Chris Dunn has been appointed by the Maryland Court of Appeals to the Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, which is a prominent position in the state of Maryland court system.  The Standing Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, often referred to as the “Rules Committee,” was formed in 1946.  Its members meet to consider proposed amendments and additions to the Maryland Rules of Procedure and to submit recommendations for change to the Maryland Court of Appeals.  Chris, who has been a partner with the firm since 1994, was elected as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers in 2011.  His appointment to the Rules Committee is another recognition of his expertise in complex litigation and as a respected member of the defense bar in the state of Maryland.  Chris will be a strong asset to the Rules Committee where he will be able to provide insight and recommendations to the Court of Appeals on matters affected litigation in Maryland. 

DeCaro, Doran is also pleased to announce that Mark A. Kohl has joined the firm as an associate attorney where he has immediately taken over the handling of defense litigation matters in Maryland and the District of Columbia.  Mark received his undergraduate degree from Olivet Nazarene University in 1999 and a masters degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois in 2001.  Mark received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 2005.  He also performed a fellowship in the Department of Politics at the Catholic University of America. 

Mark is barred in the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia.  He has extensive experience in insurance defense and contract litigation in Maryland and the District of Columbia over the past six years.  Mark has practiced in virtually all areas of civil litigation, both at the trial and appellate level in complex personal injury and wrongful death cases.  He was recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers in 2011 and 2012.  We are very pleased to have Mark join Decaro, Doran to assist in our defense litigation practice. 

Finally, Emily F. Belanger and David J. Baines will join DeCaro, Doran as summer associates in June 2012.  Both Emily and David are completing their second year of law school at the University of Baltimore School of Law and each has prior litigation experience as law clerks at other firms. 

Emily received her undergraduate degree in Business Administration from Towson University in 2010 and is scheduled to complete her legal studies in 2013.  David received his B.S. in Business Administration from the College of Charleston in 2009.  He is also scheduled to complete his studies at the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2013.  Both Emily and David will provide assistance to our defense litigation practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.  We look forward to them joining the firm this summer.