Attorney Profiles

HOWARD N. BIERMAN - Lafayette College (B.A.1986); George Washington University, National Law Center (J.D. 1989); Mr. Bierman is uniquely qualified to represent and advise mortgage lenders on the spectrum of issues that arise throughout the mortgage lending and foreclosure process. He is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia, the District of Columbia and Massachusetts, and frequently appears on behalf of mortgage lenders in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts in all three local jurisdictions. He holds Virginia and Maryland Property and Casualty insurance licenses and, thus, is particularly able to counsel his clients on applicable insurance issues. In addition, Mr. Bierman is a licensed real estate broker in Maryland and D.C. and therefore can provide both insight and access with regard to the local real estate market to REO departments. He is experienced in all facets of commercial and residential loan transactions including drafting loan documents, conducting settlements, and creating workout/debt-restructuring agreements. In addition, Mr. Bierman is actively involved in the local community. He is a past Vice President of the Board of Directors of Northern Virginia Family Services, the largest non-profit human services agency in Northern Virginia, and he volunteers and served on the Board of Directors of Horton's Kids, Inc., a non-profit organization providing tutoring and mentoring services to children who live in public housing developments in Washington, D.C.

JACOB GEESING - University of Oklahoma (B.A.); George Washington University, National Law Center (J.D.); In addition to years of experience overseeing a high volume foreclosure practice, Mr. Geesing has extensive litigation experience in all areas of mortgage lending law. He regularly represents mortgage lenders in all local bankruptcy, state, federal and appellate courts. Mr. Geesing briefed and argued two landmark Maryland mortgage lending cases, Island Financial, Inc. v. Ballman, 607 A.2nd 76 (Md. App. 1992), and Drew v. First Guaranty Mortgage Corp., 379 Md. 318 (2003). Mr. Geesing has defended lenders in many adversary proceedings in bankruptcy courts, and has litigated claims involving a wide variety of theories of lender liability including, for example, claims made by borrowers under TILA, HOEPA, the FDCPA and a host of local consumer protection statutes. Mr. Geesing is a former Vice Chair of the Real Property Transactions Committee of the District of Columbia Bar.

CARRIE M. WARD - State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany (B.S. 1990); The American University, Washington College of Law (J.D. 1993); Ms. Ward has represented mortgage lenders and servicers in the mortgage debt collection process including loss mitigation, foreclosure, bankruptcy, eviction and REO settlements for her entire legal career. She is licensed to practice in the State of Maryland and District of Columbia. She combines her knowledge of mortgage lending law with her trial advocacy skills competently representing the firms’ clients in state, appellate and federal courts. Having been counsel to local mortgage companies in the State of Maryland, Ms. Ward understands the nuances of lender compliance with local rules as well as compliance with the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, Home Ownership Equity Protection Act and Truth in Lending Act and actively counsels the firm’s clients on regulatory and compliance matters. She is a member of the Mortgage Banker‘s Association of America, National Association of Professional Mortgage Women, State of Maryland Bar Association, and District of Columbia Bar Association. She was the Secretary of the National Foreclosure Professionals (NFP) in 2003 and 2004. Ms. Ward is the past Chair of the Education Committee of the American Legal and Financial Network (AFN) and was the attorney liaison to the AFN Servicer Advisory Board. In 2007-2008 Ms. Ward was a member of the USFN Servicer Advisory Board. Presently, Ms. Ward is the co-chair of the USFN Marketing Committee.

STEPHEN BRYCE WOOD – North Carolina State University (B.A. 1982) University of Richmond, T.C. Williams School of Law (J.D. 1986); Mr. Wood has been representing Banking and Mortgage clients in Virginia for over 20 years. His Creditor's Rights practice involves the representation of Mortgage Companies and other lenders in litigation, foreclosure and bankruptcy involving commercial and residential properties in Virginia. He is admitted to practice in all Virginia Federal and State courts and is a member of the Virginia State Bar and the Virginia Bar Association. He is a member of the Real Property and Bankruptcy Sections of each. Mr. Wood has extensive litigation experience in all facets of Creditor's Rights. He has litigated and won cases of note to Mortgage Lenders in many State Circuits, the Virginia Supreme Court and each of the Federal District Courts in Virginia. Mr. Wood has extensive experience defending Lender Liability cases involving FDCPA, RESPA, TILA and FCRA. He has lectured extensively on a variety of Creditor’s Rights topics and has taught Mandatory Continuing Education Classes on Virginia Law, Federal Law and Foreclosure and Bankruptcy to Virginia attorneys. He has published numerous articles on Creditor's Rights pertaining to Virginia and Federal Law. In addition, Mr. Wood currently acts as counsel for secured lenders in all Divisions of the Bankruptcy Courts of the Districts of Virginia. Mr. Wood has served as counsel in complex Adversary Proceedings in the U.S. Bankruptcy Courts. Mr. Wood regularly advises Lender clients on compliance with State and Federal Lending regulations and Statutes. Mr. Wood is the past Chair of the Real Property Section of the Fairfax Bar Association, and serves currently as an area representative of the Real Estate Section of the Virginia State Bar Association. Mr. Wood was formerly the Committee Chair of the Bankruptcy sub-committee of the Real Estate Section of the Virginia Bar Association and served for six years as a Member of the Board of Governors of the Real Property Section of the Virginia State Bar.

MATTHEW D. COHEN - Lehigh University (B.A. 2000); George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 2005). Mr. Cohen is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia, and the District of Columbia, and litigates claims arising out of all aspects of the foreclosure process as well as mortgage lending law. Mr. Cohen holds an undergraduate degree in Finance from Lehigh University; worked as an accountant for two years; and was Executive Editor of the Civil Rights Law Journal at George Mason University School of Law.

STEPHANIE R. MONTGOMERY - North Carolina A&T State University (B.A 1993); North Carolina Central University School of Law (J.D. 1997). Ms. Montgomery is licensed to practice law in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and North Carolina, and manages the Title Curative Department. Ms. Montgomery has been the UCC Counsel for the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and has managed the Pre-closing Department at a title company in Maryland for three years. She is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the North Carolina State Bar Association.

KEVIN R. FEIG - State University of New York (SUNY) at Albany (B.S.1990); Albany Law School (J.D. 1997); Mr. Feig is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the State of New York. He primarily focuses on creditors rights in bankruptcy proceedings. Prior to joining the firm, his practice concentrated on finding solutions for consumer financial problems and bankruptcy law matters, he also practiced in the areas of real estate settlements and transactions; debtor/creditor law; real estate workouts and reorganizations.

KYLE BLACKSTONE - The University of Michigan (B.A. 1997); University of Baltimore School of Law (J.D. 2004); Mr. Blackstone is licensed to practice law in the state of Maryland. His primary focus is on handling foreclosures in the state of Maryland. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Blackstone worked as a real estate settlement attorney and title insurance underwriter at a title company in Montgomery County, Maryland.

RACHAEL ABRAMSON - Boston University (B.S. 1998); Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law (J.D. 2001); Ms. Abramson represents mortgagees and lien holders before the State and Federal Courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia, and concentrates her practice on claims stemming from the foreclosure and settlement process. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Abramson was an Associate County Attorney for Prince George's County, Maryland, with an extensive civil litigation practice, both appellate and trial. Ms. Abramson is a former law clerk to the Honorable William B. Spellbring and the Honorable Maureen M. Lamasney of the Circuit Court for Prince George's County, Maryland. She is a published law journal author and was a member of Law Review.

NNENNA C. BURNS - University of Nigeria (LLB 1989); Nigerian Law School (BL 1990); University of Wisconsin Law School at Madison (JD 1995). Ms. Burns is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the State of Wisconsin. She is also licensed to practice law in the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Prior to joining the firm, her practice emphasized bankruptcy, criminal defense, domestic relations and civil litigation. Ms. Burns is also a licensed Maryland real estate broker.

ALLISON MELTON - George Mason University (B.A. 2003); George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 2007). Ms. Melton is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Melton served as a law clerk to the Honorable Mary Grace O'Brien of the Thirty-First Judicial Circuit of Virginia. She primarily handles Virginia post-sale matters.

ROHIT MATHEW - Wake Forest University (B.A. 2004); George Mason University School of Law (J.D. 2007). Mr. Mathew is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His practice focuses on Virginia post sale foreclosure matters.

JOSEPH M. LeNOIR - Washington and Lee University (B.A. 2004); T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond (J.D. 2007). Mr. LeNoir is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He has conducted foreclosure sales in a majority of Virginia jurisdictions and appeared on behalf of mortgage lenders in Virginia General District, Circuit and Bankruptcy Courts.

BRAD DAIL - Hampden-Sydney College (B.A. 2001); Florida Coastal School of Law (J.D. 2008). Mr. Dail is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of The Virginia Bar Association.

STEPHEN F. RELYEA - George Mason University (B.A. 2002); Wake Forest University School of Law (J.D. 2008). Mr. Relyea is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His practice focuses primarily on representing mortgage lenders in bankruptcy proceedings and conducting foreclosure sales in Virginia.

ROBERT MICHAEL - Concord College (B.A. 2002); University of Virginia School of Law (J.D. 2005). Mr. Michael is licensed to practice in West Virginia and the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining the firm, he defended institutional insurance companies against first and third-party claims in West Virginia, represented lenders in proceedings before the Courts of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and conducted foreclosure sales in almost all of the jurisdictions in Virginia. He currently litigates claims arising out of all aspects of the lending and foreclosure process.

JESSICA BERTOVICH - West Virginia University (B.A. 2003); West Virginia College of Law (J.D. 2006). She is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Prior to joining the firm, she practiced in the following areas: post-sale foreclosure; real estate settlements and transactions; will, trusts and estate planning; and corporate law.

REESE LESKO - Salisbury University (B.A. 1998); Widener University School of Law (J.D. 2001); Ms. Lesko is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland. Her primary focus is handling foreclosures in the State of Maryland. Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Lesko worked as a real estate attorney and Subrogation Specialist for the State of Maryland.

COREY POLLARD - College of William and Mary (B.A., cum laude, 2006); T.C. Williams School of Law, University of Richmond (J.D., cum laude, 2009). Mr. Pollard is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia. His practice focuses primarily on conducting foreclosure sales in Virginia and representing mortgage lenders.

DOUGLAS A. MAY - Colgate University (B.A. 1992); University of Baltimore School of Law (J. D. 1998); Mr. May is licensed to practice in the State of Maryland. His primary focus is on title review for foreclosures. Mr. May was a member of the University of Baltimore Law Forum. He worked as an abstractor following law school and as underwriting counsel for Stewart Title Guaranty in Baltimore, Maryland.

RALPH DIPIETRO - Boston University (B.A.); George Washington University, National Law Center (J.D.); Mr. DiPietro has extensive experience in a variety of areas of law including, but not limited to: mortgage lending law, insurance defense law, immigration law, and personal injury law. Mr. DiPietro returns to Bierman, Geesing Ward & Wood, LLC as the managing attorney of the litigation department for Maryland and the District of Columbia. He regularly represents mortgage lenders in local state, federal, and appellate courts, and has litigated a wide variety of lender liability including, for example, claims made by borrowers under the recently passed HAMP program, TILA, HOEPA, the FDCPA, and a host of local consumer protection statutes. Mr. DiPietro is a former professor of paralegal studies at New York University, Queens College, and Mercy College.

JARED M. SLATER - Denison University (B.A. 2005); Syracuse University College of Law (J.D., cum laude 2009). Mr. Slater is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and is a member of the Virginia Bar Association. His primary focus is handling foreclosures in the Commonwealth of Virginia.