As a civil litigator in private practice with Allen & Allen Chtd. in Salisbury, Albert G. Allen, III launched his legal career as law clerk to the Hon. S. James Sarbanes of the Circuit Court for Wicomico County. Allen’s practice encompasses civil, corporate, appellate and real property litigation, as well as commercial transactions and estate planning, with appearances in state and federal trial courts, the Appellate Court of Maryland and the Supreme Court of Maryland.

He has served as president of the Wicomico County Bar Association and on the board of governors of the Maryland State Bar Association. A past president of the Rotary Club of Wicomico County, Allen also serves as a trustee of The Salisbury School and on the executive committee of the Greater Salisbury Committee. He has chaired the City of Salisbury Board of Zoning Appeals and served on the city’s Elected Officials Salary Review Committee.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today?

I think the biggest challenge facing the practice of law is the lack of civility, which has unfortunately crept into our profession.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

To spend a year as a judicial law clerk before entering private practice.

How do you define success?

I define success by providing individuals and businesses in my community with full-service legal representation, while also serving as a leader in civic and educational organizations that benefit the entire community.

Josephine Bahn focuses her practice on commercial litigation and construction law, representing real estate developers, project owners, contractors and design professionals in state and federal courts, administrative forums and arbitration panels.

Before joining the firm, she served as a senior attorney in the enforcement section of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, managing enforcement litigation involving consumer protection and fraud matters and advising the FDIC chairman on diversity and inclusion. She previously clerked for the Hon. Joel H. Slomsky of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania during the 2016-17 term.

A nationally recognized corporate attorney, Bill Carlson serves as president of his firm and chair of its Corporate & Securities Law group, advising private and public companies, governments, nonprofits and individuals on governance, mergers and acquisitions, capital raising and securities law compliance. He acts as outside general counsel for several companies and has served as independent counsel to special committees and boards of real estate investment trusts and other public corporations.

Since 2015, Carlson has chaired the Maryland State Bar Association’s Committee on Corporation Law, testifying before legislative committees more than 30 times and serving as an expert witness on director conduct. He earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law in 1983 and his Bachelor of Arts from Johns Hopkins University in 1979.

A nationally recognized leader in commercial real estate and structured finance litigation, Gregory Cross serves as partner-in-charge of Venable’s Baltimore office and sits on the firm’s management board as lead director. He chairs both the Bankruptcy and Creditors’ Rights Group and the firm’s Commercial Mortgage-Backed Securities Practice.

Cross has served as lead counsel for the largest CMBS workout in U.S. history and has tried cases of first impression for the industry in courts across the country, including the U.S. Supreme Court. He frequently lectures and leads initiatives in the securitization industry.

Thomas Dame began his legal career at Gallagher LLP in 1990 and has remained at the firm ever since, rising to managing partner. A member of the firm’s health law and litigation practice groups, he focuses on healthcare disputes and commercial litigation, advising hospitals, nursing homes, physicians and other health care providers on litigation, regulatory compliance and health planning matters, including certificate of need proceedings.

He serves on the boards of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and the Baltimore School for the Arts and is president of the Baltimore School for the Arts Foundation.

What is the biggest challenge facing your industry today?

I believe the biggest challenge facing law firms today is ensuring artificial intelligence tools are integrated effectively into client service. The advancement of AI is occurring rapidly. The most successful lawyers of the future will be those who adapt and combine AI with their own judgment and creativity to benefit clients.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received?

Almost 2,000 years ago, Roman emperor and stoic Marcus Aurelius wrote in his journal: “That which is not good for the beehive cannot be good for the bees.” This ancient advice remains compelling today. People prosper when they are part of thriving communities, where they live and where they work, which is why we should work to lift up others and be strong together. More simply and directly: Love your neighbor.

How do you define success?

In my field, I define success as being trusted to help others solve their most troubling problems and achieve their most important goals.