SOLOMON LAW FIRM - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director of Paralegal Services
Alyssa provides legal support to Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, a boutique law firm with a comprehensive team of federal employment attorneys with more than 100 years of collective legal experience. She works closely with the firm's attorneys to guarantee rapid, consistent communication with clients while ensuring the highest quality production of legal representation. Alyssa is a talented writer and assists with drafting motions, discovery, pleadings and retainer agreements.
Prior to joining Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, Alyssa graduated magna cum laude from the State University at Albany with a bachelor's degree in English. She earned her master's degree in writing from the College of Saint Rose. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, watching basketball, and exploring the landscape of New York by hiking through the Adirondacks.
Job Titles:
- Founding & Managing Partner
Ariel E. Solomon is an American Lawyer, with a practice focus on employment law, whistleblower retaliation, discrimination, congressional investigations and government accountability. In 2011 she founded Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, which has offices in Albany, NY, New York, NY, and Washington, DC. The Firm is heavily involved in cases dealing with Qui Tam litigation, whistleblower retaliation, including representation on behalf of healthcare workers who report employer malfeasance, #MeToo litigation, and sexual harassment complaints against members of Congress and the Executive Branch. Solomon is recognized annually by Super Lawyers and The Best Lawyers in America for her representation of employees all over the world.
Education
Solomon earned her Juris Doctor, with a concentration in International Law with Honors from Albany Law School, and her Bachelor of Arts, magna cum laude, from New York University where she majored in Politics. She also attended, Tel Aviv University, and studied at Vassar College. She speaks Hebrew and is proficient in German and Japanese.
Solomon has been quoted in print and online news reports as an expert in Federal Employment and Whistleblower law. She has appeared on Democracy Now! and other media outlets in connection with her representation of whistleblowers and federal employees. In 2018, Solomon was recognized by The Business Journals' Influencers National List of Notable Attorneys for her work on behalf of whistleblowers. She was selected as a 40 under 40 honoree in 2015, and was included in the 22 st Edition of The Best Lawyers in America, and U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms."
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association
Dan Gebhardt's practice is wide-reaching but focuses on protecting individual rights of federal employees, whistleblowers, and people facing discrimination, retaliation, and harassment in the workplace. Mr. Gebhardt has represented a wide variety of clients, including the Embassy of the Czech Republic in Washington, D.C.; civilian employees of the U.S. military and intelligence agencies working inside and outside the U.S.; employees of international aid organizations working inside and outside the U.S.; employees, supervisors, and managers in U.S.-based corporations; and federal employees pursuing cases against numerous federal agencies, including DoD, DVA, DOJ, USPS, NPS, EPA, IRS, DIA, FBI, DHS, TSA, CBP, FAA, DEA, SSA, NASA, MSPB, USDA, BEP, FHFA, NRC, OPM, LOC, the U.S. Capitol Police, the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force. Besides his work in civil rights and employment law, Mr. Gebhardt also advises clients on contracts, international law, and corporate matters.
Mr. Gebhardt has extensive experience in litigation on behalf of both federal employees and private sector employees. For instance, Mr. Gebhardt has represented employees in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); the EEOC's Office of Federal Operations (OFO); the Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB); U.S. District Courts in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia; and U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal, D.C., and Fourth Circuits. Mr. Gebhardt has represented employees in multi-party actions and class actions in federal court and in the EEOC and was instrumental in the settlement of a race discrimination class action against the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In addition, Mr. Gebhardt has settled numerous cases for the benefit of his clients and has extensive experience in mediation, conciliation, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR).
Mr. Gebhardt has successfully represented many employees facing separation or termination from their jobs. For instance, Mr. Gebhardt negotiates severance agreements for corporate employees and managers and has reversed the termination of employees in cases before the MSPB and the Merit System Board of the Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC). Mr. Gebhardt has also reversed the proposed removal of federal employees at the Agency level, and he routinely represents federal employees facing adverse actions.
Further, Mr. Gebhardt assists and advises federal employees on a variety of matters, such as FOIA requests and appeals, OIG complaints, initiating Congressional inquiries, grievances, ULP charges, appeals for debt relief to the federal government, federal government retirement applications, and disability benefit applications.
Mr. Gebhardt also specializes in disability retirement for federal employees, having secured this benefit for many federal employees in both retirement systems (FERS and CSRS). For disability retirement applications, Mr. Gebhardt utilizes his professional experience from several of the country's most prestigious medical institutions (National Institutes of Health, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, and the University of Michigan Medical Center). Before attending law school, Mr. Gebhardt attained a B.S. in Biology from the University of Michigan, worked in several notable hospitals and research facilities as a molecular biologist for three years, and contributed to several publications in cancer research journals.
Mr. Gebhardt earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law, where he was an Articles Editor for the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal. He also earned a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Melbourne Law School in Australia, where he concentrated on international, Asian, and commercial law.
Mr. Gebhardt is an active member of the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association (MWELA) and the D.C. Bar's Labor and Employment Law Section, Litigation Section, and International Law Section. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C., Federal, and Fourth Circuits, U.S. District Courts in the District of Columbia and New Jersey, and in Washington, D.C. and New Jersey.
Gina Sitcer is a seasoned paralegal, who provides legal assistance and administrative support to attorneys in matters involving Civil Litigation, Federal Employment and Private Sector Employment Law. As the Law Firm Administrator, Gina is assists with law firm management and works with attorneys and clients alike to facilitate best outcomes at all stages of litigation.
Hon. William C. Smith, Jr., a Maryland State Senator and attorney with Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, advises clients on a range of employment discrimination and national security matters. Mr. Smith's practice focuses on security clearance defense, administrative investigations, disciplinary action defense, and employment matters relating to the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Act (USERRA).
Mr. Smith represents clients with security clearance matters before federal agencies, the Defense Office of Hearings and Appeals (DOHA), and the Department of Defense Central Adjudication Facility (DoDCAF). As an Officer in the Navy Reserves, Mr. Smith is intimately familiar with servicemember rights under USERRA and represents returning servicemembers in the Reserves, Army or Air National Guard, and the commissioned Public Health Services Corps.
Prior to joining Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, he served as a White House appointee at the Department of Homeland Security and worked as an attorney in private practice at a civil rights law firm in Washington, D.C. Mr. Smith earned his Bachelor's Degree and Juris Doctorate from the College of William and Mary. Mr. Smith also holds a Master's Degree in Government from the Johns Hopkins University and a Master's Degree in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University.
Mr. Smith is admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland, the United States District Court of Maryland, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the United States Supreme Court. He is also a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association of Maryland, the J. Franklyn Bourne Bar Association and the Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Association.
Mr. Smith is a State Senator in Maryland and currently serves as the Chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee. Mr. Smith is also an officer in the Naval Reserves and holds a Top-Secret Security Clearance.
Kathryn Barcroft is a partner in the Manhattan, New York office of Solomon Law Firm, PLLC. Her practice focuses on representing employees and employers in workplace law matters, including discrimination claims, counseling, and performance management.
Kathryn Barcroft has extensive experience in civil rights and employment matters including: Employee Hiring, Firing & Discipline; Separation Agreements; Non-Compete & Trade Secrets; Paid Family Leave; Private Sector Employment Disputes; Whistleblower Claims and Sexual Harassment Policies & Workplace Training. Kathryn has represented both employees and employers litigation before federal, state and local courts, agencies, mediators and arbitrators. She has been named one of New York's Super Lawyers for employment and labor litigation.
Kathryn is known for representing clients in high-profile sexual harassment cases against defendants such as New York State, as in Tromblee v. The State of New York, et. al. where Ms. Barcroft and the Solomon Law Firm, successfully defeated motions to dismiss as reported here. In COL Kathryn Spletstoser v. GEN John Hyten, she represents a former high-ranking Colonel who experienced sexual assault, surviving a motion to dismiss pursuant to the Feres doctrine and a motion to transfer the venue of the action as reported here. Kathryn's over two decades of experience involves representation of a variety of employees and corporate executives which has resulted in high value settlements and she also provides sexual harassment trainings, preventative advice and counseling to companies.
Kathryn has authored articles on a variety of labor and employment issues and has appeared on various news outlets about the legal issues facing victims of sexual harassment and other forms of discrimination. She is also a frequent lecturer to attorneys, supervisors, human resource professionals, and organizations for education and training concerning discrimination in the workplace.
Kathryn regularly conducts internal investigations for clients on Title IX, employment discrimination and workplace disputes. She has worked with a large range of companies and employees with different investigations including, investigating workplace harassment, discrimination, bias, retaliation, and violation of human resources policies and procedures. She also works in the Investigations Unit at Princeton University.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Executive Director and Founder of the James Madison Project
Mark S. Zaid is based in Washington, D.C. and specializes in crisis management . He is known for his innovation in handling complex administrative and litigation matters relating to national security, international law, foreign sovereign and diplomatic immunity, and the Freedom of Information/Privacy Acts.
In his practice, Mr. Zaid often represents former/current federal employees, particularly intelligence and military officers, defense contractors, Whistleblowers and others who have grievances, have been wronged or are being investigated by agencies of the United States Government or foreign governments, as well as members of the media.
Washingtonian Magazine has named Mr. Zaid a "Best Lawyer" for his security work in their bi-annual designation. He has also been named a Washington, D.C. Super Lawyer every year since 2009 and has been profiled for the same. As the National Law Journal once wrote, "if Agent Mulder ever needed a lawyer, Zaid would be his man."
Mr. Zaid is also the Executive Director and founder of the James Madison Project, a Washington, D.C.-based organization with the primary purpose of educating the public on issues relating to intelligence gathering and operations, secrecy policies, national security and government wrongdoing. In 2017, Mr. Zaid co-founded Whistleblower Aid, a non-profit law firm that provides pro bono legal representation to whistleblowers, particularly in the national security arena.
Mr. Zaid teaches the D.C. Bar Continuing Legal Education classes on "The Basics of Filing and Litigating Freedom of Information/Privacy Act Requests" (since 2003), "Defending Security Clearances" (since 2006) and "Handling Whistleblower Cases: More Than the Basics" (since 2016). Additionally, Mr. Zaid is an adjunct professor at Johns Hopkins University in the Global Security Studies program, where he teaches on national security issues.
In connection with his legal practice, Mr. Zaid has testified before, or provided testimony to, a variety of governmental bodies including the Senate Judiciary Committee, the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, the House Judiciary Committee, the House Government Operations Committee, the Department of Energy, the Public Interest Declassification Board and the Assassination Records Review Board. He was appointed a Member by the Archivist of the United States to the Freedom of Information Act Advisory Committee from 2014 to 2016. "Curiously for this town," once wrote the American Bar Association Journal, "Zaid is an equal opportunity thorn out to pierce the sides of suit jackets bearing both elephants and donkeys on the lapels."
Mr. Zaid graduated from Albany Law School of Union University in New York in 1992, where he was also the Associate Editor of the university's Law Review. He completed his undergraduate education in 1989 at the University of Rochester, New York, where he graduated cum laude with honors in Political Science and high honors in History. Mr. Zaid is a member of the Bars of New York State, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Maryland and numerous federal courts.
Michael L. Walker has a commitment to the practice of law that is exemplified by his client centered approach. Mr. Walker works tirelessly to obtain those results that his clients deem to be most important. Although known as unrelenting in the courtroom, Mr. Walker's tenacity is balanced by principles of professionalism and integrity.
Mr. Walker is admitted to practice before the Courts of the State of New York and Massachusetts, and before the United States Court of Appeals for the Second and Seventh Circuits. He has successfully represented clients before the New York State Supreme Court, Family Court and Criminal Court. He also provides representation before the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Immigration Courts, and the Federal District Courts.
Mr. Walker received his Juris Doctorate from Albany Law School of Union University where he concentrated his studies in Business Law. Prior to attending law school, he received a Bachelor of Arts, Cum Laude, from Queens College, City University of New York, where he was elected to the Pi Sigma Alpha and Golden Key Honor Societies. Mr. Walker is also an active in the New York State Bar Association, New York County Lawyers Association, Boston Bar Association and the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association.
Rebecca Predovan is of Counsel with Solomon Law Firm, PLLC and concentrates her practice in FLSA class action law suits, civil litigation, federal employment and labor law. Rebecca provides representation to federal employees in need of assistance with labor and employment issues including discrimination, sexual harassment, equal pay, adverse action, security clearance revocations, and Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA) claims.
Rebecca earned her Juris Doctorate at Albany Law School in Albany, N.Y. She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Albany where she majored in English.
She is admitted to practice before the courts of the State of New York State, and has successfully argued before the New York State Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Third Department. Rebecca was selected by Super Lawyers® as a rising star.
Reva is a senior at Boston University's Questrom School of Business studying finance and corporate law. Her background is in business, research, and policy. With this, she plans to attend law school this fall, studying international law and economic development in Eastern Europe. Currently, Reva is in the process of completing a thesis investigating Article II of the Virginia State Constitution that calls for the disenfranchisement of convicted felons to evaluate its impact on federal elections and voter registration. She has also spent a substantial portion of her undergraduate career researching the effects of epidemics in the development of the medicine field and curricula across medical schools.
Reva is a valued member of Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, and aids in innovative litigation management, preparation, including deposition preparation, document review, and drafting.
Job Titles:
- Public Relations Associate
- Public Relations Specialist With
Rick Rodgers is a public relations specialist with Solomon Law Firm, PLLC and provides contracted support to the firm's federal employment attorneys to promote their services and practice areas through web-based content development and public relations initiatives aimed at facilitating access to informative resources for employees of the federal government.
Rick holds a bachelor's degree from SUNY Plattsburgh where he majored in communications. In his spare time, Rick enjoys acting and has been involved in several productions throughout New York State. He is also an avid runner and a frequent competitor in races throughout the Capital region.
Ronald Kim is the former Mayor of Saratoga Springs, New York and the newest attorney to join the Solomon Law Firm, LLC with 20 years of experience representing people who were discriminated in the workplace. He focuses his practice on helping employees who have been discriminated on the basis of their race, sex, disability and pregnancy.
Ron was born and raised in upstate New York, graduating from Colgate University and receiving a master's degree from the University of Chicago's Harris School of Public Policy Studies prior to receiving his Juris Doctorate from Fordham University School of Law.
Previously Ron was an associate at the Boston-based law firm of Goodwin. He has served as the Chairman of the Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York and President of the Capital Region Bankruptcy Bar Association and is a member of the Asian American Bar Association of New York. He is admitted to practice law in the State of New York and Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Ryan Brown provides legal assistance to Solomon Law Firm, PLLC. In 2014, he graduated magna cum laude from the State University at Albany with a bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice and Sociology. He also holds a master's degree in Criminal Justice.
Prior to joining Solomon Law Firm, PLLC, Ryan worked at the New York County District Attorney's Office for several years, where he occupied a case management role and provided legal assistance.
Ryan is an avid hockey fan and enjoys traveling in his free time.