SILVERMAN THEOLOGOU - Key Persons
As an associate in Silverman Theologou's Maryland office, Mr. Poch handles a wide range of matters for our credit union clients. Specifically, Mr. Poch works with our credit union clients on the negotiation, litigation, and resolution of commercial and consumer debt disputes and related issues. Mr. Poch is admitted to practice before the Maryland state courts and is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association.
Mr. Poch earned his bachelors of arts in law and society at Hood College, Frederick, MD. He earned his juris doctorate at the University Park campus of the Dickenson School of Law of Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA.
As Of Counsel to Silverman Theologou, Ms. Theologou advises and assists on a wide range of matters, including bankruptcy, creditor's rights and commercial and consumer collections.
Since being admitted to practice law in 1999, she has successfully represented major corporations and financial institutions, including state and federally chartered credit unions and banks. Ms. Theologou possesses experience in all aspects of civil litigation, including mediation, arbitration, motions practice, pretrial and trial management, and post-judgment collections. She also represents creditors and secured lenders in bankruptcy proceedings and workouts.
Currently, Ms. Theologou serves as Managing Attorney of the Mid-Atlantic office of the law firm of McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC, where she handles a wide array of real estate foreclosure matters. Silverman Theologou, upon written client request, refers all real estate foreclosure matters to Ms. Theologou at McMichael Taylor Gray, LLC. Ms. Theologou can be reached by email at dtheologou@mtglaw.com and dtheologou@silvermanlegal.com.
Prior to joining Silverman Theologou LLP as an Associate, Ms. Theologou was a Managing Attorney with McCabe, Weisberg & Conway, LLC, a Mid-Atlantic foreclosure firm. Ms. Theologou also has extensive bankruptcy experience, including clerking for a bankruptcy judge, representing a Chapter 7 trustee, and representing creditors in both liquidation and reorganization cases.
She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the Virginia Bar Association and is admitted to practice before the courts in Maryland, Virginia, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Courts in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.
Ms. Theologou graduated from Northwest Missouri State University with a bachelor of science in public relations and received her juris doctorate from The University of Kansas School of Law. Ms. Theologou was a law clerk for judges in the State of Kansas Court of Appeals and U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Kansas.
Ms. Theologou is the recipient of the American Bankruptcy Institute Award of Excellence and is the former Treasurer and Secretary of the MSBA Bankruptcy Section. Ms. Theologou has been a Continuing Legal Education faculty member for numerous seminars.
Mr. Fontaine is admitted to practice in all state bankruptcy and federal district courts in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia. He is specially admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
While initially joining the firm in 200, Mr. Fontaine subsequently moved to California. Upon returning to the DC area, he rejoined the firm in 2009. In 2019, Mr. Fontaine moved to Kentucky, but continues to maintain his relationship as Of Counsel to Silverman Theologou.
Mr. Fontaine earned his bachelor of science in finance from the University of Maryland and his juris doctorate from the Pepperdine University School of Law.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner and Director of East Coast Operations
Douglas Blecki is a Partner and the Director of East Coast Operations at Silverman Theologou.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- General Counsel
- Managing Partner
Mr. Silverman, the managing partner and a founder of the law firm of Silverman Theologou, has concentrated his practice on business law; creditor's rights; consumer and commercial collections; and corporate and commercial litigation, throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania. He also represents individuals; start-up companies; large, closely held businesses; and public companies. His clients include federal credit unions, construction material suppliers, construction contractors, retailers, manufacturers, solid waste disposal companies, and information technology companies.
Mr. Silverman has handled a wide range of corporate and business matters and has advised management, business owners and purchasers of businesses on a variety of business issues including: contract preparation and negotiation; formation of corporations, partnerships and limited liability companies; organization, operation, acquisition and sale of business interests; and, when necessary, financial reorganization of businesses. Mr. Silverman has also handled a variety of commercial litigation matters related to commercial collections.
Mr. Silverman's nearly 40 years of experience in business, litigation, and commercial collections have also included the preparation of cases for court or arbitration throughout Maryland, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania, including filing lawsuits, mechanics liens, payment and performance bond claims, and pre-judgment and post-judgment attachments.
Mr. Silverman is general counsel and advisor to numerous businesses, and has served on the Board of Directors of the National Capital Area Arthritis Foundation, Intercom Communications Corporation, and Crius, Inc. He is a member and served as an Ambassador of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. He lectures on topics including business law, commercial law, construction law, commercial and consumer collections, and bankruptcy.
Prior to founding Silverman Theologou LLP, Mr. Silverman was managing partner at the law firm of Silverman & Associates, Chartered and an associate at the New York law firm of Ganz, Hollinger & Towe, P.C. Mr. Silverman is a member of the American Bar Association and Maryland State Bar Association. He is admitted to practice before the courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia, and at the U.S. District Courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Mr. Silverman is a graduate of the State University of New York at Albany and the Antioch School of Law.
As an Associate at Silverman Theologou's Maryland office, Mr. Gerohristodoulos advises credit union clients on a wide range of matters. Specifically, Mr. Gerohristodoulos works with our credit union clients on the negotiation, litigation, and resolution of commercial and consumer debt disputes and related issues. Mr. Gerohristodoulos is admitted to practice before the courts in Maryland, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Gerohristodoulos earned his bachelor of arts in psychology and philosophy at The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC. He earned his juris doctorate, including a business law concentration, at Suffolk University Law School, Boston, MA.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate and Director of Bankruptcy Operations
Mr. Ondeck is an Associate and the Director of Bankruptcy Operations at Silverman Theologou. Mr. Ondeck handles a wide range of bankruptcy-related matters, including proofs of claim, lift stays, and adversary proceedings for our credit union clients. Mr. Ondeck is admitted to practice before the courts in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Prior to joining Silverman Theologou, Mr. Ondeck worked as an Associate at Lusk Law, LLC, where he handled a wide range of legal issues for corporate clients, including debt collection, corporate formation and financing, contract negotiations, and litigation.
Mr. Ondeck, a life-long Maryland native and resident, earned his bachelor of science in finance from Salisbury University. While attending college, Mr. Ondeck completed an internship at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated. Upon graduation from Salisbury University, Mr. Ondeck began a career in business with Wells Fargo Financial Advisors, rising to manage two office locations specializing in financial and credit transactions.
Mr. Ondeck also attended and graduated from the University of Baltimore School of Law. As a law student, he completed a judicial internship for the Honorable William G. Simmons in the Montgomery County District Court of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Director of Law Firm Operations
Mr. Theologou is a partner, founder and the director of law firm operations of the law firm of Silverman Theologou.
Since being admitted to practice law in 1999, Mr. Theologou has concentrated on commercial litigation, creditor's rights, including commercial and consumer collections, and construction litigation. Mr. Theologou currently manages the law firm's day-to-day operations and the law firm's post-judgment department.
He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the DC Bar Association. Mr. Theologou is admitted to practice before the courts in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and The U.S. District Courts in Maryland and The District of Columbia. Mr. Theologou graduated Phi Beta Kappa from The University of Maryland, College Park, MD and received his juris doctorate from The University of Kansas School of Law.
As an Associate at Silverman Theologou's Maryland office, Mr. Dowling advises credit union clients on a wide range of matters. Specifically, Mr. Dowling works with our credit union clients on the negotiation, litigation, and resolution of commercial and consumer debt disputes and related issues. Mr. Dowling is admitted to practice law in Maryland and the District of Columbia.
Mr. Dowling earned his bachelor of science in management at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD. He earned his juris doctorate at the University of South Carolina School of Law, Columbia, SC. While in law school, Mr. Dowling served as a judicial intern for the Honorable J. Michelle Childs in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina.
Job Titles:
- Partner & Director of West Coast Operations
Mr. Stelmach is Partner and Director of West Coast Operations of Silverman Theologou. Mr. Stelmach handles a wide range of matters for our credit union and construction material supply clients in our California office. His work for these clients focuses on the negotiation and resolution of consumer debt disputes, secured commercial debt disputes, and the filing of mechanic's lien and payment bond claims. Additionally, Mr. Stelmach also has experience navigating clients through various bankruptcy matters and issues.
Prior to joining Silverman Theologou as Of Counsel, Mr. Stelmach worked as an associate attorney at Gordon & Gordon, APLC and The Law Offices of Shai Oved, where he primarily handled cases involving business law, commercial litigation, and bankruptcy. His practice included representing individual and commercial clients in business disputes and commercial litigation matters in Los Angeles and throughout California. These matters involved a wide variety of legal areas including employment, real estate, civil rights, and business law.
Mr. Stelmach also served as a clerk for the Hardcore Gang Division of the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office and as a clerk in the no-fault litigation practice area of Levine & Blit LLP.
Mr. Stelmach received his bachelor of science in business administration from San Jose State University and holds a juris doctorate from Southwestern Law School. Mr. Stelmach is admitted to practice before the California and Washington state courts, the US District courts in the Central District of California, and is a member of the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, Los Angeles County Bar Association, and the Central District Consumer Bankruptcy Attorney Association.
At Silverman Theologou, Ms. Schell advises credit union clients on a wide range of matters. Specifically, Ms. Schell manages the litigation of claims in Northern Virginia for the firm. Ms. Schell is admitted to practice before the courts in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Ms. Schell earned her bachelor of science in legal studies from the University of New Haven, West Haven, CT. She earned her juris doctorate from the University of Virginia School of Law, Charlottesville, VA. While attending law school, Ms. Schell interned with the Office of the Attorney General of Virginia in the Debt Collection Division.
Prior to joining Silverman Theologou LLP, Ms. Schell was an Associate with Family Law Group (f/k/a Northern Virginia Law, PC) in Prince William County, VA, specializing in the negotiation and litigation of family law matters in numerous Northern Virginia courts.