Leadership

MAJ Leadership

President

Patrice Meredith Clarke is a trial attorney who focuses her practice on representing victims of medical negligence.  She has served as lead counsel in numerous medical malpractice cases throughout Maryland and has recovered tens of millions of dollars on behalf of her clients.  Ms. Clarke sits on the Board of Governors of the Maryland Association for Justice and currently serves as MAJ’s President.  Ms. Clarke also serves on MAJ’s Judicial Review Committee and the Legislative Committee.  She was a 2024 recipient of “The Robert J. Zarbin Legislative Advocacy Award.”  Additionally, Ms. Clarke is an active member of the Maryland State Bar Association (“MSBA”) and serves as a member of the MSBA’s Appellate Practice Committee and as Co-Chair of the MSBA Special Committee on Voir Dire.  Ms. Clarke is also an active member of the Maryland Bar Foundation, the Anne Arundel County Bar Association, the American Association for Justice, and the American Bar Association. 

Patrice Meredith Clarke
Iliff, Meredith, Wildberger & Brennan, PC
(410) 685-1166

President-Elect

Christopher S. Norman is a graduate of the University of Baltimore School of Law and a partner at Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman LLC. Once named a “Super Lawyers – Rising Star” in the medical malpractice defense world, Chris turned his talent to representing victims of medical malpractice over a decade ago, using the “inside knowledge” that he gained as a defense attorney to provide a competitive edge to his current clients. Since turning his expertise to representing injured patients, Chris has been personally responsible for securing well over $100,000,000 in verdicts and settlements on behalf of his clients, including a number of individual cases exceeding $10,000,000. Chris’ attention to detail and tenacious attitude toward representing his injured clients have translated into a remarkable track record of success, including having never failed to bring a case to a positive resolution that he has had primary responsibility for from its inception.

Christopher S. Norman
Wais, Vogelstein, Forman, Koch & Norman LLC
(410) 998-3600

Secretary-Treasurer

Cara O’Brien has dedicated her legal career for over a decade to representing and advocating for individuals that have been injured by the negligence of others in complex personal injury litigation. Ms. O’Brien has extensive courtroom experience and has successfully represented hundreds of individuals injured through the negligence others, obtaining millions of dollars for her clients and multiple seven-figure verdicts. Using those skills, Ms. O’Brien also helps individuals and families plan for the future through estate plans that will provide for their families or other beneficiaries and protect their assets

Cara O'Brien
O'Brien Law
The Yost Legal Group
(410) 659-6800

Parliamentarian

A native of Baltimore, Jonathan E. Goldberg graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 1988. Mr. Goldberg went on to attend law school at the University of Baltimore, where he was a member of the law review. He received his Juris Doctorate in 1991, graduating magna cum laude.  Mr. Goldberg practices in the areas of medical malpractice, personal injury and mass torts.  He is licensed to practice in the Maryland, Washington, DC, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, The United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Supreme Court of the United States.  He has handled cases throughout Maryland and in neighboring states.  Over the course of his career, he has given lectures and presentations on medical malpractice issues throughout the state of Maryland. Mr. Goldberg has received multiple awards and honors over the years.  Prior to representing clients injured due to medical negligence, Mr. Goldberg spent approximately 14 years defending health care providers in medical malpractice lawsuits.

Jonathan E. Goldberg
Schochor, Staton, Goldberg & Cardea, P.A.
(410) 234-1000

Immediate Past President

Michael J. Winkelman of McCarthy, Winkelman & Mester, LLP practices civil litigation in state and federal courts throughout Maryland and select other jurisdictions, having tried over one hundred cases to verdict before judges and juries. He has extensive appellate experience having argued cases in front of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, the Maryland Court of Appeals and the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Michael J. Winkelman
McCarthy, Winkelman & Mester, LLP
(301) 262-7422

View All Past Presidents

Board of Governors
As of June 2026

Section & Caucus Chairs
As of June 2026

Committee Chairs
As of June 2026

AAJ State Governors

Gwen-Marie Davis
GDH Law
(301) 769-6835

Ellen B. Flynn 
Flynn Law Group, LLC
Yost Legal Group
(240) 856-0814

George S. Tolley, III 
Dugan, Babij, Tolley & Kohler, LLC
(443) 308-1600

AAJ State Delegates

David A. Harak
Harak Law Firm, LLC
(410) 347-1272

David M. Kopstein 
Kopstein & Associates, LLC
(301) 552-3330

AAJ Minority Caucus Representative

Petra Aaron
GDH Law
(301) 769-6835

AAJ Revitalization Governor under 40

Natalie Hinders
Malloy Law Offices, LLC
(410) 746-3714

Political Action Committee (PAC) CHAIR

George S. Tolley, III 
Dugan, Babij, Tolley & Kohler, LLC
(410) 308-1600