News: Press Release

Offit Kurman Promotes Six Attorneys to Principal Status; Eight to Counsel

Baltimore, MD | May 11, 2020

For Immediate Release

Offit Kurman is pleased to announce the promotion of five associates and two counsel attorneys to Principal, effective immediately. Attorneys Gwendolyn Holdgreiwe, Ian Thomas, Emily Gelmann and Karin Corbett, have been promoted from Associate to Principal.

Additionally, there were eight Associates promoted to Counsel status: Jung Kim, Gabriel Celii, Alfredo Acin, and Kathryn Pettit.

Each year, Offit Kurman’s Management Committee and the firm’s shareholders identify  Associate and Counsel-level lawyers who have achieved extraordinary results within their practices and have demonstrated ‘first chair’ skillsets in client representation and development. Associates and Counsel who earn the title of Principal demonstrate leadership ability, diligence, and a high quality of service, as well as an unwavering dedication to working with the standards of excellence expected of the firm’s top attorneys.

“The title of ‘Principal’ has long been associated with significant professional and personal achievement,” said Howard Kurman, Offit Kurman co-founder and Management Committee member. “This status is not easily earned at any law firm, much less at ours. Of course, becoming a Principal, while conferring impressive status on the elevated attorney, also imposes on that attorney the implied obligation to uphold the highest ethical and moral standards that our profession demands. We know and are confident that Gwen, Ian, Emily, Karin, Crystal and Scott not only will succeed in their future legal careers but that each possesses the quality of character we truly value at Offit Kurman.”

More information about each new Principal attorney can be found below.

 

Associate to Principal

Gwendolyn Holdgreiwe practices in Real Estate, Landlord Representation and fair housing practice areas, and focuses on litigating landlord-tenant disputes, particularly, representing residential and commercial landlords.  Gwen spends the majority of her time in court prosecuting and defending cases on behalf of large property management companies, business owners, and individual home owners. She competently and aggressively leads clients through the entire litigation process. Gwendolyn has also honed a specialty in resolving housing disputes for condominium and cooperative housing associations.

 

Ian Thomas is a member of the Commercial Litigation Practice Group, where he frequently litigates matters concerning real estate, business disputes, and employee mobility/trade secrets.  Ian also has extensive experience defending businesses involving government enforcement actions and consumer protection claims.  In doing so, Ian has gained extensive trial experience and has fully briefed and argued appeals in several state courts and in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

Picture of Emily GelmannEmily Gelmann practices in Offit Kurman’s Family Law Practice Group, where she handles divorce, custody, pre- and post-nuptial agreements, and is often court-appointed counsel to represent children in divorce cases. Emily is also a trained mediator and certified collaborative divorce practitioner, allowing her to work with clients interested in resolving their issues through alternative dispute resolution calculated to avoid costly complex divorce litigation when appropriate.

Karin Corbett is a business attorney and commercial litigator who effectively prevents, resolves and litigates legal disputes for businesses in the construction & real estate industry. Karin advocates successfully for clients in the courtroom and partners with clients to avoid future disputes by negotiating stronger contracts, understanding the practical and legal implications of their business practices, implementing best business practices, ensuring compliance with law and regulations and managing and mitigating risks of all types.

 

 

Associate to Counsel

Jung Kim is part of the Commercial Litigation group and practices in Offit Kurman’s Bethesda office and concentrates on all facets of real estate law, from tax lien litigation to construction claims. His responsibilities included drafting pleadings and memoranda, researching relevant case law, and consulting clients on transactional and litigation matters.

Gabriel Celii focuses his practice on representing businesses and municipal entities navigating labor and employment disputes ranging from wage and hour litigation and work place discrimination defense to labor negotiations and the resolution of grievances. During his representation of Philadelphia-area Townships and Counties, he has successfully defended claims brought against public officials and advised municipalities on the drafting of local ordinances, such as Police Pension DROP amendments.

Alfredo Acin is part of Offit Kurman’s Commercial Litigation group represents executives and entrepreneurs, as well as their families and businesses, in resolving legal issues that touch all areas of their professional and personal lives. Whether the matter concerns divorce and custody disputes, or disputes over contract issues or collection of debts and judgments, through corporate governance or shareholder disputes, or employment law matters, Alfredo is able to assist clients with navigating these complex matters in advance of and during contested court proceedings.

Kathryn Pettit focuses her practice on construction law. She has counseled and represented owners, construction managers, contractors, subcontractors, and design professionals in all phases of construction projects. She has experience representing clients in disputes arising from a wide array of construction projects, including both private and public. She has litigated numerous construction claims, from the owner, contractor, and design professional's perspectives, in state and federal court, as well as arbitrations. Kathryn also has extensive experience representing homeowners in suits against the builders of their properties due to building envelope defects, including stucco defects.

To browse our full  attorney roster and practice area listings and to learn more about Offit Kurman,  please visit offitkurman.com/attorneys and offitkurman.com.

ABOUT OFFIT KURMAN

Offit Kurman, a full-service AmLaw 200 law firm with offices throughout the East Coast and in Southern California, serves dynamic businesses, individuals and families. Founded in 1987, the firm’s 280+ attorneys counsel clients across more than 30 areas of practice. Offit Kurman helps maximize and protect business value and personal wealth by providing innovative and entrepreneurial counsel that focuses on clients’ business objectives, interests and goals. The firm is distinguished by the quality, breadth and global reach of its legal services and a unique operational structure that encourages a culture of collaboration.