Brett Ingerman is the Managing Partner for the Baltimore Office of DLA Piper, and Co-Chair of the DLA Global Compliance and Governance Practice. Below, Mr. Ingerman shares his year-end reflections, as well as what he is most looking forward to in 2019.

MSBA: What were your highlights of 2018?

BI: I have three – one professional and two personal. In April, we secured what is believed to be the largest jury verdict in the history of Harford County, Maryland. We represented a small business that had tried since 1989 to open a rubblefill in Harford County. For decades, the County did everything it could to prevent the rubblefill. After 30 years, our client got his day in court and the jury rewarded him with a $45.5M verdict. The jury was so fond of our client that two alternate jurors who were dismissed before deliberations came back to the courtroom to hear the verdict.

Personally, I just completed my term as Board Chair for the CollegeBound Foundation. CollegeBound does such amazing work getting Baltimore City high school students to and through college. It was a privilege for me to serve as Board Chair, and perhaps more importantly, turn the job over to Alicia Wilson, who is not only a CollegeBound alumni, but will be the first African American, first woman, and first CollegeBound alum to serve as Board Chair.

Secondly, I was asked this year to join the McDonogh School Board of Trustees. I graduated from McDonogh, and the school played a significant role in my life. It taught me how to be a student, an athlete, a friend and, most importantly, a man. I am honored to be able to give back to such a tremendous institution through board service.

MSBA: What are you most thankful or grateful for this holiday season, and why?

BI: I am most grateful for my wife and three children (and two dogs). My wife and I were just talking about how we used to complain about having to take the kids to multiple games on the weekends, and now they are older and we really miss those busy weekends. We even miss the terrible smell of the lacrosse equipment that would emanate from the trunk on those hot summer days.

MSBA: What do you most look forward to in 2019?

BI: I look forward to continuing to build the Baltimore Office of DLA Piper. Since taking over the Managing Partner role in 2017, I have a new appreciation for the amazing talent in this office. Local Baltimore lawyers with national and international practices providing unbelievable client service to companies around the world, while at the same time engaging in the local community and reinforcing our commitment to Baltimore.

[Photo: DLA Piper]