Richard Sternberg

The Law Offices of Richard S. Sternberg is dedicated to the principle that bigger is not always better. Instead, it rests on a tradition that actually antedates the rise of the “mega-firm”-the solo practice. Emulating a country lawyer in a big-city environment allows Mr. Sternberg to provide more individualized service to his clients, and, at the same time, pursue more collegial relations with other members of the Bar. Since 1984, Mr. Sternberg has dedicated his practice to representing individuals and smaller businesses. For those corporate clients who have larger needs, he is affiliated with the Metropolitan Washington Law Consortium, PLLC. The larger affiliation allows you to benefit from a close relationship with your lawyer, but it allows easy connection to specific expertise and more economic approaches to handling easier day-to-day matters requiring competence with a lighter hand on the billing rates. If your matter requires multiple areas of practice and a limited practice, such as tax or immigration law, Mr. Sternberg can get you to the lawyers he knows to be the best through MWLC.

Center for International Legal Studies

Honorary Fellow (2002) | International Business Law

2002 - 2002

Republished in Kitzbuehel, Luxembourg, NY, and Baltimore

Honors: Honorary Fellow

Activities: Delivered paper: "Securing Investments from Foreign Sovereigns— Protecting Foreign Assets Using U.S. Law"

Georgetown University

J.D. (1983) | Law

1979 - 1983

Honors: cum laude

University of Pennsylvania

M.A. (1977) | American Political Science

1973 - 1977

Honors: magna cum laude

Activities: Pi Sigma Alpha, University Television, concurrent B.A.-M.A. in four years.

University of Pennsylvania

B.A. (1977) | Political Science

1973 - 1977

Honors: magna cum laude, honors in major.

Activities: Pi Sigma Alpha, University Television, Combined B.A.-M.A. in 4 years magna cum laude.

Managing Principal/CEO

Metropolitan Washington Law Consortium, PLLC

2002 - Current

Managing principal/CEO

Lawyer

Law Offices of Richard S. Sternberg

1984 - Current

I've practiced as a solo from the beginning and will until the end. Sometimes, there have been some very talented lawyers around me, as well.

Member, rising to CEO

The Washington Law Group, P.C.

1992 - 2002

“Securing Investments from Foreign Sovereigns—Protecting Foreign Assets Using U.S. Law.”

Republished in Kitzbuehel, Luxembourg, NY, and Baltimore

“The Jewish Roots of English Property Law.”

The Conveyancer & Property Lawyer, Issue 1 (2016)

January, 2016

Collections 101 for Campaign Professionals

Campaigns and Elections, February, 2007

February, 2007

“Third World Government Contracting.” November-December, 2005.

l.i.n.k, issue 30,

November, 2005

"Trade"

International Business Law Bulletin, March-April, 2003

March, 2003

International Commercial Transactions, Continuing Legal Education (MICPEL), Columbia, Maryland

January 1, 2008

Maryland State Bar Association

Reviewed international commercial transaction issues with a panel of other international law practitioners.

10.0 Superb

Avvo.com

2014

Hon. Fellow

Center for International Legal Studies, Austria

2002

Best Lawyers in Virginia

Virginia Business Magazine

2000

AV Rating

Martindale-Hubbell

1990

Virginia State Bar

Member

1990 - Current

District of Columbia Bar

Member

1983 - Current

Maryland State Bar

Chairman, International Law Committee

2008 - 2016

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Bar

Since 1983

Maryland

Since 1985

Virginia

Since 1990

4th Circuit

Since 1992

D.C. Circuit

Since 1984

Federal Circuit

Since 1984

U.S. Supreme Court

Since 1990

• Credit Cards Accepted
• Contingent Fees
  Contingency fees available in accident cases and, even, some international, real estate, and probate matters.
• Rates, Retainers and Additional Information
  Even in business matters, ask about the 50/50 program for discounted legal fee rates as low as $150/hour.

Q. Can I include non-U.S. residents, like my wife, in a Simple Will?

April 26, 2025

A: You probably should sit down with a lawyer for a consult. You may not need a Will at all if all of your assets are liquid like bank or stock accounts. The beneficiary clauses work so well that such planning has long ago earned the informal name of a "poorman's will." There will probably be withholding for taxes on transfers of the IRA accounts, because that is all pre-tax money. But, you can have heirs anywhere as long as they aren't on the sanctions list..

Q. How can our shelter obtain legal ownership of a dog from an incarcerated owner in Virginia?

April 22, 2025

A: Perhaps there is some statute that helps, but I have never heard of one. A dog is property in most states, including the Commonwealth. An incarcerated individual doesn't lose their property without due process of law. The easiest answer is to ask her to sign over the dog as a gift, and, a tougher alternative is to bring it up to her attorney or find some way to get it before a judge when she is next up for a review of her pre-trial detention. A call to her lawyer might help, but that's going to be tough if the lawyer is appointed.

Q. Can my mom buy a house in MD, but put only my name on the title?

April 22, 2025

A: It sounds right, but you would be well served to plan her estate at once instead of piecemeal. For example, you write of a Maryland house, but the question is posted from DC. The state estate and inheritance tax is different in those two places. And, Ms. Whitehurst is correct that a trust does this better and more safely, and you are potentially exposing yourself to Medicaid issues. Also, if she buys you a house, it is your house. What she gave you was the money. A legal consult might save you a lot of money down the road.