Jonathan R. Topazian
Principal
jtopazian@semmes.com

Washington Office
Suite 1100
1001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, D. C. 20036
202.778-2486
202.822-8258 (Fax)

Baltimore Office
Suite 1400
25 S. Charles Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
410.576.4719
410.539,5223 (Fax)

Mr. Topazian represents large companies such as Saks Incorporated and Bally Total Fitness Corporation, medium size companies such as Lankford-SYSCO Food Services, LLC, and small companies such as Kelly Generator & Equipment, Inc. and G.L. Cornell Company. He also represents governmental and quasi-governmental entities such as the D.C. Commissioner of Insurance and Securities Regulation, the D.C. Insurance Guaranty Association, Washington County, Maryland and the Sheriff's Office of Washington County, Maryland. He focuses his practice on litigation at the trial and appellate levels, as well as on arbitration proceedings. He has obtained numerous favorable final judgments and arbitration awards on behalf of his clients, including recent judgments and awards in the areas of employment discrimination, family and medical leave, information technology, real estate development, and wrongful discharge. He counsels clients on how to avoid having claims and lawsuits filed against them in the first instance, but has a proven track record of vigorously and successfully representing them when they are caught up in litigation. He is formally ranked by an independent organization which conducts broad and anonymous surveys of lawyers as having reached the height of professional excellence and the highest levels of skill and integrity.

Mr. Topazian achieved an A/V® rating from Martindale Hubbell®, the highest possible peer review rating for ethics and legal ability.

Admitted

• 1999, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
• 1998, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
• 1997, Virginia (Federal)
• 1995, Virginia (State)
• 1992, District of Columbia (State and Federal)
• 1991, Maryland (State and Federal)

Education

• Washington College of Law, American University (J.D., cum laude, 1990)
• Central Connecticut State University (B.A., Political Science, 1987)

Affiliations, Associations & Special Achievements

• American Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
• Maryland Bar Association, Labor and Employment Section
  • Co-editor of Section newsletter; Columnist, Section newsletter,
  • "Recent Developments" in labor and employment law
• District of Columbia Bar Association, Litigation Section
• Virginia Bar Association, Litigation Section
• Defense Research Institute (DRI), Labor and Employment Section