Jan I. Berlage
Top rated Business Litigation attorney in Baltimore, Maryland
Gohn Hankey & Berlage LLP
Practice areas: Business Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Bankruptcy; view more
Licensed in Maryland since: 2002
Education: University of Virginia School of Law
Selected to Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2026 Call today:
410-973-6189
Gohn Hankey & Berlage LLP
201 North Charles StreetSuite 2101
Baltimore, MD 21201 Visit website
Jan I. Berlage is a distinguished partner at Gohn Hankey & Berlage LLP in Baltimore, Maryland, with a legal career spanning over 30 years. Renowned for his depth of knowledge and versatility, his practice covers a broad spectrum of legal areas, including but not limited to:
Business litigation
Trade secret disputes
Noncompete agreements
Intellectual property litigation
Copyright and trademark law
Bankruptcy matters
Appellate advocacy and appeals
Throughout his dynamic career, Mr. Berlage has also represented a diverse array of clients, from individuals in wrongful death cases to businesses facing complex real estate and animal law disputes. Additionally, his extensive courtroom experience includes trials, arbitrations, mediations and administrative hearings, with appearances before the Maryland Court of Appeals and the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit.
An epitome of professionalism, Mr. Berlage has secured significant jury verdicts and substantial settlements for his clients such as a recent $1.6 million compensatory damages award in a copyright case and a nearly $1 million settlement for an heir in a wrongful death lawsuit. He is also adept at defending against multimillion-dollar claims in both state and federal courts.
Mr. Berlage is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law (Class of 1995). He was admitted to practice law in Connecticut in 1995, New York in 1996, and Maryland and Washington, D.C., in 2002. Early in his career, he clerked for the Honorable E. Stephen Derby at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, gaining invaluable insight into the judiciary.
Before transitioning to private practice, Mr. Berlage honed his skills as an associate attorney in Connecticut and then in Baltimore, Maryland. He has imparted his knowledge of pretrial litigation at the University of Maryland School of Law, served on the board of governors for the Maryland State Bar Association and co-authored "Maryland Equine Law: A Legal Guide to Horse Ownership and Activities."
An active leader in the legal community, Mr. Berlage is a fellow of both the American Bar Foundation and The Maryland Bar Foundation. He is a frequent CLE presenter, has chaired numerous committees at the state and national level, and often serves as local counsel for out-of-state clients. His commitment to excellence is reflected in his “Superb” score on Avvo and the prestigious AV Preeminent peer-review rating* through Martindale-Hubbell.
*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.
Jan I. Berlage is a debt relief agent. He helps people file for bankruptcy relief under the Bankruptcy Code.
Practice areas
Business Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Bankruptcy: Business, Appellate, Intellectual PropertyFocus areas
Appeals, Bankruptcy Law, Copyrights, Intellectual Property Law, Non-Compete Agreements, Trade Secret, Trademarks
- 30% Business Litigation
- 30% Intellectual Property Litigation
- 20% Bankruptcy: Business
- 10% Appellate
- 10% Intellectual Property
First Admitted: 1995, Connecticut
Professional Webpage: https://www.ghbllp.com/jan-i-berlage/
Bar / Professional Activity
- Maryland
- Pennsylvania
- Connecticut
- District of Columbia (D.C.)
- New York
- Served on the Board of Governors, Maryland State Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Executive Council, 2014–Present
- AIMS—American Initiatives for Military Support, Advisory Council, 2014–Present
- Regular presenter at Continuing Legal Education (CLE) courses
- Taught Pretrial Litigation Practice, University of Maryland School of Law
Verdicts / Settlements (Case Results)
- SHETH, et al. v. Horn, et al., May 25, 2017, Defendant's jury verdict on $6 million claim (including punitive damages) and successful jury verdict on counterclaim
- UNDER A FOOT PLANT CO. V. EXTERIOR DESIGN, May 11, 2017, Plaintiff's jury verdict: $900K actual damages; $300K statutory damages
- 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 weeklong 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 an 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 multinational corporation.
- Represented indenture trustee in bankruptcy matter involving $100 million+ bond issuances.
- Successfully litigated on behalf of an 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 a $1 million+ judgment for a major corporation in a corporate theft case.
- Achieved numerous trademarks and copyrights for businesses and individuals in a wide array of industries.
Honors
- Selected to Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2026
- Fellow, American Bar Foundation
- Fellow, Maryland State Bar Foundation
- Highest rating on AVVO.com, based on client reviews and experience
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America, 2018
- Top Ten Bankruptcy Attorneys in Maryland, National Academy For Bankruptcy Attorneys, 2014
- Recipient, Who's Who in America, 2013
- Recipient, Who's Who In American Law, 2013
- Recipient, Who's Who in the World, 2013
- Maryland State Service Award, State of Maryland, MDDF, 2012
- The Maryland Defense Force Achievement Ribbon, State of Maryland, MDDF, 2012
Educational Background
- University of Virginia School of Law—J.D., Executive Director—Journal of Law and Politics, 1995
- St. Catherine’s College, Oxford University—1992
- Wesleyan University—B.A., Phi Beta Kappa, 1992
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- William Mitchell Law Review: A Clear Message Regarding Service of Process on Joint Ventures & Joint Enterprises, Ryan Contracting, Inc. v. JAG Investments & Mellett v. Fairview Health Services, 2002
- Bankruptcy in Maryland, Preferences and fraudulent conveyances, 2004
- Taking the High Ground: Ethical Traps for Young Lawyers and How to Avoid Them, Professional Ethics, 2005
- Multi-jurisdiction Practice: What Every Lawyer Needs to Know, 2006
- Central Maryland Saddle Club July Membership Meeting—Maryland Horse Law, 2011
- Day of the Horse—Maryland Horse Law, 2011
- Maryland Million Day at the Laurel Race Track, Laurel, MD—Maryland Horse Law, 2011
- Nuts and Bolts of Bankruptcy Law, 2011
- Chapter 7 and 13 Bankruptcy: Line-by-Line Workshop, Consumer Bankruptcy Fundamentals, 2013
- Real Estate Foreclosure: A Step-by-Step Workshop, How Bankruptcy Changes the Landscape, 2013
- 2014 Animal Law Symposium—Keeping Your Farm Safe: How Contract Law, Tort Liability, and Financial Restructuring Impact the Horse Industry and Animal Law In General
- 2014 Guide to Collection Law—Staying in Compliance With the FDCPA and Avoiding Pitfalls
- 2014 Guide to Collection Law—Successfully Locating Assets
- Maryland Foreclosures and Workouts—The Various Tools in the Toolbox for Working Out Troubled Real Estate Loans, 2014
- S.I.G.M.A. Exchange, Finance, Credit, and Collection Share Group Meeting—What Every Businessperson should Know About Bankruptcy, 2014
- Third Maryland Horse Forum—Maryland Equine Law and Access to Public Lands and Riding, 2014
- Bankruptcy Bar Association: Spring Break—Individual Chapter 11 Plan Confirmations, 2015
- Dirty Litigation Tactics: How to Deal with the "Rambo" Litigator, 2015
- Advanced Collection Law Challenges and Recovery Techniques, 2016
- Forensic Valuation Mock Trial, 2016
- Hearsay, Email, Business Records, and Social Media—in the Trenches, Top Hearsay Pitfalls Made by Trial Attorneys, 2016
- Maryland State Bar Association Annual Meeting—KEEPING THE FARM: ISSUES RELATED TO DIVORCE, BANKRUPTCY, AND OTHER ISSUES, 2016
- PATH International Region 2 Conference—Best Practices for Equine Law-Related Activities, 2016
- Police Liability Claims From Start to Finish— Ethical Considerations in Police Liability Cases, 2016
- Negotiating Indemnification, Reps, Warranties, and More in Business Contracts, 2017
- ACC—From Stem Cells to Garden Variety Plants: Registering and Protecting Your Photographs Through Copyright Law, 2018
- Applying the Rules of Evidence: What Every Attorney Needs to Know—Determining Admissibility & Authentication of Social Media and Email Evidence, 2018
- DDA: From Stem Cells to Garden Plants: Registering and Protecting Your Photographs Through Copyright Law, 2018
- Getting Emails, Texts, and Social Media Posts Admitted: Advanced Evidence How-to's, 2018
- The Ultimate Guide to Police Liability Claims: Jury Selection—Drawing Out Bias For or Against Police, 2018
- Top Trial Strategies the Pros Use to Win Their Cases: Voir Dire and Jury Selection Strategies; Opening Statements and Direct Examinations, 2018
- Voir Dire Questions and Effective Use of Challenges—2018
- Co-author of Maryland Equine Law: A Legal Guide to Horse Ownership and Activities
- "Maryland Foreclosures and Workouts: Workouts—The Various Tools in the Toolbox for Working Out Troubled Real Estate Loans," National Business Institute (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 Toward Litigation," NBI, 2011
- "Bankruptcy Litigation," NBI, 2011
- "Collection Law from Start to Finish," NBI, 2010
- "Consumer Bankruptcy in Maryland," NBI, 2010
- "Chapter 7 Bankruptcy," NBI, 2009
- "Advanced Collection Strategies," NBI, 2009
- "Contract Practice for Maryland Paralegals," Halfmoon Seminars, 2007
- "Understanding Federal Courts and Procedure," Halfmoon Seminars, 2006
Other Outstanding Achievements
- Law Clerk to the Honorable E. Stephen Derby, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland
- Former Associate Attorney at Day, Berry, and Howard (Connecticut)
- Former Associate Attorney at Ballard Spahr LLP (Baltimore, MD)
- Acts as local counsel for out-of-state clients
Office location for Jan I. Berlage
201 North Charles Street
Suite 2101
Baltimore, MD 21201
Phone: 410-973-6189
Selections
- Super Lawyers: 2015 - 2026
