Best's Recommended Insurance Attorneys

General Defense

• Telephone: 410-528-0600
• Fax: 410-528-0602
• E-Mail: attorneys@gw-law.com
• Website: www.gw-law.com

Established: 1995

• Practice Areas
• About Us
• Additional Locations
• Client Information
• Personnel
• Additional Links
• Service Areas

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About Us

Gorman & Williams consists of 10 attorneys plus law clerks and staff personnel. The firm represents clients throughout the Maryland-Washington D.C. and Mid-Atlantic areas. In addition to insurance matters, the firm practices corporate and commercial law, intellectual property law, maritime law, and other areas.

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Additional Locations

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Client Information

Insurance Clients

Non-Insurance Clients

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Personnel Information

Partners

Charles L. Simmons Jr.

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Insurance Defense
• Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Corporate Litigation
• Commercial Litigation

Admitted

• Maryland, 1996
• District of Columbia, 1997
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1996
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1999
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 2014

Additional Biographical Details:

Adjunct Professor, University of Baltimore School of Law, Admiralty and Maritime Law; Lecturer, National Business Institute

Memberships:

• American and Maryland State Bar Associations
• The Bar Association of Baltimore City
• Mid-Atlantic Mariner's Club (Past-President, Marine Insurance)
• Wednesday Law Club
• The Maritime Law Association of the United States (Proctor)
• Wednesday Law Club
• Rule Day Club

Publications:

• Author: "Insurers and Uninsured Motorist Coverage," 2015
• "Business Insurance Targets Risks Posed by New Technology," Maryland Bar Journal, Jan./Feb. 2005
• "Digital Distribution of Entertainment Content...A Battle is Being Waged," Maryland Bar Journal July/August 2000

Education:

• Towson State University, B.S., 1992
• University of Baltimore, J.D. (magna cum laude), 1996

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David McIntosh Williams

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Corporate Law
• Intellectual Property
• Business Transactions
• Commercial Transactions
• Civil Litigation

Admitted

• Maryland, 1975
• District of Columbia, 1984
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 1976
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit, 1982
• U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, 1984
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit, 1986
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 1988
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit, 1994

David Williams has served clients for over 35 years in matters involving diverse subjects including consumer, commercial, maritime, corporate, and intellectual property law. 

He has extensive experience in the resolution of complex business disputes in federal and state trial and appellate courts and arbitration. David has served as lead counsel in major domestic and international vessel financing matters and has successfully organized fractional yacht ownership. 

David has been published in West's Federal Practice and Procedure, Benedict on Admiralty, and other legal journals. Having served as chair of the Committee of Marine Financing of the Maritime Law Association of United States, David drafted several federal maritime statutes ultimately enacted into law and testified before a U.S. House of Representatives subcommittee. He served as ABA Advisor to the Uniform Law Commission drafting committee on a Uniform Certificate of Title Act for Vessels, approved in 2011. 

In addition to his focus in maritime law, David also concentrates in the law of trade secrets, patents, copyrights and trademarks. 

David has served as a trustee of the Maryland Historical Society and is active in other civic and community organizations. David is admitted to practice before the bars of Maryland and the District of Columbia. He is a graduate of the Georgetown university Law Center and Princeton University.

Memberships:

• American Bar Association (Advisor, National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws; Drafting Committee on Uniform Certificate of Title for Vessels, 2009-2011)
• Maryland State Bar Association (Board of Governors, 2011-2013; Chair, Business Section 2015-2016; Business Section Council, 2010-present)
• The Bar Association of Baltimore City (Chair, Business Law Committee, 2009-present)
• Fellow, Maryland Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Baltimore Bar Foundation
• The Maritime Law Association of the United States (Chair, Marine Financing Committee, 1992-1996)

Publications:

• Author: "2 Benedict on Admiralty", (Chapter 11)
• Moore's Federal Practice Third Edition (Admiralty Volume Chapter 5)

Education:

• Princeton University, A.B., 1971
• Georgetown University, J.D., 1975

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Martin B. King

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Commercial Transactions
• Corporate Transactions
• Commercial and Marine Financing
• Estates and Trusts

Admitted

• Maryland, 1993

Memberships:

• American and Maryland State Bar Associations
• American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
• Maryland Association of Certified Public Accountants

Education:

• University of Maryland, B.S., 1986
• University of Baltimore, J.D., 1993

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Michael R. Naccarato

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Business Formation
• Business Transactions
• Estate Planning

Admitted

• Maryland, 2008
• District of Columbia, 2010
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2009

Michael Naccarato has represented clients in diverse legal matters including consumer law, premises liability, real property leasing, corporate and commercial disputes, and product liability. Michael's prior work as a Certified Public Accountant and as a chief financial officer complement his practice of law, giving Michael a unique skillset in advising clients and resolving complex business disputes and consumer litigation in different forums.

Memberships:

• Maryland State Bar Association
• The Bar Association of Baltimore City

Education:

• University of Baltimore, Merrick School of Business, B.A., 1992
• University of Baltimore, Merrick School of Business, M.B.A., 1995
• University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2008

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Francis J. Gorman

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property
• Copyright and Trademark Law
• International Law
• Marine Insurance
• Literary Agreements

Admitted

• Maryland, 1970
• District of Columbia, 1974
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
• U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
• U.S. Supreme Court, 1977
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 1985

Additional Biographical Details:

Maryland Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts (Board); Maryland Bar Association Lee Caplan Pro Bono Award (2005)

Frank provides general legal advice to businesses and focuses on intellectual property matters; he and handles trademark and copyright matters for clients; infringement and licensing matters involving patents, trademarks, and copyrights; He has jury trial-to-verdict and judgment experience in federal and state courts; member of the American College of Trial Lawyers; graduate of the Georgetown School of Foreign Service and the Georgetown Law Center

Memberships:

• American and Maryland State Bar Associations
• Wednesday Law Club
• Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers

Publications:

• Author: "Governments Embroiled in Trademark Litigation," 2017
• Co-Author: "Intellectual Property" 2018

Reported Cases:

Peerless Insurance Company v. WEO Carpentry, LLC, 2019 WL 2374380 (D. Md.) (court ordered substitution of defendant’s proper corporate name); In Re American Cruise Lines, 128 USPQ2d 1157 (TTAB 2018) (precedent) (reversal of examiner’s refusal to register); Changzhou Kaidi Elec. Co. v. Okin America, Inc., et al., 102 F.Supp.3d 740 (D. Md. 2015); 112 F.Supp.3d 330 (D. Md. 2015) (patent infringement); GWW Associates, LLC v. Flagship Atlanta Dairy, LLC et al., (LLC minority members suit) (Delaware 2012); Baney Corporation v. Agilysys NV, 773 F.Supp.2d 593 (2011) (software developer breach of license warranty); Pizzorno v. L-Soft International, Inc. 2008 WL5082105 (D.Md.), 665, 302Fed.Appx. 148 (4th Cir. 2008) (copyright infringement jury trial)

Education:

• Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, B.S.F.S., 1963
• Georgetown University Law Center, J.D., 1969

Law Review:

Board of Editors, Geo. L. Rev.

Clerkship:

Law Clerk to Chief Judge Roszel C. Thomsen, U.S. District Court

Military:

Lieutenant, U.S. Army

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Associates

Sara H. Deriu

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Insurance Defense
• Civil Litigation

Admitted

• Maryland, 2007
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2016

Memberships:

• Maryland State and Baltimore County Bar Associations
• Attorney Grievance Commission (Peer Review Committee, 2016-Present)

Reported Cases:

Grady v. Brown 408 Md. 182 (2009)

Education:

• Gettysburg College, B.A. (cum laude), 2002
• University of Maryland School of Law, J.D., 2007

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James R. Jeffcoat

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Admiralty and Maritime Law
• Civil Litigation
• Insurance Coverage & Defense

Admitted

• Maryland, 2012
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2013

Memberships:

• Maryland State Bar Association
• The Maritime Law Association of the United States

Publications:

• Author: "Dual Agency - Chartering the Course for Yacht Brokers", 2017
• "Double Stacked Containers Through Baltimore - Light at the End of the Howard Street Tunnel", 2016
• "Enforcing a Judgment in Another State - Why and How", 2015

Certifications:

• Maryland Real Estate Agent

Education:

• Maine Maritime Academy, B.S. (cum laude), 2005
• University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D. (summa cum laude), 2012

Honors:

Heuisler Honor Society

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Taylor W. Beckham

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Business Law
• Business Litigation
• Business Transactions
• Commercial Law
• Commercial Litigation
• Copyright and Trademark Law
• Insurance Defense
• Intellectual Property

Admitted

• Maryland, 2016
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2017

Taylor graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in Classical Civilizations. She is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law. While in law school, Taylor was a staff editor on the University of Baltimore Law Review, served as the President of the Black Law Students Association, and was a member of the Royal Shannonhouse Honor Society. Taylor's practice is concentrated in the areas of intellectual property, business, and commercial law.

Memberships:

• Maryland State Bar Association
• The Bar Association of Baltimore City

Education:

• The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, B.A., 2011
• University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2016

Fraternity Information:

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Law Review:

Staff Editor, University of Baltimore Law Review

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Ashley L. Ensor

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Automobile Tort
• Business Litigation
• Insurance Defense
• Insurance Litigation
• Intellectual Property

Admitted

• Maryland, 2016
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2017

Ashley is a summa cum laude graduate of York College of Pennsylvania, where she majored in Psychology, and a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law. While attending the University of Baltimore School of Law, Ashley served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Marvin J. Garbis of the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, and the Honorable Lynn Stewart Mays of the Circuit Court for Baltimore City. Ashley also served as a Staff Editor for the University of Baltimore Law Review, and was a member of the Royal Shannonhouse Honor Society. Ashley focuses on civil litigation including business, commercial, and insurance defense litigation. Ashley also has experience with intellectual property litigation.

Memberships:

• American and Maryland State Bar Associations
• The Bar Association of Baltimore City

Education:

• York College of Pennsylvania, B.S. Psychology (summa cum laude, dean's list), 2012
• University of Baltimore School of Law, J.D. (summa cum laude), 2016

Law Review:

Staff Editor, University of Baltimore Law Review

Clerkship:

Judicial Intern to Hon. Judge Lynn Stewart-Mays, Baltimore City Circuit Court; Hon. Judge Marvin Garbis, U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

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William H. Hyle

Baltimore, MD

Practice Areas

• Civil Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Insurance
• Labor and Employment
• Maritime Law
• Personal Injury Litigation

Admitted

• Maryland, 2010
• U.S. District Court, District of Maryland, 2017

William is a litigator focused on insurance defense, commercial litigation, construction law, maritime, and employment matters. Following law school, William worked as staff counsel for one of the largest insurers in North America. William has defended and tried hundreds of cases in the district and circuit courts throughout Maryland. William is admitted to practice in Maryland and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.
 
William received his law degree from the University of Michigan Law School, received a B.A. (Jurisprudence) (magna cum laude) from the University of Baltimore, and a M.A. (Legal and Ethical Studies) from the University of Baltimore.

Memberships:

• Maryland State and Baltimore County Bar Associations

Education:

• University of Baltimore, B.A. (magna cum laude, with honors), 2004
• University of Baltimore, M.A., 2006
• University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, J.D., 2009

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Additional Links

Articles

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Service Areas

Washington, District of Columbia 39 miles

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(This firm also appears in the Subrogation section of this publication)