On October 17, the annual HeBrOpen Golf Outing raised over $100,000 for the Seed School of Maryland. Co-chaired by Shapiro Sher attorney John Baum and Tony Hawkins, this unique fundraising event brings together business and community leaders for a day of sporting fun in support of a valuable cause long championed by the HeBros.

Two decades ago, several African-American and Jewish Baltimoreans organized the HeBros to create opportunities for fellowship across ethnic lines. In 2015, after the passing of one of the group’s devoted members, John’s brother Charles Baum, HeBros held the first HeBrOpen in his memory. The annual event has since raised over $500,000 for Baltimore’s Seed School, the state’s first and only public, college-preparatory boarding school. The proceeds from this year’s event will support extracurricular opportunities for students of the school, which opened in Southwest Baltimore in 2008 and educates Maryland youth, grades 6-12, who can most benefit from a 24-hour learning environment.

“Charles would have been proud to know that our group has done so much good for Baltimore’s youth,” said John Baum. “I am deeply grateful to all who came out to support the SEED School’s important work.”

In addition to golfing, this year’s HeBrOpen included a pickle-ball tournament, a reception and banquet, and a keynote address from Willie Mays Aikens, the legendary Kansas City Royal slugger.

Shapiro Sher attorneys have long been supporters of the SEED School. At the 2019 HeBrOpen, firm founder Ron Shapiro and of counsel Larry Gibson were the guest dinner speakers, and in 2020 Ron chaired a HeBro fundraising dinner honoring the SEED School’s graduating seniors.  

To learn more about the HeBros and its fundraising events, feel free to reach out to John Baum directly at jeb@shapirosher.com.

The newest edition of Chambers USA, a preeminent guide to the legal industry, identifies six Shapiro Sher attorneys in its survey of Maryland lawyers.

The following attorneys are cited in their respective practice areas:

• Alex J. Brown – Insurance
• William E. Carlson – Corporate/M&A and REITs: Maryland Counsel
• Richard M. Goldberg – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Paul Mark Sandler – Litigation: General Commercial
• Joel I. Sher – Bankruptcy/Restructuring
• Jessica L. Swadow – Insurance (“Associates to Watch”)

The guide also names Shapiro Sher in select lists of Maryland firms practicing bankruptcy and insurance law. According to the guide, the firm is home to a “distinguished bankruptcy practice with a strong track record advising creditors, debtors and trustees on high-value bankruptcy filings[.]” The firm’s insurance lawyers are lauded for their ability “to delve into sophisticated matters and provide practical solutions.”

Chambers USA is a division of Chambers & Partners, which publishes selective annual guides to the most respected law firms and lawyers in the US, Europe, Asia, and Latin America. Its rankings are read by industry-leading companies and organizations worldwide.

On March 19, 2022, our dear friend and colleague Luis Guinot, Jr., passed away at his home in Canton, Georgia, at the age of 86. Born on April 8, 1935 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, he served as the United States Ambassador to Costa Rica and enjoyed an illustrious career in law, business, and international trade spanning nearly five decades.  

Amb. Guinot earned his bachelor’s degree from New York University in 1957 and served as an officer in the U.S. Navy from 1959 to 1967. After graduating from the Columbus School of Law at Catholic University in 1968, he served as Administrator of the Office of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico in Washington, D.C. (1969-1972), and as Assistant General Counsel for the U.S. Department of Agriculture (1972-1974).

As an attorney in private practice, Amb. Guinot advised numerous businesses, political organizations, and governments, including that of Puerto Rico, often in connection with international trade and investment. In 1991, President George H.W. Bush nominated him to become the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica. Confirmed by the U.S. Senate that summer, he served as Ambassador from August 1991 to March 1993. In recognition of his services, he received the Grand Order of Juan Mora from the government of Costa Rica.

In the years to follow his post, Amb. Guinot would author numerous articles and speak frequently on matters pertaining to international trade. He also served on the board of directors of Tampa Electric Co. and its parent company, TECO Energy. In 2003, Amb. Guinot was selected by the Hispanic Association on Corporate Responsibility as one of eight Fortune Board Honorees, a distinction granted to outstanding Hispanic leaders serving on the boards of large corporations.

In 1994, Amb. Guinot became a partner at Shapiro Sher Guinot & Sandler, where for several years he led our international trade and commerce practice, advising foreign governments seeking to attract manufacturing and investments, and representing businesses in connection with international trade strategies.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to all of his family, including his wife Marta, his five children, eight grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. A funeral mass will be held at 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at the Saint Peter Chanel Catholic Church in Roswell, Georgia. He will be interred at a later date at Arlington National Cemetery.

Ten lawyers at Shapiro Sher have been selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2022, an exclusive guide to the legal industry. The newly released guide names the following attorneys in the indicated practice areas:

• David B. Applefeld: Commercial Litigation and Construction Litigation
• William E. Carlson: Biotechnology and Corporate Law
• Scott W. Foley: Commercial Litigation
• Larry S. Gibson: Civil Rights Law
• Richard M. Goldberg: Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law, and Bankruptcy Litigation
• Ann Clary Gordon: Real Estate Law
• Eric R. Harlan: Commercial Litigation; Family Law
• Renée S. Lane-Kunz: Employment Law (Management)  
• Paul Mark Sandler: Commercial Litigation, White Collar Criminal Defense, and Personal Injury Litigation (Defense and Plaintiff)
• Joel I. Sher: Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

The Best Lawyers in America® 2022 cites two additional Shapiro Sher attorneys as “Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch”:

• J. Patrick Gill: Banking and Finance Law
• Anastasia McCusker: Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights/Insolvency and Reorganization Law

Shapiro Sher was founded in 1972 by Ronald M. Shapiro with the mission of providing outstanding legal counsel for Maryland businesses of all sizes. Based in Baltimore, the Firm is nationally recognized for its practices in business law, litigation, insurance, bankruptcy, and creditors’ rights.

Twelve attorneys from Shapiro Sher are recognized in the newly-released 2021 Maryland Super Lawyers list. Among them are two attorneys also cited on a list of the “Top 100 Super Lawyers” and three “Rising Stars.”

The new list includes the following attorneys in their respective practice areas:

• David B. Applefeld – Construction Litigation
• William E. Carlson – Business/Corporate (“Maryland Super Lawyers’ Top 100”)
• Scott W. Foley – Banking
• Richard M. Goldberg – Bankruptcy: Business
• Ann Clary Gordon – Real Estate
• Eric R. Harlan – Business Litigation
• Anastasia L. McCusker – Bankruptcy: Business (“Rising Star”)
• Steven (Wes) Parker – Banking (“Rising Star”)
• Paul Mark Sandler – General Litigation (“Maryland Super Lawyers’ Top 100”)
• Ronald M. Shapiro – Entertainment & Sports
• Joel I. Sher – Bankruptcy: Business
• Jason A. Wasserman – Business/Corporate (“Rising Star”)

Super Lawyers is a division of Thomson Reuters. It rates attorneys throughout the country using a proprietary combination of peer review, professional achievement tracking, and independent attorney research.