Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Potomac, MD

Lane Hornfeck is an experienced litigator providing strategic and cost-effective legal advice before litigation, in trial and on appeal, with concentrations in business and corporate disputes, finance and fiduciary litigation, real estate and title litigation, construction and design defects litigation, mold litigation, class action defense, landlord-tenant disputes and workouts, and antitrust and trade practices litigation.

She served as the General Counsel to American Mechanical Services (AMS) and its affiliates, with 500+ employees and several facilities serving Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Chantilly, Indianapolis, Dallas, Houston, Denver, Colorado Springs, San Diego, and Los Angeles and surrounding areas.  Ms. Hornfeck counseled and advised senior management regarding company strategies, policies, procedures, risk management, litigation, and complex business transactions, including financing, acquisitions and divestitures.  She also managed, retained and worked with outside counsel where appropriate, and oversees human resources, safety, insurance benefits, insurance coverage, professional licensing and general corporate compliance issues.

Prior to joining AMS, Ms. Hornfeck was a litigation partner with the Honolulu firm of Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher, concentrating her practice in the areas of complex commercial litigation and real estate-related litigation.  Ms. Hornfeck has represented a variety of clients, ranging from individuals and small business owners to multi-million dollar corporations, LLCs and trusts in a variety of legal matters, including business disputes, trust litigation, land use litigation, real estate litigation, construction and design defects, antitrust and consumer trade practice claims, class action litigation, collections, foreclosures, and professional malpractice defense, among others.  She has experience in state and federal trial and appellate courts, as well as alternative dispute resolution forums.

Prior to joining Starn O'Toole Marcus & Fisher, Ms. Hornfeck  clerked for Associate Justice Mario R. Ramil (Retired) at the Hawaii Supreme Court and worked as an associate attorney with the law firm of Goodsill Anderson Quinn & Stifel.  Throughout undergraduate and law school, Ms. Hornfeck received numerous merit-based scholarships and awards.  As a member of the Philip C. Jessup International Moot Court Team, Ms. Hornfeck received speaking and writing awards in the pacific regional and world competitions in 1997 and 1998.  Ms. Hornfeck also served as a research assistant to Real Property Professor David L. Callies at the University of Hawaii Law School from 1996 to 1998 and as an adjunct professor teaching legal writing and appellate advocacy at the William S. Richardson School of Law.

Some examples of Ms. Hornfeck's work include:

Fiduciary Litigation.  Represented fiduciaries, interested person and beneficiaries successfully in various matters involving allegations of mismanagement of assets, breach of common law and statutory duties, and invalidation of testamentary documents.

Business Disputes and Real Property-Related Litigation. Represented various individuals and business entities in purchase and sales disputes involving hotel, resort and commercial properties, as well as zoning, vested rights, entitlements, fraudulent transfer claims, title disputes, ceded lands issues, public and native Hawaiian access issues, leasehold conversion, state environmental assessment and impact statement disputes, Hawaii State Land Court petitions for consolidation and resubdivision, residential and commercial summary possession, ejectment, collection, and bankruptcy-related matters.

Class Action Litigation. Represented various defendants in numerous class action cases involving antitrust and consumer trade practice claims and multi-million dollar damage claims.

Zoning and Land Use. Represented property owners in permitting process, before various departments, commissions and boards.

Foreclosure, Collection, and Truth In Lending. Represented secured lenders, ground lease owners, and condominium association in various foreclosure actions for both residential and commercial properties, including individual residential units, small multi-family income properties, and large residential development properties.  Successfully defended consumer lenders in connection with Truth In Lending Act claims, among others. 

Design, Construction and Mold Litigation. Represented hotel owners in multi-party construction and design defects cases involving, inter alia, multi-million dollar damage claims and large-scale complex mold remediation.

Professional Malpractice Defense. Represented real estate brokerage firms in connection with professional malpractice and negligent misrepresentation claims.  Represent attorneys in connection with various legal malpractice claims.

Administrative and Legislative Testimony and Support. Provided written and oral legislative testimony and support for clients with real property in Hawaii and potentially subject to various pieces of proposed legislation.