McGuireWoods Baltimore Lawyers Named 2015 Maryland ‘Super Lawyers’ and ‘Rising Stars’

Three partners from McGuireWoods’ Baltimore office have been named Maryland “Super Lawyers” for 2015, and three of the firm’s lawyers have been named Maryland “Rising Stars.” Lawyer rating service Super Lawyers will publish this year’s survey findings in its Maryland Super Lawyersmagazine and in the January 2015 edition of Baltimore magazine.

McGuireWoods’ 2015 Maryland “Super Lawyers”:

• Alan C. Cason, Government Finance. Cason is chair of the firm's public finance practice. He has served as bond counsel and counsel to issuers, underwriters, borrowers, developers and trustees in numerous tax-exempt and taxable bond issues and private financings in Maryland and elsewhere. He has served as lead counsel in some of Maryland’s largest project financings, including transactions involving hotel, convention center and retail facilities, continuing care retirement communities, solid waste disposal, paper recycling, co-generation, sludge pelletization, and student housing.
• Ava E. Lias-Booker, Business Litigation. Lias-Booker is managing partner of the firm's Baltimore office, and she heads the Baltimore litigation practice group. She has represented businesses in class action litigation and contractual disputes, shareholder disputes, lender liability, construction, products liability, check fraud and claims arising under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, Truth in Lending Act, Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Uniform Commercial Code, in state, federal and appellate courts. She frequently speaks on litigation, leadership and diversity issues.
• Patrick M. Shelley, Real Estate. Shelley focuses his practice on acquisition, financing, development, leasing and disposition of retail, office and industrial properties He represents corporations in relation to their day-to-day real estate needs, as well as in the development of distribution centers. His real estate financing experience includes loans, representation of lenders and borrowers in connection with workouts, and specialized financings such as sale-leasebacks.

Maryland Super Lawyers “Rising Stars” recognizes top up-and-coming lawyers who are 40 years old or younger, or who have been practicing 10 or fewer years.

McGuireWoods’ 2015 Maryland “Rising Stars”:

• Craig R. Haughton, Business Litigation. Haughton represents banking and lending institutions in various matters, ranging from allegations of fraud and violations of consumer protection statutes, foreclosure and receivership proceedings, and land use disputes pertaining to bank branch construction. He also represents contractors, subcontractors, property owners, and materials suppliers in various land use and contract disputes pertaining to construction projects throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.
• Veronica D. Jackson, Business Litigation. Focusing primarily on the financial services industry, Jackson represents clients in state and federal courts on a variety of matters including contract disputes, financial services litigation, invasion of privacy, labor and employment, tort claims, and class action disputes.
• Melissa Martinez, Business Litigation. Martinez’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, business litigation, business torts, and contractual disputes. She also specializes in complex patent litigation involving consumer electronics, computer systems, GPS, and wireless technology

A Thomson Reuters publication, Super Lawyers identifies candidates through independent research and by inviting lawyers in each state to nominate the best attorneys they have observed in action. A lawyer-led research staff evaluates candidates on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Candidates also undergo a peer review by practice area.