Pessin Katz Law, P.A. (“PK Law”) is pleased to announce that Brian M. Cathell and Aidan F. Smith have been elected Member.
Brian’s litigation practice primarily focuses on the defense of medical malpractice matters, as well as defending physicians and other health care providers in various administrative forums. Brian has handled professional liability matters in the District and Circuit Courts of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. Brian has also represented clients in matters involving general and commercial civil litigation, education, construction, and criminal defense.
Prior to moving to civil litigation, Brian was an Assistant State’s Attorney for Baltimore County where he tried hundreds of cases to verdict, including three First-Degree Murder jury trials. During his time there, Brian was given the responsibility of training new prosecutors and was frequently consulted by his colleagues regarding trial strategy and technique. He was also specially assigned to handle matters of a high-profile nature, some of which drew media attention.
At PK Law, Brian has remained successful in the courtroom. In August 2017, he obtained a unanimous jury verdict in favor of his physician client in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County. Recently, Brian has briefed and successfully argued numerous motions in various circuit courts in Maryland regarding proximate causation and related areas of first impression. Additionally, Brian has worked as “first chair” negotiating fair settlements on behalf of his clients at mediation.
Brian has been selected for inclusion in “Rising Stars” in Super Lawyers Magazine 2016-2018, is a Member of the Young Professional Board of Directors for The First Tee of Baltimore, and frequently serves as a judge for the Third Judicial Circuit mock trial competition.
After receiving his law degree, Brian clerked for the Honorable Mickey J. Norman in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County where he drafted opinions involving many areas of civil, criminal, and administrative law. Brian received his undergraduate degree from West Virginia University.
Aidan Smith is a Member with PK Law and is part of the firm’s General Litigation Group. Aidan focuses his practice on general litigation, criminal defense and family law matters. He has represented clients in district and circuit courts throughout the State of Maryland as well as Maryland federal courts. Representative general litigation matters include successful defense of a Public Information Act suit, real property litigation, dismissal of legal malpractice claims, representation of a mortgage holder against a large financial institution and representation of an employer against an embezzling employee. Representative criminal defense matters include misdemeanor and felony charges in state court, DUI/DWI/Drunk Driving administrative and criminal process and reduction of incarceration time. Family law representative matters include contested and uncontested divorces, separation agreements and guardianships.
Aidan has been recognized repeatedly by his clients, co-workers and peers as professional and smart and an attorney who uses common sense and exercises good judgment on behalf of his clients. A fellow practitioner commented, “He is an easy person to get along with and demonstrates care and concern for all parties involved, not just the betterment of his own client.” Another said, “I would trust any case to be handled well when sent in his (Aidan’s) direction.”
A client noted, “We can’t praise Aidan enough for his professionalism and would highly recommend him to anyone in need of an attorney.”
Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, Aidan has been selected for inclusion in “Rising Stars” in Super Lawyers Magazine 2014-2018. He was selected a 2015 Baltimore and Washington D.C. Legal Leader for Family Law, Criminal Law and Litigation, is a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation and a member of the Baltimore County Bar Association where he serves on the Family Law Committee and is Vice Chair of the Criminal Law Committee.
Aidan received his Juris Doctorate, cum laude, from the University of Baltimore School of Law. While in law school, Mr. Smith was a staff editor for the Journal of Environmental Law, a member of the International Environmental Moot Court team and a Rule 16 Attorney for the Office of the Public Defender.
We are very proud of Brian and Aidan’s professional accomplishments and look forward to their continued professional growth and success at PK Law.
