DOLINA HOBBS LAW - Key Persons
Andy Gross is an experienced litigator who joined the firm in 2017 to focus on personal injury, workers compensation, employment and business litigation. Prior to joining Bodie, Dolina, Hobbs, Friddell and Grenzer, Andy spent almost 8 years with the United States Army's Judge Advocate General's Corps.
Andy is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and St. Mary's College of Maryland. Andy spent his early career in the Army assisting Soldiers and their families before going on to be a prosecutor with the prestigious 82d Airborne Division. He was then selected to become a defense attorney, and tried nearly three dozen courts-martial and fifty administrative boards in less than two years, securing great results in difficult cases where the odds were stacked against his clients. He was then selected to be the Deputy General Counsel to the largest military medical facility in the Pacific Rim. After his tour at the hospital, he was then appointed the Chief of Military Justice at Aberdeen Proving Ground, a rarity for a Captain, and appointed as a Special Assistant United States Attorney.
He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, Baltimore County Bar Association, and the Maryland Association for Justice.
When he isn't working hard for his clients, he enjoys spending time with his family, traveling, running, lifting weights, paddle boarding, and brewing beer.
Ms. Silverstein joined the firm in March 2014. Her primary focus is family law, covering divorce and separation, child custody, child support, financial issues related to divorce and other family matters. She advocates for the clients she represents, and guides them through the extensive and complex legal process. While a divorce can be a very emotional and distressing time, leaving the client to feel as though their family is falling apart, Ms. Silverstein provides level headed support to get them through it. Her clients have confidence in the knowledge that she fully represents their best interests.
Ms. Hertrich's primary focus is Guardianships and Estate Administration. She assists the attorneys in all aspects of Guardianships for a Person or Property. She carefully drafts petitions to the Court and manages the accounting for the Guardianship. This includes maintaining accounts and paying any bills from those accounts. She also helps the attorneys with any medical and/or health needs that may arise, so that the client is properly cared for.
Although it may be a difficult time for many clients, Ms. Hertrich assists with the tasks that are a vital part of the estate administration process. She works closely with each client to open the estate, guiding them through the final stages in order to close the estate. The most important task of administering the estate is handling the complex financial matters, which includes reviewing any financial portfolios to close out all open accounts for the estate, contacting companies to resolve unpaid debts, working with accountants for estate taxes, and making distributions to the beneficiaries. Ms. Hertrich is thorough, persistent, and able to finish estates very quickly. Her knowledge and willingness to do anything makes her an important part of our team.
Mr. Hobbs manages the estate planning, estate and trust administration, tax, and bankruptcy departments of the firm. He regularly advises clients regarding the establishment of business entities, including corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. He represents businesses and individuals in estate planning and business continuation issues, as well as representing individuals and businesses in bankruptcy and credit workout situations. In addition, he is a recognized title agent for Chicago Title Company, and is also a certified mediator for the Orphans' Court for Baltimore County.
Mr. Hobbs graduated from the University of Baltimore in 1987, receiving a Juris Doctorate Degree and was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1987 and the District of Columbia Bar in 1988. Mr. Hobbs also received an LLM Degree in Taxation from the University of Baltimore in December of 2003.
From 1990 to 2003, Mr. Hobbs was a member of the faculty of Stevenson University (formerly Villa Julie College) in the Paralegal Department. He has lectured at seminars sponsored by the National Business Institute and has been a guest speaker at numerous educational events sponsored by accountants and financial planners in and around Baltimore. Mr. Hobbs frequently appears as a guest on the Savvi Investor radio and television series.
He received the 10-year pro bono award from the Maryland Volunteer Lawyer Service and is a member of the Chesapeake Planned Giving Council, the Maryland State Planning Council and the Board of Directors of the Kennedy Krieger Planned Giving Council. He has also served as Chairperson of the Estates and Trusts Section of the Baltimore County Bar Association.
Ms. Ford started as a Document Archival/Retrieval Specialist, but with the expansion of the firm, she has taken on additional tasks and works with estate planning and corporate clients. Her cheerful voice will greet you when you call or visit our office.
While working with estate planning clients, Ms. Ford assists in drafting Advance Medical Directives, Financial Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills that best suit each clients' wishes and needs. She also assists clients in reviewing their estate planning documents, as well as having them properly executed. While it may be a daunting task for clients, it is also vital to have an estate plan in place before an unseen event occurs.
In corporate transactions, Ms. Ford aids clients through a variety of business matters, including drafting and filing business documents on their behalf, such as Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Operating Agreements, and Stockholder Agreements. Ms. Ford also works closely with the attorneys to create documents that a corporation or business needs to provide better services to their customers and employees. In additional to helping with business start-up and continuation, Ms. Ford also works with clients to wind up business affairs, should the client wish to dissolve their business.
Ms. Hare has taken on the role of office manager, working with each paralegal to keep their departments organized and running efficiently. She currently oversees the paralegal's work in our Bankruptcy, Estates and Trusts, Deeds, Guardianships, Collections, Corporate Transactions and Digital Document Scanning and Retrieval Departments in our office. She also works on community involvement, marketing, and advertising for Dolina Hobbs.
Lorraine Brooks is a Paralegal concentrating in workers' compensation claims. She began her legal career in 1994 and has over 20 years of experience in workers' compensation claims, personal injury claims, civil litigation, and corporate transactions. She holds an Associates of Arts Degree in Paralegal Studies from Harford Community College. She brings great passion and a deep concern for her clients.
Reema Sood joined Bodie, Dolina, Hobbs, Friddell & Grenzer in August 2013 as a Legal Assistant. In 2014, she began work as a Paralegal covering personal injury, employment matters, and corporate litigation. Ms. Sood does a great job of finding solutions to problems. She is a graduate of University of Maryland Baltimore County and started law school at University of Maryland Carey School of Law in 2015. Ms. Sood now serves as a Law Clerk while attending school in the evening.
Mr. Dolina practices in business and employment law, personal injury, worker's compensation, and professional malpractice litigation. He represents clients in transactional matters, and has an active trial practice. He has substantial trial experience before the Maryland District and Circuit Courts and the Federal District Courts. Mr. Dolina is a member of the bar for Maryland, West Virginia, Colorado, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the District of Columbia and the Fourth Circuit.
With significant experience in alternative dispute resolution, Mr. Dolina has worked with the American Arbitration Association, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, FINRA, and the National Arbitration Forum. He also serves as a private arbitrator and is a certified mediator for the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Howard County, and Frederick County. He is a mediator for the U.S. Postal Service EEO office. Mr. Dolina has been a frequent lecturer for the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers and has contributed to mediation and arbitration programs. He also represents employees in Baltimore County Public Schools, assisting in contract negotiation, grievances and contract administration between our clients and the Baltimore County Board of Education, along with a host of employment and work-related matters. Mr. Dolina has authored publications and articles on Employment issues for both private and public sectors.
Mr. Dolina often handles very difficult and complex litigation matters. Obtaining successful results in cases involving lenders, business partners, and tort litigants has required special skills in negotiation, an adherence to effective case management, and good courtroom skills. His clients have obtained verdicts and settlements in excess of 100 Million Dollars.
Mr. Dolina's appellate practice includes the published opinion of Lynne Parry v. Allstate Insurance Co., 408 Md. 130, 968 A.2d 1053 (2009), decided by the Court of Appeals of Maryland in favor of Mr. Dolina's client, affirming Mr. Dolina's victories in the Circuit Court and the Court of Special Appeals, in addition to nearly over two dozen appeals heard in Maryland and Federal Courts.
Mr. Dolina is extremely active within the Maryland State Bar Association. In 2009, Mr. Dolina was elected to the Board of Governors of the Maryland State Bar Association with a term expiring at the end of the year 2011 and was elected again in 2013. Mr. Dolina was elected to three standing committees within the Maryland State Bar Association: the Planning Committee, Continuing Legal Education Committee, and the Budget and Finance Committee. He was elected to the Section Council for the Alternative Dispute Resolution Section of the Maryland State Bar Association and served as its chair in 2007-2008. While chair, the Section received the award for "Best Section" at the annual Maryland State Bar Convention. Mr. Dolina was also elected to the Board of the Maryland Pro Bono Resource Center. Most recently, Mr. Dolina had the honor of co-chairing a special committee, along with Judge William Carr, on the issue of Specialization for Lawyers, which led to a negotiation of new Rules recognizing specialization for lawyers in Maryland.
Mr. Dolina is a graduate of the University of Maryland Baltimore County and received a B.A. and the University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D., 1981). In addition to his graduate training, Mr. Dolina has attended the Harvard School of Law Advanced Negotiation Skills Workshop.
Mr. Dolina and his paralegals and assistants strive to deliver effective legal services. Mr. Dolina has been recognized by the public, Judges, and lawyers as a model of excellence and the highest ethical standards, thus earning an AV Rating. Additionally, Mr. Dolina's accomplishments have been recognized by other lawyers naming him a "Super Lawyer" for the past four years.
Ms. Blair works with Ms. Hare in the bankruptcy department, aiding clients throughout the process. This includes requesting documents from clients and assisting with the preparation of the bankruptcy petition before it is filed with the United States Bankruptcy Court. She provides clients with necessary information regarding their bankruptcy, including hearing dates and document deadlines.
With the expansion of the firm, Ms. Blair also works alongside the attorneys to administer Trusts, Charitable Remainder Unitrusts (CRUTs), and Irrevocable Life Insurance Trusts (ILITs). This includes handling financial matters, such as working with accountants during the tax season and making distributions to beneficiaries.
Ms. Blair also assists in drafting deeds for clients' estate plans and administering small estates through the Register of Wills office in Maryland. Her attention to detail and hard work make her a great asset to the firm.