Lerch, Early & Brewer (Maryland, USA) is pleased to announce that four attorneys have been named principals at the firm.
Michael J. Goecke, 41, is a litigation attorney whose practice involves a range of business and tort matters with an emphasis on civil litigation in Maryland and Washington, DC. His clients include national and local corporations, family-owned businesses, nonprofits, community associations and individuals from a cross-section of industries including information technology, government contracts, construction and real estate. Mike received his bachelor of arts from the University of Michigan and his Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School. He joined Lerch Early in 2009. Over the years, Mike has made pro bono work a major part of his practice and has won various pro bono awards. He currently serves as the chair of the Montgomery County Bar Foundation Pro Bono program.
Michael J. Neary, 34, practices in the firm's employment and litigation groups. An experienced litigator and appellate attorney, he handles a wide array of litigation matters, such as business fraud, corporate and partnership dissolutions, and commercial disputes in Maryland and Washington, DC. Michael’s practice also includes employment and labor matters with an emphasis on employer counseling. He advises businesses, associations, nonprofits, community associations, religious organizations, private schools, professionals and individuals on how to save money, time and energy by avoiding litigation. When litigation is unavoidable, he considers all strategies to obtain the best possible results for his clients. Michael graduated magna cum laude from Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., where he earned his Bachelor of Arts and was a member of Pi Sigma Alpha. He received his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Maryland School of Law. He joined Lerch Early in 2007. Active in the community, Michael serves on the board of Cornerstone Montgomery, a nonprofit organization that provides services to Montgomery County citizens with mental illnesses, and he is a member of the Catholic Business Network of Montgomery County.
Julie A. Reddig, 33, is an employment attorney who defends management in a broad range of matters and disputes involving employment and the workplace, including wage and hour investigations by state and federal officials, discrimination, harassment, and overtime claims made by current and former employees. She represents companies at mediations, in administrative agency proceedings, and in the state and federal courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Much of the work she does involves clients from the transportation, construction, government contracting, real estate, professional services, hospitality and nonprofit sectors. Julie earned her Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the University of Pittsburgh, where she was inducted into the national leadership honor society, Omicron Delta Kappa. She then went on to earn her Juris Doctor, with honor, from the University of Maryland School of Law. She joined Lerch Early in 2007. Julie is active in the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce's GovConNet Committee and in the Junior League of Washington, DC.
Michael D. Smith, 36, is a commercial lending attorney focused on the structuring, negotiation, documentation, due diligence and closing of commercial lending transactions. He also works with lenders and borrowers in financial transactions involving community associations, construction projects and government contracting. Michael’s clients include large national financial institutions as well as local community banks. He also represents borrowers in a variety of commercial loan transactions. Michael earned his Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science from American University. He received his Juris Doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law. He joined Lerch Early as a paralegal in 2001 and as an attorney in 2006. Michael serves on the boards of directors for the Washington Area Community Investment Fund and Habitat for Humanity Montgomery County.
Lerch, Early & Brewer is a full-service law firm located in Bethesda, Maryland that gives clients “ideas that work.” The firm’s attorneys practice in the areas of business law, commercial lending, community associations, elder law, employment, estates, family law, health care, land use, litigation, real estate, and taxation.
