State and Local

Kevin Fitzgerald was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio and is proud of his Midwestern roots and work ethic. Although neither of his parents are attorneys, Kevin jokes that he was “raised” by plaintiffs’ lawyers. He first began working at a plaintiff’s injury law firm when he was fifteen years old and a sophomore in high school. For the ten years prior to attending law school, Kevin served as a litigation assistant at a national law practice where he worked closely with the firm’s trial team representing clients injured by asbestos-containing products. Kevin graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History and Minors in Geology and Geography from Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. Kevin attended the University of Maine School of Law where he graduated with honors. During law school, he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Ocean & Coastal Law Journal. Kevin was the recipient of the American Bar Association’s Award for Excellence in Land Use and Local Government Law, an outstanding scholastic achievement award in Environmental Law, and the Horace S. Libby Memorial Scholarship. In 2015, Kevin founded the Fitzgerald Law Group, LLC where he continues to concentrate his practice in representing men, women and children injured by medical devices, prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, asbestos, and in wrongful death and serious personal injury cases. Prior to founding the Fitzgerald Law Group, LLC, Kevin worked for another national mass tort law firm for fourteen years, serving as its managing attorney from 2008 to 2015. During his career, Kevin has played an integral role in developing, commencing and litigating significant injury cases from the initial case investigation stage through trial. He has taken or defended hundreds of depositions of plaintiffs, corporate employees, liability and causation experts, sales representatives and other key witnesses. He has helped identify experts in numerous disciplines and assisted in preparing their testimony for deposition and trial. He has also served as a member of the plaintiffs’ trial team in four national pharmaceutical drug cases, including Schedin v. Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceuticals, Inc., et al. in which the jury returned a $1.6 million verdict in favor of the plaintiff. Over the last fifteen years, Kevin has represented thousands of clients in a wide array of medical device and prescription drug cases as well as other consumer protection matters including Actos, Arava, Avelox, Baycol, Bextra, Biomet Hip Implants, Byetta, Celebrex, Depuy ASR & Pinnacle Hip Implants, Effexor, Ephedra, Fen Phen, Fleet Phospho-Soda, Fosamax, Gadolinium, Levaquin, Lipitor, Mesothelioma, Mirena IUD, Nuvaring, Ortho Evra, Phenylpropanolamine (PPA), Pradaxa, Pravachol, Rezulin, Risperdal, Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), Stadol, Stryker Rejuvenate & ABGII Hip Implants, Talcum Powder, Testosterone Replacement Therapy (“Low-T”), Transvaginal Mesh, Trovan, Viagra, Vioxx, Xarelto, Yaz, Zicam, Zimmer Hip Implants, Zithromax, Zofran, Zoloft, Zometa and Zyprexa. In addition to pharmaceutical and medical device cases, Kevin has experience handling wrongful death, personal injury, data breach, Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA), and consumer protection cases. Kevin lives in Portland, Maine with his wife, who is also a lawyer, and their three children. The family are members of Our Lady of Hope Parish in Portland. When he is not working late, he enjoys cooking, hiking and fishing throughout the State of Maine, coaching youth athletics, and cheering on his favorite Cleveland sports’ teams.

Stange Law Firm, PC was founded in 2007 by Kirk Stange. The firm only practices family law and has multiple offices throughout the United States. Stange Law Firm, PC offers attorneys at different levels to help fit the needs that each client may have. Clients of the firm also receive their attorney's personal cell phone number and 24/7 access to their case documents through the firm's online tracker. Numerous attorneys at the firm have received awards from organizations such as, Super Lawyers, Lead Counsel, National Academy of Family Law Attorneys and many more. To learn more or to contact Stange Law Firm, PC, visit www.stangelawfirm.com or call 855-805-0595. Note: The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Kirk Stange is responsible for the content. Principal place of business 120 South Central Ave, Suite 450, Clayton, MO 63105. Kirk Stange is licensed in Missouri, Illinois, and Kansas.

Ted Lyon was born and raised in Terrell, Texas. His undergraduate degree is in political science that he obtained from East Texas State University (now known as Texas A&M Commerce). Prior to law school, Ted married his high school sweetheart, Donna. While working as a police officer, he put himself through undergraduate school and then went to Southern Methodist University School of Law. Over the past 41 years, Ted has represented clients in over 150 jury trials. Ted has over 41 years’ experience representing clients in complex litigation, involving personal injury, wrongful death, products liability, and business disputes. He has received verdicts that were ranked in the top ten in the nation on three occasions. He has been interviewed and featured by national and local media outlets, including Good Morning America, 60 Minutes II, NBC Dateline, Texas Lawyer, Dallas Observer, The National Law Journal, D Magazine, and Texas Monthly. Ted specializes in complex litigation. Ted has repeatedly (2003 through 2018) been named to the Super Lawyer List by Texas Monthly, and was named one of the top 100 Lawyers in America by American Trial Lawyers Association consecutively since 2007.

Henry L. Doner, Esq., is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University, and the Delaware Law School of Widener University. He is admitted to the State Bars of New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York. He is admitted to the Federal Districts of New Jersey, Eastern Pennsylvania, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the United States Supreme Court. His areas of law practice consist of plaintiff’s injury representation, workers’ compensation claims. He is the managing partner of the firm, with an undergraduate degree of Bachelor of Science in Accounting. He also serves as a Board Member and Officer in various for profit and not for profit businesses in the Southern New Jersey Area. He was a staff writer for the Delaware Law Forum. He is married with two children. He is a South Jersey native, a graduate of Cherry Hill High School West. He is an alumnus of the Sigma Alpha Rho fraternity, Epsilon chapter, and Sigma Omicron Beta Fraternity at FDU Metro Campus. He played NCAA Varsity Lacrosse 1979 and 1980 at FDU.

Stephen Bernhardt has been an attorney since he was 25 years old. Now, nearly a decade later, Bernhardt has extensive trial experience in both criminal and civil law. He began his legal career as a prosecutor, first handling misdemeanor offenses such as DUI, Battery, Possession of Controlled Substance, Violation of Injunction and many others. Bernhardt was quickly moved to a felony division and become the State Attorney’s Office’s representative for the county’s Drug Court Program. In this role, Bernhardt learned many techniques to help individuals overcome addictions as well as the differences between the many rehabilitation establishments throughout Florida. Prior to leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Bernhardt was the lead prosecutor in his division. Bernhardt conducted several jury trials that ended in convictions and sentences of more than thirty years, including a mandatory life in prison sentence. After leaving the State Attorney’s Office, Bernhardt began practicing civil law for one of the largest creditors’ rights firms in the United States. Bernhardt quickly became the lead litigating attorney for the firm’s Florida office and handled countless civil hearings and trials before leaving to start Bernhardt Law, PLLC. Bernhardt Law focuses on the practice areas of Criminal Defense, Personal Injury and Debt Defense. Using the knowledge gained throughout the years, Bernhardt Law is dedicated to making sure each client’s specific situation is handled with the utmost professionalism, attention to detail, and integrity. How did you build a successful practice? I was fortunate enough to begin my legal career having great mentors and practicing in front of great judges. Having that foundation and always continuing to work hard has helped me build a successful practice. What should clients look for in a lawyer? Clients should look for a lawyer that has a strong work ethic and that conducts himself/herself with integrity. How important is local knowledge to the success of your cases? Having knowledge of the local judges and attorneys for the other side in very important in all areas of law. What information can you provide in a free phone consultation? I’m happy to discuss an individual’s legal matter for free over the phone or at one of our locations. I would review their case, discuss the strengths and weaknesses and determine what options may be available for the client What information do you need in a free phone consultation? I would like to review any paperwork they’ve received from the other attorney/party as well as contact information for following up. What differentiates you from other lawyers in your community? The two things that separate me from other lawyers are (1) my trial experience and (2) my experience on the opposing side. I have handled more trials in my first decade as an attorney than most attorneys will handle in their entire career. Additionally, as it pertains to criminal defense and debt defense, I have been the head attorney in my respective divisions for the sides I now go against. This gives me a big advantage in those cases. What is the most rewarding aspect of your job? When someone comes to me, it usually means they’re going through a tough time. Either they’ve been hurt, arrested or sued. Helping someone get through that difficult time by putting these legal issues behind them is very rewarding. What are your other interests in addition to law? I am a big sports fan and I also love to travel.

Amit Singh’s primary practice is civil and criminal litigation in the State and Federal Courts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In addition to working for a prestigious Boston Law firm, He has worked for the District Attorney’s office in Bristol County, MA and has handled over a thousand cases. He has successfully tried fifty-four jury and numerous bench trials. Amit Singh has represented hundreds of clients nationwide at hearings in front of Administrative law judges for social security disability, workers’ compensation and immigration matters, and he is a certified mediator. Attorney Singh handles criminal defense and workers’ compensation and personal injury matters for the firm in both MA and RI. He has represented numerous OUI/DUI & Criminal Defense clients in MA and RI.

I like what we have built here at Brown | Gould | Kiely, LLP. We are a family of lawyers that enjoys rolling up our sleeves and doing quality work for our clients. I like coming into the office every day because I enjoy the people here. They challenge me to be a better lawyer. Before forming Brown | Gould | Kiely, LLP, I worked at a firm in Washington, D.C. litigating commercial cases in the courts of the District of Columbia and Maryland; and prior to that I worked at one of South Florida’s premiere asbestos litigation firms. Over the course of more than twenty years, I have continued to represent individuals and businesses in state and federal courts. I have tried cases in Washington, D.C., Maryland, Florida and West Virginia, and have represented my clients’ interests in the courts of Virginia and Delaware. I have prosecuted numerous severe injury claims and wrongful death suits and have litigated hundreds of claims representing victims of asbestos exposure. I am proud to have served as co-counsel in what is believed to be the largest individual asbestos settlement in the District of Columbia, and to have obtained tens of millions of dollars in awards and settlements for our clients. I also routinely represent business clients in commercial disputes including breach of contract cases, brokerage disputes, and litigation involving real estate. Business cases occasionally require arbitration, and I have many years of experience in the arbitration of claims under both the American Arbitration Association guidelines and JAMS rules. I am honored to have received Martindale-Hubbell’s AV Preeminent Peer Review Rating, an objective rating that indicates my peers rank me at the highest level of ethical and professional excellence. I previously served on the Board of Directors of the Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation and served as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, National Capital Area. My wife and I have lived in Bethesda for more than 20 years, and our children attended the local public schools. When we are not spending time enjoying our immediate community, we love to travel and explore.

As an active member of the South Carolina Bankruptcy Law Association, Mr. Eric Reed stays current with the latest laws and techniques available to focus on the best possible results in processing your bankruptcy filing. With his membership in the American Bar Association and the South Carolina Bar Association, he has access to the finest legal resources to ensure he uses the best possible legal representation in pursuing your bankruptcy filing. Mr. Reed has been practicing in the area of bankruptcy since 1999, deciding in 2005 to open Reed Law Firm, PA to provide you with the personalized service you deserve. Mr. Reed has offices in Columbia and Florence, South Carolina. Mr. Reed and his caring staff work hard to make sure all issues with your filing are handled with compassion, courtesy and professionalism as you begin a fresh start on your financial situation. From your Free Initial Consultation, Mr. Reed and his staff walk you through the steps necessary to file for bankruptcy.

The Law Office of Nicholas W. Richardson, P.C. is a Palatine-based firm committed to helping individuals and families navigate tough family legal issues such as divorce, child custody, property division and other family law matters. When your life is in transition, you need a resolution to move forward. Nicholas W. Richardson, an experienced attorney, can efficiently and effectively help you do so.

Jules Porter is an attorney, business law professor, legal analyst, artificial intelligence (AI) developer, and video game developer who enjoys simplifying complex legal issues to make the law more approachable for all. Jules is an Associate Attorney at Ed Shaw Law Firm where she practices business law, family law, criminal law, and intellectual property law. She is also a game director at Seraph 7 Studios, a console video game development company that provides work-study experience for local students. Jules is also an AI developer and trainer who works to improve the analytical capabilities of various large language and natural language models. Jules is a proud U.S. Marine Corps veteran who earned both her JD and MBA from the University of St. Thomas where she currently serves as an adjunct business law and intellectual property law professor. Jules also earned a B.S. in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University and is a seminary theology degree holder. Jules frequently lectures at local, national, and international schools where she speaks to students about various legal, government, business, civil rights, and science and technology topics to include: augmented reality, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, blockchain technology, computer programming, game development engines, and design. Jules also serves on the University of St. Thomas School of Law Outreach and Connections Committee and recently held the positions of Treasurer and Secretary on the Board of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. Most recently, Jules was named one of Minnesota’s Top 20 technopreneurs and was named a Twin Cities Global Corporate Citizen by the International Leadership Institute and Twin Cities Unsung Hero by Planting People Growing Justice. In her spare time, Jules cheers on the Minnesota Vikings, rocks out to the Pointer Sisters’ music, and enjoys thriller and sci-fi movies. ​