Zuckerman Spaeder LLP

The Appellate Court of Maryland largely upheld a finding that the Calvert County Sheriff's Office violated the law by requiring exorbitant fees as part of a records request made by the ACLU of Maryland. The decision from last week is expected to make it far easier for public interest organizations to obtain critical information from Maryland state government. The appeal was led by Samantha Miller Kavanagh, with support from partner Bill Murphy and ACLU attorneys Debbie Jeon and Dara Johnson. The case is Sheriff Ricky Cox v. American Civil Liberties Union of Maryland. Read more: https://lnkd.in/e69PPvKw

On behalf of our client, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, and ten other prominent public health, medical, and community organizations, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP filed an amicus brief supporting the Food and Drug Administration in asking the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals decision regarding flavored e-cigarettes. Amici explain why allowing the decision in Food and Drug Administration v. Wages and White Lion Investments, LLC, d/b/a Triton Distribution to stand would undermine FDA’s ability to protect young people from the health harms of flavored e-cigarettes. The amicus brief was prepared by firm attorneys William B. Schultz, who previously served as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Deputy Commissioner for Policy at FDA, Andrew N. Goldfarb, and Trillium Chang. https://lnkd.in/gwfAtEQg #FDA #foodanddruglaw #SupremeCourt

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP is proud to announce that Best Lawyers has recognized 33 firm attorneys in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and seven attorneys on The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America list. Congratulations to Jack Fernandez, Martin Himeles, and William Murphy, who were honored with “Lawyers of the Year” awards, and Devon Galloway, Anthony Ruiz, Nick DiCarlo, Chris MacColl, Ezra B. Marcus, Ariella Muller, and Ivano Ventresca, who were included in the fifth edition of The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America. Zuckerman Spaeder attorneys are recognized in 18 categories, including 26 attorneys in litigation categories, 24 attorneys in Criminal Defense: White-Collar, and eight attorneys in Bet-the-Company Litigation. #bestlawyers #litigation #whitecollardefense #healthcarelaw #celebrateZS

In the latest #InsightZS blog post, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP attorneys Bryan Thomson and Martin Himeles analyze the effects of the Supreme Court’s 2013 decision ending the “preclearance” requirement for new voting standards, practices, and procedures in states with a history of discriminatory voting practices. https://lnkd.in/eMXet6-2 #VotingRights #Voting #SCOTUS

Zuckerman Spaeder LLP attorneys Aitan Goelman and Chris MacColl were included among The American Lawyer’s “Litigator of the Week Runners-Up and Shout-Outs” for the settlement the team secured on behalf of former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok. The settlement, in which the government agrees to pay Mr. Strzok $1.2 million, resolves the allegation that the DOJ violated the Privacy Act and excludes from its terms Plaintiff’s claims that he was unlawfully removed from the FBI in violation of his rights under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment and in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Zuckerman Spaeder will continue to pursue First Amendment and due process claims for Mr. Strzok’s reinstatement, back pay, and other equitable relief – each of which was identified in his 2019 lawsuit. #PrivacyAct #litigation #DOJ #FBI #FreeSpeech #DueProcess

On Friday, on behalf of former FBI Special Agent Peter Strzok, Zuckerman Spaeder LLP finalized a settlement with the DOJ over claims that DOJ violated Mr. Strzok’s privacy rights. Mr. Strzok was terminated by the FBI in 2018 after his private text exchanges were made public. The settlement resolves the allegation that the DOJ violated the Privacy Act when it publicly released Mr. Strzok's private text messages, which were critical of then-presidential candidate, Donald Trump. The settlement, in which the government agrees to pay Mr. Strzok $1.2 million, excludes from its terms Plaintiff’s claims that he was unlawfully removed from the FBI in violation of his rights under the Free Speech Clause of the First Amendment and in violation of the Due Process Clause of the Fifth Amendment. Zuckerman Spaeder will continue to pursue First Amendment and due process claims for Mr. Strzok’s reinstatement, back pay, and other equitable relief – each of which was identified in his 2019 lawsuit. Mr. Strzok is represented by Zuckerman Spaeder attorneys Aitan Goelman and Chris MacColl, along with Heller, Huron, Chertkof & Salzman, Pllc partner Rick Salzman. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eUtnQAGA #litigation #DOJ #PrivacyAct

Congratulations to Zuckerman Spaeder LLP senior associate Nick DiCarlo, who has been named a “They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40” honoree in the Litigation category by Bloomberg Law. This annual award recognizes accomplished attorneys who inspire “their law firms, companies, non-profit organizations and government agencies to elevate, innovate and serve — not only clients but their communities beyond.” See comments to learn more. #litigation #40under40 #celebrateZS

Zuckerman Spaeder is thrilled to welcome Sophia Stefanović as an associate in our New York office. Before joining the firm, Sophia served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert W. Lehrburger of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. She was previously an associate at an international law firm. Read more on Sophia's bio: https://lnkd.in/gZTy62rM #CelebrateZS #hiring

Together, the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions in Loper Bright and Corner Post open a path to attack federal regulations issued by agencies (and upheld by courts) many years ago. Read the latest post on Zuckerman Spaeder LLP's blog #InsightZS discussing the significance and implications of the recent decisions. https://lnkd.in/eAj4ffnA #SupremeCourt #Litigation #Regulations

As Pride Month draws to a close, we commit to fostering an inclusive environment where we embrace individuality and support the rights of each person year-round. At Zuckerman Spaeder LLP, we stand with our LGBTQIA+ clients, colleagues, and friends, acknowledging their unique journeys and affirming their right to be treated with dignity and respect. This June, we were pleased to: - Volunteer with Food & Friends, a local organization that began in 1989 as a community-driven response to the HIV & AIDS epidemic, providing free and nutritious home-delivered meals at a time when individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS were stigmatized and lacked access to many basic needs (with thanks to M Moore for organizing this event again and capturing the photo, including Sharon Bovelle, PHR and Jason Acton, below); - Host an internal presentation that featured Zuckerman Spaeder attorneys Caroline Reynolds and Leila Bijan and the ACLU of Missouri’s Deputy Director for Litigation, Gillian Ruddy Wilcox. The team discussed the ongoing fight for transgender rights, health care, and related litigation, including their representation of a transgender woman in a case alleging she was unlawfully denied coverage for medically necessary gender-affirming care;  - Participate in Point of Pride's letter-writing campaign to send postcards with supportive and validating messages to the vulnerable transgender youth; and  - Proudly wear our Zuckerman Spaeder branded baseball caps featuring a logo embroidered in the colors of the Pride flag. #Pride2024 #PrideMonth #CommunityEngagement