high-quality legal services in an extremely cost-effective manner.
Jim also assists insurance companies and other regulated entities with market conduct examinations, financial examinations, and other matters before insurance departments. Jim's clients trust him to navigate the insurance industry's ever-evolving regulatory complexities with confidence and strategic understanding.
Lee has practiced civil litigation since 1993. He represents businesses and individuals in a wide variety of matters in federal and state courts in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. His practice has a focus on complex commercial matters and business torts. He is experienced in the automotive, real estate, financial services, and health care industries, among others. Before joining Funk & Bolton, Lee practiced at a boutique litigation firm as well as at a prominent Maryland firm where he held positions that included Deputy Chair of the firm's litigation department and Chair of the Associate Development Committee.
Lee is an advocate who puts a premium on achieving a favorable result for clients in an efficient manner. He has represented clients in mediations, trials, arbitrations, and appeals involving:
Complex commercial litigation including contracts, fraud and other business torts, and shareholder/partnership disputes;
Insurance defense and coverage
Employment discrimination claims; and
Real estate litigation including landlord tenant and homeowners association matters
Lee is a former president of the Maryland Chapter of the Federal Bar Association. He also has been active in the American Bar Association's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section, having chaired its Trial Techniques Committee and Task Force on Outreach to Local and State Bars, among several other positions.
Luke Pinton joined Funk & Bolton, P.A. in November 2023 as an Associate and maintains a portfolio spanning both the Firm's government relations and legal practice groups. Luke specializes in work that lies at the crossroads of public policy and the law. His unique background and expertise position him perfectly to provide creative solutions for nuanced public policy objectives.
Prior to joining the Firm, Luke spent nearly a decade as staff to senior members of the Maryland State Senate, including seven years serving as Chief of Staff to Senator William C. Smith, Jr., Chairman of the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee. Luke was also a Legislative Aide to Congressman Jamie Raskin in his role as a State Senator.
Luke gained in-depth experience and understanding of the legislative and policy-making landscape in Maryland during these years and is able to apply this rare insider expertise to his current work. In his years within the Maryland General Assembly, Luke served as a strategic, public policy, and political advisor on several landmark enrolled bills, including: the Secure and Accessible Registration Act, the Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act, the Maryland Police Accountability Act package of 2021, Jaelynn's Law, the Reproductive Health Protection Act, and the Child Victims Act of 2023, among others.
Serving as Chief of Staff to a committee chair also provided Luke a comprehensive, intricate understanding of the committee process in the Maryland legislature as he worked on legislation across a broad range of interests and issues. Luke has built strong relationships in and around the Maryland General Assembly, including entities like the Maryland Courts' Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure.
Luke earned a Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland, College Park.
As a Principal Non-Attorney in the Firm's Government Relations Practice Group, Matt Celentano lobbies and provides outreach to Maryland government officials for a lengthy and diverse client list including the insurance industry and their policyholders, nonprofits, local governments, and other Fortune 100 companies and entities. Decades of experience across a variety of sectors, including a special focus in health care, have given Matt a deep and nuanced understanding of health care policy and financing.
In addition to communicating directly with legislators and their staff on pending legislation, Matt's health care policy expertise affords him access and input to a variety of stakeholders, legislators, and agencies like the Maryland Department of Health, including the Medicaid Advisory Committee; Health Services Cost Review Commission; and the Maryland Insurance Administration. He serves on numerous policy workgroups to ensure client interests are understood and considered by policymakers. He is the Executive Director of the State trade associations represented by the Firm, including The League of Life & Health Insurers of Maryland and the Alliance of Maryland Dental Plans.
Job Titles:
- Government Relations Specialist
Philemon Kendzierski is a Government Relations Specialist in the Firm's Government Relations Practice Group. He represents clients before the Maryland General Assembly and relevant state agencies. Philemon joined Funk & Bolton, P.A. in 2020 in an analyst role and has since built a portfolio of expertise on issues ranging from insurance, Paid Family & Medical Leave, and health care. Philemon also staffs and represents the League of Life & Health Insurers, Maryland's state trade association for the life and health insurance industry, as well as various other clients in the insurance space and beyond.
Prior to joining Funk & Bolton, Philemon had a variety of other political and government relations experiences, including interning with Congressman John Sarbanes, Delegate Jared Solomon, the Senator Ben Cardin campaign, and being a Federal Fellow at the University of Maryland. Most recently, Phil served on the staff of the Maryland Democratic Party.
Philemon has earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Principal Shareholder / Insurance
Scott's practice covers a broad spectrum of insurance litigation matters in the state and federal courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia, the Maryland Insurance Administration, and the Maryland Office of Administrative Hearings. In partnership with his clients, he meticulously and strategically defends and litigates life, health, and disability insurance claims (ERISA and non-ERISA) and handles administrative claims before insurance regulators. He also assists insurers with pursuing claims for rescission and interpleader.
Scott speaks and writes often on benefits and ERISA topics, and his specialized knowledge is an asset to both his clients and our Firm. He is an active member of DRI's Life, Health, and Disability Committee, previously serving as Committee Chair, Committee Vice Chair, and Program Chair of the 2017 DRI Life, Health, Disability, and ERISA Seminar. Selected as a 2011 and 2012 "Rising Star" in Employee Benefits/ERISA and a 2022 and 2023 "Super Lawyer" in Employee Benefits by Maryland Super Lawyers, Scott has also achieved an A/V® rating, the highest possible peer review rating for ethics and legal ability, from Martindale Hubbell®.
Scott also enjoys playing baseball, softball, and golf, and rooting for the Baltimore Orioles, Baltimore Ravens, and Tennessee Volunteers.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee