Jan Berlage’s practice focuses on general business litigation (www.MarylandBusinessLitigation.com) ranging from commercial disputes to bankruptcy (www.MarylandBankruptcyCounsel.com) to intellectual property (www.MarylandIPCounsel.com). Jan’s legal career spans over two decades and encompasses a wide variety of opportunities and experiences that have enriched his practice of law. His multifaceted career has seen him in court representing plaintiffs in wrongful death cases to helping clients resolve real estate and animal law disputes. Mr. Berlage has extensive experience in trials, arbitrations, mediations, and administrative hearings, including arguments before the Maryland Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. He has secured major jury verdicts and large settlements for both businesses and individuals, including most recently a $1.6 million compensatory damages award for one of his copyright clients and a nearly $1 million settlement for a surviving heir in a wrongful death lawsuit. He has also successfully defended against multi-million dollar claims in both state and federal court.
Upon graduation from law school, Jan served as law clerk to the Honorable E. Stephen Derby, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland. Prior to private practice, Mr. Berlage obtained invaluable experience first while working as an associate attorney for Day, Berry, and Howard in Connecticut and then for Ballard Spahr LLP in Baltimore, Maryland. He has taught pretrial litigation practice at the University of Maryland School of law, served on the Board of Governors for the Maryland State Bar Association and is a co-author of the book, Maryland Equine Law: A Legal Guide to Horse Ownership and Activities. He is a fellow of both the American and the Maryland State Bar Foundations, presents regularly at CLE courses, and has chaired numerous committees at both the national and state level. Mr. Berlage is licensed to practice in Pennsylvania, Connecticut, D.C., and New York in addition to Maryland. He regularly acts as local counsel for cases involving out of state clients. Jan has achieved the highest rating given by AVVO.com, a well known online legal resource that bases its ratings on client reviews and experience.
Some of Jan’s representative matters are:
• Secured a $1.6 million compensatory federal jury verdict for a copyright client before the United States District Court for the District of Delaware
• Obtained a nearly $1 million settlement for a surviving heir in a wrongful death lawsuit
• Successfully represented both the inventors of the AK-47 and M-16 in intellectual property cases
• Obtained a plaintiff’s verdict for family in week long civil rights jury trial before the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut
• Represented inventor in week long trade secret trial before the Delaware Court of Chancery
• One of four attorneys involved in Comcast’s purchase of assets in Adelphia Communications bankruptcy case
• Achieved summary judgment award for defendant in billion dollar insurance coverage lawsuit
• Represented creditors’ committee in multimillion dollar bankruptcy before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Ohio
• Successfully represented electrical cooperative in multimillion dollar litigation before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas
• Represented a debtor horse racing track before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland
• Handled multimillion dollar bankruptcy sale of medical device company to a French based multi-national corporation
• Represented indenture trustee in bankruptcy matter involving $100 million+ bond issuances
• Successfully litigated on behalf of indenture trustee matter involving a waste-to-energy facility in Florida before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York
• Obtained numerous bankruptcy discharges for individuals
• Successfully represented numerous defendants in copyright infringement cases
• Obtained $1 million+ judgment for major corporation in corporate theft case
• Achieved numerous trademarks and copyright for businesses and individuals in a wide array of industries
Some of Jan’s representative speaking engagements are:
• MARYLAND FORECLOSURES AND WORKOUTS: Workouts – The Various Tools in the Tool for Working Out Troubled Real Estate Loans, NBI 2014
• REAL ESTATE FORECLOSURE: A STEP-BY-STEP WORKSHOP – How Bankruptcy Changes the Landscape, NBI 2013
• CHAPTER 7 AND 13 BANKRUPTCY: LINE-BY-LINE Workshop – Consumer Bankruptcy Fundamentals, NBI 2013
• CHAPTER 7 BANKRUPTCY, Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service 2013
• NUTS AND BOLTS OF COLLECTION LAW – How to Find Debtors and Their Assets, NBI 2012
• ADVANCED COLLECTION STRATEGIES – Pre-Suit Collection Strategies, NBI 2012
• CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY: THE BASICS OF CHAPTER 7 AND 13, NBI 2011
• BUSINESS CONTRACTS A TO Z – Preparing Contracts with an Eye Towards Litigation, NBI 2011
• BANKRUPTCY LITIGATION, NBI 2011
• COLLECTION LAW FROM START TO FINISH, NBI 2010
• CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY IN MARYLAND, NBI 2010
• CHAPTER 7, NBI 2009
• ADVANCED COLLECTION STRATEGIES, NBI 2009
• CONTRACT PRACTICE FOR MARYLAND PARALEGALS, Halfmoon Seminars 2007
• UNDERSTANDING FEDERAL COURTS AND PROCEDURE, Halfmoon Seminars 2006
AWARDS
Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2018
Business Litigation Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers Magazine, 2018
Business Litigation Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2017
Business Litigation Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2016
Business Litigation Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers, 2015
Top Ten Bankruptcy Attorneys in Maryland, National Academy For Bankruptcy Attorneys, 2014
Recipient, Who's Who in the World, 2013
Recipient, Who's Who In American Law, 2013
Recipient, Who's Who in America, 2013
The Maryland Defense Force Achievement Ribbon, State of Maryland, MDDF, 2012
Maryland State Service Award, State of Maryland, MDDF, 2012
Committee Chair of the Year, Maryland State Bar Association, Young Lawyers Section, 2005
Litigation Counsel of America, Fellow, 2018-Present
American Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, 2015-Present
Maryland State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Executive Council 2014-Present
AIMS -- American Initiatives for Military Support, Advisory Council, 2014-Present
Graham Equestrian Center, Advisory Board, 2007-Present
Maryland Bar Foundation, Life Fellow, 2006-Present
Maryland State Bar Association, Agricultural Law Committee, Chair, 2017-2018
Maryland State Bar Association, Agricultural Law Section, Chair Elect, 2016-2017
Maryland State Bar Association, Agricultural Law Section, Secretary, 2015-2016
Maryland State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Secretary, 2014-2015
Green Spring Internal Medicine, Board of Advisors, 2012-2016
United States Commission on Civil Rights, Member, Maryland State Advisory Committee, 2011-2013
Maryland State Bar Association, Animal Law Section, Chair, 2010-2011
American Bar Foundation, Fellow, 2007-2015
Maryland Defense Force, Lt. Colonel, 2006-2016
Maryland State Bar Association, Board of Governors, 2005-2007
Heroes Helping Heroes General Counsel, Secretary, Board Member, 2004-2015
Avon Congregational Church, Deacon, 1998-2001
Avon Zoning Board of Appeals, Judge, 1998-2001
