Gimmel, Weiman, Ersek, Blomberg & Lewis, P.A.

Jerry Gimmel and Steve Blomberg – 2012 Super Lawyers

staff — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:40:57 +0000

GWEBLAW Partners Jerry Gimmel and Steve Blomberg once again have been honored as Super Lawyers in Maryland for 2012. The Super Lawyers publication is based on the recommendations and votes of attorneys statewide and recognizes those attorneys that are in the top of their field. Jerry has been recognized in the field of Estate Planning every year since 2007. Steve has also been consistently recognized in the fields of Corporate Law and Business Litigation since 2007. The Firm congratulates Jerry and Steve!

Karen Alegi Named as Rising Star in Maryland Super Lawyers

staff — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:55:01 +0000

GWEBLAW attorney Karen Hulme Alegi has been honored as Rising Star in the area of Family Law by Maryland’s Super Lawyers for 2012. The Super Lawyers publication is based on peer nominations and the professional achievement of attorneys statewide and recognizes those attorneys that are in the top of their field. Before an attorney can qualify as a Rising Star he or she must be evaluated by two independent panels as being among the top 5% of attorneys in the entire state in that attorney’s main area of practice. The Rising Stars category is their listing of lawyers who are 40 years old and younger, or who have been in practice 10 or fewer years and have demonstrated superior legal skills. The Firm congratulates Karen on this recognition!

Happy Holidays!

staff — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:24:24 +0000

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM

THE ATTORNEYS AND STAFF AT

GWEB!

GWEB Seminars in the Community

staff — Sat, 10 Dec 2011 16:07:08 +0000

GWEB’s Estate Planning attorneys frequently present seminars in the community. These informative seminars cover such topics as the difference between probate and non-probate property, the different types of estate planning documentation, the importance of reviewing asset beneficiary designations, introduction to tax planning, and more. Jerry Gimmel recently presented at the Rosborough Center at Asbury Methodist Village with Nick Serenyi, CFP, of Smith Barney and Doug Myers, President and CEO of the Asbury Foundation. The topic was “Your Year-End Estate and Financial Check-Up Seminar”. Please contact GWEB if you would like more information about having one of our attorneys present at your next community event.

Happy Thanksgiving

staff — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 15:08:45 +0000

It is that time of the year when we bring to mind that for which we are grateful. Here at GWEB, we are thankful that the past year was a good one for our firm, that we have a wonderful, loyal and top-notch staff, and most of all we are thankful that our clients have chosen to place their trust in our firm and in our work. We wish all of our clients, colleagues, families and friends a Happy Thanksgiving. Rest, enjoy and be safe!

Business Interests and Divorce

staff — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 15:42:00 +0000

Karen Hulme Alegi attended the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) 16^th Annual Symposium held in Columbia Maryland on Veterans Day. The focus of the symposium this year was business valuations and other financial issues in divorce. The nationally renowned speakers discussed methods for analyzing business valuation reports including tips for cross examination of your opposing valuation expert. In addition, a panel of Maryland judges, including Montgomery County’s Judge Louise Scrivener, answered questions from attendees about the judge’s experience and preferences with respect to business valuations. Keep in mind that any interest in a business, whether a sole proprietorship or a public company, is a relevant consideration in divorce. It is critical to know what the business interest is worth whether you are the spouse that owns the interest or not. The attorneys at GWEBLAW have represented numerous clients with business interests in the context of a divorce and are available to discuss any questions you may have on this topic.

Maryland Tightens Up No-Texting Law

staff — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:56:08 +0000

Effective October 1, 2011 Maryland has modified the law prohibiting texting while driving. Last year the legislature made it illegal to text while you were driving an automobile; however, it was classified as a “secondary” offense and no points were attached. Under the new law, texting while operating a motor vehicle, as well as reading a text while driving, is a primary offense. This means that an officer can cite you if he or she merely sees you texting. In addition, you are subject to receiving one point on your driver’s license. Two exceptions have been carved out. Specifically, you can text if you are operating a GPS application or if you are calling 911.

The question remains whether the Police will issue tickets while you are stopped at a traffic light. Under a strict interpretation you are in violation of the law by doing so. Questions surrounding proof of texting while driving as opposed to using a smart phone for other purposes such as music or apps will undoubtedly soon be litigated in Traffic Court.

Stricter Rules in Maryland for Debt Collectors

staff — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 16:04:05 +0000

Maryland’s highest court has approved new rules to protect consumers from debt collection. The new rules will, in part, force companies that buy consumer debt to present sufficient evidence to the court if they sue to collect on the debt. Debt buyers are companies that pay for the defaulted debt and gain the right to sue to collect that debt. Often the debt is sold many times over. In the process, much of the original information about the underlying debt is lost or outdated. These debt buyers have, in the past, easily gotten judgments against consumers with little to no proof of their claims and many times without the consumer ever being notified that they were expected to appear in court. By approving these new rules, the Maryland courts will force these companies to provide sufficient evidence to back up their claims.

Continuing Legal Education

staff — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 14:49:52 +0000

GWEB attorneys have been busy attending various continuing legal education seminars and webinars. Keeping up with ever changing laws and striving to improve our services for our clients are a crucial part of our practice. In the past six months, some of the various “CLE’s” or Continuing Legal Education programs that our attorneys have attended, are as follows: Talking to Clients about Business Succession Planning, Planning with LLC’s, Accounting for Lawyers, Estate and Gift Tax Audits, Ethics: Thoroughly Investigating Conflicts of Interest, and Using Trusts in Estate Planning, among others. Our firm is committed to keeping up with the latest laws, strategies, techniques and trends in order to provide the best legal representation for our clients.

Staff Talent

staff — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:49:39 +0000

The staff at GWEBLAW are known not only for their sharp legal skills, but also, apparently, for their vegetable growing. Our very own Abby Spencer received a blue ribbon at the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair for her beautiful Red Cabbage (we saw it in person at our office) grown in her backyard garden. And if that isn’t impressive enough, Steve Blomberg’s wife, Karen, won fourth place for her Italian Tomatoes. Good job, Abby and Karen! Maybe next year the office can try growing one of those giant pumpkins!