Ms. Berry is the managing partner and has a wide range of experience in the representation of federal, public, and private sector employees as well as small business organizations. Her practice focuses on employment, retirement, business, and contract law. Ms. Berry specializes in federal employee retirement issues before the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) and other federal agencies. In particular, Ms. Berry has represented federal employees in matters involving federal employee retirement issues under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), CSRS Offset, and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Many of her retirement matters have involved federal agency retirement errors in connection with the Federal Erroneous Retirement Coverage Correction Act (FERCCA), litigation with OPM and numerous other federal agencies over survivor annuitants’ benefits due to OPM errors and erroneous advice, issues involving former spousal benefits under Court Orders Acceptable for Processing (COAP) or Qualified Domestic Relations Orders (QDRO), federal law enforcement officer (LEO) and firefighter (FF) eligibility for special federal retirement benefits, and other federal employment retirement-related issues. Ms. Berry further specializes in the drafting, reviewing, and negotiating of severance, confidentiality/non-disclosure, non-compete, non-solicitation, and various other employment agreements. She also advises on business start-up and creation issues, contract drafting and review, and certain wage and hour issues. This representation includes executives and employees in various professions as well as solo practitioners, small businesses, and large organizations. Ms. Berry has litigated numerous Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) matters on behalf of federal and private sector employees against various federal agencies and private employers involving all types of discrimination and retaliation claims. In addition, Ms. Berry has handled grievance matters before county and federal agencies. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Berry served as Interim General Counsel and a corporate officer of the National Wildlife Federation (NWF), the largest nonprofit conservation organization in the United States. Ms. Berry has also served as a speaker at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) seminars and other events, and provided legal training to staff on regulation compliance matters as well as business owners, independent contractors and solo practitioners in contract and business compliance matters. While Ms. Berry was a member of the Association of Corporate Counsel, she presented legal seminars as a faculty member on various legal issues of relevance to in-house counsel of business organizations.

Ms. Watkins’ federal practice focuses on cases before various administrative agencies — including the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB), Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and Office of Personnel Management (OPM) – as well as security clearance cases before the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), the Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency Consolidated Adjudication Services (DCSA CAS), numerous cases before the Intelligence Community and before other federal agencies. In 2022, Ms. Watkins was selected for membership in the Security Clearance Lawyers Association by her peers. Ms. Watkins also advises private sector and municipal employees in the District of Columbia in various types of investigations, grievance procedures, disciplinary actions, whistleblower issues, and equal employment opportunity (EEO) matters. Ms. Watkins also focuses on various administrative matters involving federal law enforcement officers. Ms. Watkins has several years of litigation background and has guided countless clients through depositions and trial proceedings. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Watkins worked as an attorney advisor for the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, the appellate division of the Department of Veterans Affairs, authoring appeals decisions to resolve cases arising from Veterans benefits disputes. During law school, Ms. Watkins worked as a legal intern with the Department of Justice (DOJ), Bureau of Prisons, providing legal support to DOJ attorneys on a variety of cases involving matters such as correctional law and litigation, civil rights disputes, mental health hearings, and FTCA claims. Prior to her legal training, Ms. Watkins obtained her undergraduate degree from Wake Forest University where she double majored in History and Political Science. While attending Wake Forest, Ms. Watkins also participated as a member of the University’s Equestrian Team. Ms. Watkins is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia and before federal agencies nationwide.

Providing excellent and informed representation to her clients is the hallmark of Jennifer Porter’s career. For over 25 years, Jennifer has successfully represented hundreds of people who have been injured through no fault of their own; people who were often just in the wrong place at the wrong time but suffered significant or catastrophic injuries as a result. Jennifer believes that people not only need and deserve someone who listens to them and talks the talk of a skilled litigator, but who also has the skill, experience, and background to walk the walk, preparing a successful claim for settlement or for litigation while also providing sound advice, sensitive to the needs of the individual. Jennifer is in the unique position to provide that level of representation to her clients and to maximize recovery for her clients, as a result of her years working as house counsel for Progressive Insurance and also as hired counsel for several of the country’s major insurance carriers, round-tabling defense strategies with insurance adjustors, engaging in defense-oriented training and education courses, and litigating hundreds of bench and jury trials using defense trial tactics. The thing that matters most is helping people navigate tough times with skill and sensitivity, and with a robust practice in personal injury, Jennifer looks forward to new legal challenges each day. Jennifer hails from East Tennessee and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee, College of Law – Go Vols! She completed her third year of law school as a visiting student at American University, Washington College of Law and is a 20+ year resident of Virginia. She is a committed member of the Virginia legal community. A long-time member of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (VTLA), Jennifer has served on the VTLA Women’s Leadership Caucus, VTLA Business Partners Committee, and the VTLA Membership Committee. She is also active with the Fairfax Bar Association (FBA), in which she currently serves as a member of the Circuit Court Committee and the Domestic Relations Sub-Committee. Previously, she was a member of the FBA Young Lawyers Section, serving on the Board of Directors and then as President in 2007/2008, and then in her capacity as immediate past President, she served as a member of the FBA Board of Directors. Jennifer has been recognized as a Super Lawyer and has received the prestigious AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating of her legal ability and professional ethics from the Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Rating system for members of the legal profession and carries an Avvo Rating 10/10, also based on reviews from her peers. Jennifer is licensed to practice in Virginia, Maryland, the District of Columbia, and California. In addition to her professional career, Jennifer is committed to her local community, having served on the Board of Directors of her neighborhood Swim Club and her neighborhood Civic Association. She is also troop leader to a very active group of middle school and high school aged Girl Scouts. Jennifer is a proud US Navy military spouse and mother to three school-aged daughters, and she can frequently be found at the soccer field, swimming pool or PTA meeting. She is active with the Naval Officer’s Spouse’s Club, the Military Spouse J.D. Network, and the Military Officers Association of America.

With over 15 years of experience in personal injury law, Lisa is dedicated to helping individuals navigate challenging moments with clarity and confidence. She began her career as a defense attorney for a major insurance company, where she handled thousands of cases and gained a deep understanding of how claims are evaluated and defended. She later spent six years at a plaintiff’s firm, advocating for injured individuals and guiding them through the legal process. Today, she uses that insight to effectively advocate for those she represents and work toward meaningful outcomes. Lisa is known for her thoughtful, client-centered approach and her ability to connect with clients and their families on a personal level. She understands that behind every case is a person facing uncertainty, and she is committed to helping them move forward. She finds it especially fulfilling to support injured individuals and help them reach outcomes that allow them to move on with their lives. Originally from Pittsburgh, Lisa attended Penn State University before earning her law degree from The Catholic University of America, where she served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Contemporary Health Law and Policy. She now lives in Loudoun County with her husband, their two sons, and their bernedoodle, Murphy. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling with her family, especially to destinations that include a beach and fishing, as well as exploring her interests in food and wine. She also enjoys event planning, decorating, and visiting local wineries.

Dedicated to making the law accessible for all, Michelle is committed to helping clients navigate the complexities of personal injury law. She strongly believes that everyone deserves to have their voice heard and is eager to amplify the voice of every client. After obtaining a combined Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in English from the University of Georgia, Michelle attended the University of Richmond School of Law where she gained invaluable experience working with vulnerable populations through her numerous internships and externships. From those professional experiences, she has learned the importance of hard work, perseverance, and transparency. A second-generation Korean American, Michelle has lived in the United States and South Korea, providing her with close insight to the lives of immigrant and multicultural communities. She recognizes how comforting and empowering it can be to have a legal advocate by your side, especially for those who may struggle to ask for help. Outside of work, she enjoys taking landscape photos, spending time with her family and friends, and perfecting her recipes.

Stephanie Himel-Nelson has been practicing law for more than 25 years and serves as the firm’s principal estate planning attorney. She believes firmly that everyone needs an estate plan and is dedicated to helping Virginia families safeguard their assets and protect their financial future at every stage of life. Stephanie is licensed in Virginia and Washington, D.C., and is also a seasoned litigator with extensive experience in complex commercial contract litigation, government contracts, construction law, and negotiating and drafting commercial agreements. After more than a decade practicing as a litigator, she co-founded Blue Star Families, an influential nonprofit organization supporting military families nationwide. Originally from Louisiana, Stephanie grew up around the world in a military family. After attending the University of Miami and the University of Nebraska at Omaha, she met her husband, a proud Navy servicemember, before relocating to Virginia. She earned her law degree from The George Washington University Law School, where she served as Executive Notes Editor of the International Law Review. Now based in the Hampton Roads area, Stephanie is expanding the firm’s estate planning practice across the Commonwealth of Virginia. She is deeply committed to community service and has served in numerous leadership roles, including president of the board of directors for her children’s swim clubs, PTA board member, band booster board member, and contracts chair for the Junior League of Norfolk-Virginia Beach. She currently serves as Secretary of the Hampton Roads chapter of the Virginia Women Attorneys Association and as a member of the Programming Committee for the Hampton Roads Estate Planning Council. Outside the office, Stephanie serves as a stroke and turn official for USA Swimming, the Virginia High School League, the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association, and the Virginia Beach Swim League. On weekends, you will often find her on the pool deck at swim meets or cheering on Virginia Tech football, though she still roots for the Miami Hurricanes when the two teams face off.