Our People
Natalie M. Koss, Esq.
Managing Partner
As a seasoned litigator, Ms. Koss has a record of achieving outstanding results for her clients in employment, federal employment and commercial matters. She has litigated or participated in cases involving many areas of commercial litigation, including contract, real estate, labor and intellectual property disputes.
Ms. Koss has extensive experience in complex litigation involving employment discrimination, non-compete agreements, employment contract disputes and unpaid sales commissions.
In recent cases, Ms. Koss won a $2.8 million arbitration award for a Federal technology sales representative for FMLA interference and retaliation claims. It is among the largest arbitration awards for the type of employment claims involved.
Ms. Koss also won a significant EEOC hearing victory for a senior Federal employee, which included a judgment for backpay, pre-judgment interest, instatement to an equivalent position, employment record expungement and compensatory damages. In an unpaid sales commission lawsuit, Ms. Koss helped her client win a $1.1 million jury verdict.
As part of her employment, federal employment and labor law practice, Ms. Koss has litigated and secured settlements for numerous clients with employment claims, including gender and pregnancy discrimination, sexual harassment, age discrimination, race discrimination and more. She has litigated cases to enforce employee rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the D.C. Human Rights Act and Title VII. Ms. Koss frequently counsels employees and professionals about severance agreements and represents them in severance package negotiations.
Natalie Koss maintains a substantial federal employment practice. Ms. Koss has significant experience representing federal employees in litigation and EEOC hearings, and she is an experienced advocate in EEOC mediation. Ms. Koss also counsels and represents federal employees in federal agency or inspector general investigations and in responding to proposed disciplinary and adverse actions.
Valerie Teachout
Senior Counsel
Valerie Teachout is Senior Counsel in the Employment Law and Litigation practice areas.
Ms Teachout is a distinguished employment attorney with over two decades of experience representing private and federal-sector employees. Her experience primarily includes representing employees who have suffered discrimination, retaliation, and wrongful termination.
Ms. Teachout is particularly adept at navigating the complexities of federal employment laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Her considerable successes include a landmark reversal in a sex discrimination case before the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals: Merritt v. Old Dominion Freight Line, Inc., 601 F.3d 289 (4th Cir. 2010).
Ms. Teachout provides a high level of service to clients. She is known for her ability to communicate complex legal concepts, empowering clients to make informed decisions about their cases. Her dedication to justice and fairness in the workplace has earned her a reputation as a tenacious advocate for employee rights.
Ms. Teachout earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
Farheen Kaleem
Counsel
Farheen Kaleem is Counsel in the Employment Law and Litigation practice areas.
Ms. Kaleem represents clients in employment, real estate, business and civil disputes and negotiations. Her employment practice includes private sector clients with employment contract, severance agreement and compensation dispute and negotiation matters, and she represents both private and federal sector employees in matters involving claims of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, as well as violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, and related state and local laws. Ms. Kaleem’s practice includes litigating on behalf of clients in Federal and state courts.
Ms. Kaleem represents individuals and businesses in contract negotiations and litigation, including commercial disputes, real estate, contractor disputes, general liability and premises liability. Her litigation matters have involved numerous Fortune 500 companies.
Prior to joining Potomac Legal Group, Ms. Kaleem served in senior attorney positions in the Maryland and Washington, D.C., offices of regional and nationwide law firms, where she managed a wide variety of employment-related matters and litigation cases and guided junior associates.
Ms. Kaleem earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law and her LL.M. in taxation from the University of San Diego School of Law. She holds a B.S. in Marketing from Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland and Washington, D.C.
Ayline Finucane
Of Counsel
Ayline Finucane is Of Counsel in the Employment Law and Litigation practice areas.
Ms. Finucane is a highly skilled attorney with a diverse background in civil litigation, intellectual property law, and international affairs. With over 15 years of experience, she offers expertise in complex litigation and international disputes.
Ms. Finucane advises and represents clients in a wide range of matters, from business and professional disputes to commercial negotiations and alternative dispute resolution. Her experience and linguistic skills have positioned her as a valuable resource for clients navigating complex legal landscapes.
Ms. Finucane holds an LL.M. in Intellectual Property from The George Washington University Law School and an LL.B. from The Academic Center for Law and Science in Israel. She is fluent in Hebrew and Arabic. Ms. Finucane is not licensed to practice in Maryland. She is licensed to practice law in New York and California.
Taylor Martin
Law Clerk
Taylor Martin serves as Law Clerk to the Firm. Ms. Martin earned her Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law, and she is a graduate of University at Albany, State University of New York. During law school, Ms. Martin was a student attorney in the Disability Rights Clinic, and she won awards with the Transactional Negotiation Team, as well as winning the California Sports Lawyer’s Rose Bowl Negotiation Competition as Champion.
Ms. Martin previously worked in law clerk positions in the technology industry and sports, including a role in the Corporate Scholars Program of the Washington Nationals Baseball Club.
Sheryl Osakue
Law Clerk
Sheryl Osakue serves as Law Clerk to the Firm. Ms. Osakue earned her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School, and she is a graduate of Georgia State University. During law school, Ms. Osakue served clients of the Rutgers Intellectual Property Law Clinic and handled trademark, copyright and patent matters.
Prior to joining the Firm, Ms. Osakue earned competitive internship opportunities with the New Jersey Transit’s Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Office, the Hon. Angela Foster of the New Jersey Superior Court, as well as a $200 billion multi-national pharmaceutical company.
John Baek
Law Clerk
John Baek serves as Law Clerk to the Firm. Mr. Baek earned his Juris Doctor from American University Washington College of Law, and he is a graduate of Princeton University.
In law school, Mr. Baek served as the Note & Comment Editor for the American University Business Law Review, where he explored pressing issues in the intersection of technology and law, including the implications of AI language processors like ChatGPT.
Prior to law school, Mr. Baek earned a bachelor’s degree from Princeton University.
Mr. Baek previously served in roles with the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office and the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) in Washington, D.C.
Mr. Baek also co-founded Team Keep, a Philadelphia-based initiative where he served as a Privacy Officer and Operations Team Lead. In this role, he was responsible for ensuring HIPAA compliance, enhancing user privacy protections, and improving the accessibility of government aid applications.
Phoebe Gurdon
Legal Assistant
Phoebe Gurdon serves as Legal Assistant to the Firm. She has completed coursework for degrees in Sociocultural Anthropology and Criminology & Criminal Justice from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Ms. Gurdon previously served in the Firm’s summer internship program, and she has worked for non-profits and social justice organizations in Washington, D.C., and Maryland.