BUILDING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEGAL LEADERSHIP
MCMILLAN, METRO, FAERBER, P.C.
MCMILLAN, METRO, FAERBER, P.C. provides expert legal services in partnership planning, business and corporate law, employment law, family law, and a wide variety of business and personal needs. Recognized for excellence, their attorneys have earned Super Lawyers, Rising Stars, and Readers’ Choice honors. They deliver creative, client-focused solutions for individuals and organizations across Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.
When did the firm start, and what were the primary areas of practice?
The firm was founded in 1992, in part by Donna McMillan. At that time, the firm focused primarily on real estate and corporate transactional matters.
How have you expanded the firm and your practice over the past few years?
Over the years, the firm has expanded to serve clients through our litigation, family law, estate planning, and probate departments.
What is on the horizon for McMillan, Metro, Faerber, P.C.?
We are very happy with the quality of work that our attorneys produce, as well as the continued growth and strength of our firm. We continue to focus on the “next generation” of leaders who are currently developing within the firm and taking on increasingly specific leadership roles each year.
Who is your target client?
Each department serves a different type of client. Our real estate department primarily works with regional and national land developers, homebuilders, and investors. Our corporate department primarily serves small and mid-market companies, or their owners and investors. Our corporate team also has a thriving practice representing professionals, including attorneys, engineers, medical professionals, and accountants. Our estate planning group serves individuals and families, whether for relatively straightforward planning or more complex trusts. Our litigation team is adept at handling both complex and traditional matters arising from each of those departments, as well as family law matters.
What sets McMillan, Metro, Faerber, P.C. apart from other firms?
Excellence is our standard, and we respond to our clients’ needs. Our attorneys emphasize being counselors to our clients rather than simply providing representation. We place a strong focus on hiring and training attorneys and laterals to be well-regarded in their respective practice areas, without dabbling in other areas. This method results in a strong bench of attorneys, each familiar with emerging laws and market trends in their respective areas, who can also collaborate closely with others in the firm to address cross-departmental client needs.
How would you describe your firm’s culture?
Collegiality and knowledge sharing are at the center of our work. Attorneys need to evolve and stay up to date; we challenge our attorneys to know their practice areas and clients’ needs. We strive to serve our clients through professionalism, ethics, and integrity. Our attorneys aim to meet our clients’ current goals and address future challenges through legal acumen and innovative solutions.
How do your lawyers keep up with emerging and evolving legal issues, and why do you think this is important?
It is of the utmost importance to stay abreast of new developments and evolving issues in the law. Many of our clients are highly expe-
rienced in their respective businesses, so our advice on emerging and evolving issues is often a key focus for them. Some of our attorneys regularly present at continuing legal education events or volunteer with trade organizations and legislative committees to advance positive developments in the law.
What does community involvement look like for the firm now, and where would you expect it to be in the years ahead?
Our attorneys are encouraged to hold leadership positions in the community. We have been fortunate that one of our corporate partners, David Shapiro, served as President of the Maryland State Bar Association (MSBA), and Leah Morabito, a shareholder in our Estates and Trusts group, served as President of the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association. Our lawyers are active in local associations of business leaders. We participate in legal seminars for consumer clients, as well as in local and MSBA-sponsored pro bono legal services events. Further, our attorneys are heavily involved as volunteers with trade organizations, charitable boards, and similar groups. We also set special fundraising goals to support local charities throughout the year and to participate in local community events, such as Potomac Day in Montgomery County.
What do you see as the practice areas that will experience the most growth in the future?
The corporate and real estate departments are traditionally the backbone of our firm and continue to grow. That said, our clients’ trust in the great work of our attorneys has resulted in substantial growth in our litigation and estate planning groups, as well as an expansion of our employment law section. Overall, our core service departments each include a fresh wave of talented associates who have helped us grow as a firm and continue to prepare for the future. We are always looking for talented attorneys to advance further and complement these core areas.
What do you see as the legal challenges Maryland will face in the next few years?
Our clients often face challenges in Maryland’s ever-evolving state-level regulatory and tax landscape. The recent, numerous federal changes, combined with the fluid nature of the state landscape, have made it challenging for many of our clients to manage business operations and transactions.
What would be your greatest hope and expectation for the firm and its progress and development over the next four years?
We plan to continue our trajectory toward strong representation of our clients by knowledgeable attorneys who stay focused on their core competencies. Our “next generation” of partners and associates are the future leaders of the firm, and we are very happy to see them strengthening and advancing the firm’s foundation.
Does your firm host outside activities?
We host meetings for the Maryland Building Industry Association. Our estate planners regularly host seminars on emerging issues and trends for a wide range of audiences.