Harold G. Belkowitz

Attorney at Law

 

Harold G. Belkowitz is an accomplished litigator practicing throughout Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. Harold has represented a diverse array of clients, ranging from individuals to small businesses to Fortune 100 corporations. Clients look to Harold for cost-effective, practical legal representation.

Harold primarily represents families in special education matters arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, including eligibility, placement, IEP, due process proceedings, and judicial proceedings.  He also represents students in school discipline proceedings at all levels: elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools.

Harold is committed to serving the community. He currently serves as a Commissioner on the Fairfax County Consumer Protection Commission. The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appointed him as a Commissioner in 2008 and has reappointed him multiple times since then. Harold formerly served on the Board of Directors of the Pozez Jewish Community of Northern Virginia and the Charles E. Smith Life Communities, as an Officer and a Director for Menschwork, Inc., and President (among other officer positions) for Congregation Olam Tikvah.

Harold is approved as a FINRA Dispute Resolution Arbitrator.  FINRA operates the largest securities dispute resolution forum in the United States

Harold and his wife, Cheri Belkowitz, live in Fairfax Station with their dogs.  Their oldest child is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A.) and Brandeis University (Masters in psychology) and currently is pursuing a Ph.D. in Psychology at the University of Virginia. Their second child graduated from Goucher College and is a preschool teacher. Their third child recently graduated from Miami University (Ohio).

Practice Areas

Education Law

Represent families in special education matters arising under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, including eligibility, placement, IEP, and due process proceedings.  Represent students in school discipline proceedings at all levels:  elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools.

Business Litigation

Consumer Financial Services

Representation in the defense of statutory and common law mortgage lending claims, automobile financing matters, and title disputes.

Commercial Lending and Leasing

Representation to enforce and defend rights arising from commercial lending, financing agreements, security agreements and leases, other issues involving creditors’ rights.

Health Care

Counsel and represent long term care facilities in analyzing and enforcing available recovery options on delinquent resident accounts, including private pay, potentially Medicaid eligible, and Medicaid approved residents.

Employment Law

Counsel and represent clients in a wide range of employment issues, including claims related to employee defection, recruitment, wrongful discharge, discrimination, wage/hour disputes, employee contract and compensation, non-competition and trade secret agreements.

Alternative Dispute Resolution

Represent clients in alternative dispute resolution, arbitration and mediation proceedings. 

Bar Admissions

State Courts:  Virginia, Maryland, and District of Columbia

United States Court of Appeals:  Third, Fourth, Eleventh, and District of Columbia Circuits

United States District Court:  Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, District of Maryland, and District of Columbia

United States Bankruptcy Court:  Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, District of Maryland, and District of Columbia

Professional Associations

American Bar Association

Section on Litigation

Section on Labor and Employment Law

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA)

District of Columbia Bar

Fair­fax Bar Association

Employment Law Section

Maryland State Bar Association

Virginia State Bar

Section on Litigation

Prior Employment

Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver, Shareholder, 1996-2014

Joseph F. Cunningham & Associates, Associate, 1995-1996

Congressman Steve Bartlett, Legislative Associate, 1989-1991

Notable Cases 

In re Selby, 2019 WL 495100 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Feb. 8, 2019)

In the Matter of Hyung Bok Jon, 2019 WL 495102 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Feb. 8, 2019)

Douglas K. YI a/k/a, Douglas K. Lee, et al. v. First Tennessee Bank National Association, 2019 WL 2027081 (D.Md. 2019).

Hebrew Home of Greater Washington, Inc. v. Bach, 2017 WL 3667658 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Aug. 25, 2017)

Little v. Generation Mortg. Co., 2016 WL 903495 (Md. Ct. Spec. App. Mar. 8, 2016), cert. denied, 138 A.3d 1262 (Md. 2016) 

Jones v. WSB Holdings, Prince George's County Circuit Court (2013)

•Shareholder class action litigation challenging merger of Old Line Bancshares, Inc. and WSB Holdings

•Old Line Bancshares, Inc. Announces Approval of Class Action Settlement, No Award of Attorneys Fees to Class Counsel, The Wall Street Journal, Nov. 13, 2013

•After the merger, the suit, Daily Record, Dec. 8, 2013

•Who says you have to cave to M&A sharks?, ABA Banking Journal, Jan. 2, 2014

Veiga v. SunTrust Bank, 450 Fed.Appx. 269, 2011 WL 4910417 (4th Cir. 2011) (Affirming settlement of class action lawsuit alleging violations of Maryland Credit Grantor Closed End Credit statute in connection with credit-grantor’s automobile repossession practices.)

Veiga v. Suntrust Bank, 2011 WL 9362390 (D.Md. 2011) (Approving class action settlement in claim alleging violations of Maryland Credit Grantor Closed End Credit statute in connection with credit-grantor’s automobile repossession practices.)

Ali v. CIT Technology Financing Services, Inc., 416 Md. 249, 6 A.3d 890 (2010)