Steven D. Silverman is the managing partner of the firm with thirty years of litigation experience in federal and state courts throughout the region. Mr. Silverman is recognized as one of the most able trial lawyers and negotiators in Maryland, and has enjoyed an extraordinary record of success.
His principal areas of practice include all types of complex civil litigation and appeals, as well as high-profile criminal litigation. He has been recognized as one of the top 100 trial lawyers in Maryland for 12 consecutive years by the The American Association of Trial Lawyers, was named by a national publication as one of the top 10 criminal defense attorneys in the Northeast, and was named top 100 lawyers overall in the Northeast United States.
Since 1991, Mr. Silverman has represented thousands of criminal clients in courts throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region. He has not lost a jury trial in any criminal matter in over two decades.
Although he established himself as a criminal defense attorney early in his career, Mr. Silverman has also served as lead counsel in scores of complex civil jury trials in state and federal courts. His skills and success in the civil courtroom led to him being named a U.S. News Best Lawyer in America for civil litigation as recently as 2023. He has also been appointed by Federal Courts as lead or co-lead in several nation class actions including the NHL Concussion Litigation (Minnesota) & The NFL Painkiller Litigation (California), to name a few.
Executive Assistant to Managing Partner / Office Manager
Shelby A. Emich
410.385.2631
semich@silvermanthompson.com
- University of Baltimore School of Law - J.D. - 1991
Dean's Award
- University of Richmond - B.A. - 1988
- Appellate / Civil Appeals
- Class Action Litigation
- Criminal Defense
- Criminal Defense-White Collar
- General Civil Litigation
- Wrongful Death
- Sports & Entertainment Law
- Victim's Rights
Mr. Silverman's cases have often been widely reported. He has appeared on broadcast media programs including 60 Minutes, Face The Nation, BBC Worldwide, The Today Show, Good Morning America, Anderson 360, all national network evening news programs, the Dr. Phil Show and ESPN Sports Center, to name a few.
He has served as a legal consultant for the Washington Post, the Baltimore Sun, the Maryland Daily Record, CBS News and other national and local media. He has been invited by the Bar Association to lecture before colleagues and has served as a member of the Judicial Selections Committee. He also has been invited to present at UCLA School of Law's Labor and Sports Symposium and at area law schools on a variety of topics.
Some cases of note include:
Civil Litigation
Administrative
- Successful representation of dozens Maryland judges charged with ethics violations by the Commission on Judicial Disabilities.
- Representation of lawyers in Attorney Grievance maters.
Class Actions
- Representation of thousands of former National Football League (NFL) players led by Richard Dent and Jim McMahon in litigation against the league (2014-present), including two appellate victories in the Federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
- Co-Lead counsel to hundreds of former National Hockey League (NHL) players in a groundbreaking litigation against the league for concussion injuries (2013-2019).
- Appointed Counsel in competitive RFP to represent the State of Maryland and Baltimore County to recover damages to the state and county against manufactures and distributors associated with the opioid epidemic.
Sports Law
- Successful representation and defense of Baltimore Orioles CEO John Angelos in litigation involving succession and control of the Baltimore Orioles (2023).
- Representation of thousands of NFL and NFL players in several maters against their respective leagues.
- Successful representation of boxing world champions Riddick Bowe and Virgil Hill in separate litigation voiding long term and inequitable promotional/ management contracts.
- Chief negotiator and advisor to two-time UFC strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.
- Representation of scores of professional athletes and Olympians in promotional contracts.
Victim's Rights
- Victims of the Capitol Gazette mass shooting (2021-2023)
- Victims of convicted Washington D.C. voyeur Rabbi Barry Freundel (2019)
- St. Paul's School of Concord, NH rape victim Chessy Prout (2017-2019)
- Surviving victim of accused Maryland cannibal Alexander Kinyua in his claims against a state university (2014).
- Baltimore Gun Trace Task Force victims Umar Burley and Brent Mathews who went to federal prison after Baltimore Police admittedly planted drugs in their vehicle (2018-2021) resulting in record $8m payout by Baltimore City.
- UFC world champion Rose Namajunas and others in the New York City Barclay Center bus attack by Conor McGregor (2019).
Wrongful Death
- The successful representation of victims of the catastrophic Amtrak/ CSX collision in Chase, Maryland (1996).
- Lead trial counsel in a successful multi-million dollar wrongful death claim by the family of a Maryland juvenile killed by officials at the Bowling Brook Preparatory School in Carroll County, Maryland. The case drew significant national interest and caused significant change in the Maryland Juvenile Justice System (2011).
Criminal Defense
- Representation of Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh in the United States District Court for fraud and tax evasion (2020).
- Representation of renowned presidential historian Barry Landau in United States District Court involving allegations of the most prolific historical document theft conspiracy in American history. The case was featured on 60 Minutes (2012).
- Successful representation of former One Mind Ministries cult member Ria Ramkissoon by obtaining a plea of probation in a case where Ms. Ramkissoon was charged with 1st degree murder for the alleged starvation of her one-year-old son. This case garnered significant media attention in the United States and abroad. It is believed to be the first case in the history of American jurisprudence to include a "resurrection clause" in the plea agreement.
- Successful representation of former undisputed World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Riddick Bowe in numerous civil and criminal matters spanning a decade including a criminal trial acquittal in Prince George's County, Maryland.
- Successful representation of an ex-NBA basketball player and his wife in a federal criminal fraud investigation and prosecution in U.S. District Court, Greenbelt, Maryland. All fraud charges dismissed.
- Successful defense of several politicians in matters before a criminal grand jury resulting in no charges filed.
- Representation of a state campaign treasurer on theft and election law charges. The case was dismissed on the fourth day of trial by the State Prosecutor due to “inconsistent” testimony elicited by Mr. Silverman’s cross-examination of a Baltimore City Councilwoman. The Councilwoman subsequently resigned under pressure of perjury charges.
- Representation of several state delegates and senators in various criminal indictments and ethics charges.
Appellate (sampling)
- Reversal of first degree murder conviction by Maryland Appellate Court. State v Bircher, 221 Md. App. 425 (2015)
- Lead appellate counsel in a high-profile case resulting in the reversal on appeal of one of the largest verdicts in Maryland history-a $33.6 million judgment by a Circuit Court judge in favor of retired Raven Michael McCrary against two former business associates. Fisher v. McCrary Crescent City, LLC et al. 186 Md App. 86 (2010)
- Commissioner, Maryland Commission on Judicial Disabilities, 2006-2014
- Assistant Public Defender, Baltimore City, Felony Narcotics Division, 1991-1994
- Law Clerk, Office of the Attorney General, Civil Litigation Division, 1989-1991
- 2023 The Best Lawyers in America - Criminal Defense: General Practice, Criminal Defense: White Collar, and Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs
- Maryland Governor's Citation for Service to the Judiciary 2014
- Dean's Award, University of Baltimore Law School 2017
- "50 Most Influential Marylander" by The Daily Record 2015
- Avvo rating: "Perfect 10: Superb" 2023
- US News and World Report: Best Lawyers 2022
- Named as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers in the State of Maryland by the American Association of Trial Lawyers 2007-2022
- Appointed to Commission on Judicial Disabilities (4 year term) 2005, Re-Appointed in 2009 (4 year term)
- Named as one of the Top 100 lawyers in the Northeast in Arrive Magazine 2012
- Named as one of the Top 10 criminal defense attorneys in the Northeast by Avvo
- Fellow, the Litigation Counsel of America 2009-2019
- Selected as a Maryland Super Lawyer 2007-2023
- Appointed to serve on Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler’s Transition Committee 2006
- Maryland State Bar Association
- Baltimore City Bar Association
- Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney Bar Association
Client Reviews
Great Lawyer and staff, very diligent and organized about gathering facts and information. Keeps you informed every step of the way. Very helpful with explaining the process in layman's terms and offering sound advice. Successful negotiations with settling the suit. Overall very...
Andy is an incredible person and lawyer. He studies the case and works hard preparing. He takes over the courtroom, but always very professional and courteous, but all eye and ear are on his every word when he speaks, and presence his well thought out case. I was scared, knowing...
Andy represented me and my firm many years ago in a very complex civil litigation matter. I knew he was smart (Duke Law School) and I knew he was successful (several $100 million recoveries), but I was astounded how hard he works. He spends the time to read every word on every...
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