Columbia, MD

Michael P. Coyle

Michael P. Coyle is the founding partner of The Coyle Law Group. He graduated summa cum laude from The Washington College of Law (American University) in 1994 and holds a BA from Franklin & Marshall College. His practice specializes in bankruptcy, foreclosure defense, general litigation, civil rights, and employment discrimination. He is admitted to practice in the District of Columbia and Maryland.

W. Scott Sonntag

W. Scott Sonntag is an attorney with over 40 years of experience, specializing in medical malpractice. He initially defended physicians, hospitals, and HMOs for 17 years before exclusively representing medical malpractice plaintiffs. He has tried over 200 medical malpractice cases and mediated many disputes. He is recognized with numerous awards including 'Best Lawyers in America' and 'Super Lawyers'.

W. Scott Sonntag

W. Scott Sonntag is an attorney with over 40 years of experience, specializing in medical malpractice. He initially defended physicians, hospitals, and HMOs for 17 years before exclusively representing medical malpractice plaintiffs. He has tried over 200 medical malpractice cases and mediated many disputes. He is recognized with numerous awards including 'Best Lawyers in America' and 'Super Lawyers'.

Bruce Plaxen

Bruce Plaxen is the founding partner of Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A., with over 40 years of experience in personal injury litigation. He is currently the President of the American Association for Justice (AAJ), having previously served as Vice President (2023-2024), Secretary (2022-2023), Treasurer (2021), and Parliamentarian (2020). He has been on the Board of Governors for the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ) since 1993, serving as President (2001-2002) and Chairman of the Political Action Committee (2001-2016 and 2018-2021). Plaxen has received numerous awards including the MAJ President's Award (2007, 2010, 2024), Maryland Trial Lawyer of the Year (2009), AAJ Wiedemann Wysocki Citation of Excellence (2003, 2010, 2016, 2020), AAJ Distinguished Service Award (2017), AAJ Above & Beyond Award (2019), AAJ Joe Tonahill Award (2023), AAJ Evergreen Award (2023), and was named an Influential Marylander by The Daily Record in 2025. He is also a Super Lawyers Top 100 Maryland attorney (2020-2025) and has been recognized by Super Lawyers for 19 consecutive years (2007-2025). He spearheaded the Trial Lawyers Care program, providing pro bono legal services to 9/11 victims' families, and received a Distinguished Alumnus Award from the Nelson A. Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy from the State University of New York at Albany in 2005 for these efforts.

Jonathan N. Portner

Mr. Portner is the President and Managing Partner of Portner & Shure, P.A. He is licensed to practice in MD, VA, and D.C. and represents clients in criminal defense, personal injury (motor vehicle accidents, medical malpractice, workers' compensation, drug and medical device injuries). He supervises seven offices and ten lawyers, securing millions in settlements and trial awards, with over $400 million recovered. He is known for his aggressive yet fair approach, focusing on client satisfaction and results. He is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Lawyers of Distinction, recognized as a top trial lawyer in America. He has been featured in Time Magazine and The National Law Journal, and recognized by the National Top 100 Trial Lawyers for personal injury, workers’ compensation, and criminal defense. Other accolades include American Top 100 Attorneys, Million Dollar, Best Attorneys of America, and Lawyer of the Year for Criminal Defense. State-level recognition includes "Top 10" in Maryland by the American Institute of DUI/DWI Attorneys, One of Maryland’s Top 10 Attorneys, and "10 Best" for Criminal Law. He was also named Personal Injury Litigator of the Year by the American Institute of Trial Lawyers and a Top Rated Attorney by AVVO. He has dedicated firm resources to non-English speaking clients, providing services in Spanish, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese.

Alan J. Belsky is the managing partner of the firm. His areas of practice include negligence, medical malpractice, bankruptcy and appeals. He graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law in 1991, where he was editor-in-chief of the University of Baltimore Law Review. He has published and lectured extensively on litigation topics and has been counsel in high-profile cases. He is a member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and received the Super Lawyers designation multiple times. He also received an AV rating from Martindale-Hubbell. He was instrumental in forming the Maryland State Bar Association section on consumer bankruptcy and represents indigent clients pro bono. He is admitted to practice in Maryland, District of Columbia, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, U.S. District Courts for Maryland and D.C., and U.S. Bankruptcy Courts in Maryland and D.C.

David A. Muncy

David A. Muncy joined Plaxen Adler Muncy, P.A. upon graduation from law school in 2012 and was made a partner in the firm in 2017. He worked for both plaintiffs’ personal injury firms and an insurance defense firm, deciding to fight for injured people. In law school, he served on the Executive Board of the University of Baltimore Law Review, competed on the Robert Wagner Moot Court Team, and was selected for the Dean Search Committee. He also represented indigent criminal defendants as a Rule 16 Public Defender. He graduated from the University of Maryland College Park in 2009 and the University of Baltimore School of Law in 2012 magna cum laude, inducted into the Heuisler Honor Society. In 2018, David was elected Parliamentarian for the Maryland Association for Justice (MAJ), the youngest attorney in Maryland to hold an elected Officer position. He served as Secretary, Treasurer, and President-Elect before becoming President of MAJ in 2023. He sits on the MAJ Board of Governors and previously co-chaired the Young Lawyers Division, Membership Committee, and Auto Negligence Section. He has testified before the Maryland General Assembly on bills affecting injured victims' rights. David is also a member of the American Association for Justice and attends CLE programs. He was previously Co-Chair of the Howard County Bar Association’s Young Lawyer’s Division. David focuses his practice on personal injury, workers’ compensation, and Social Security Disability cases. He has tried hundreds of cases before various Maryland courts and commissions. In 2015, he was named to the Daily Record’s “20 in Their 20s,” and was selected for Super Lawyers’ list of Maryland Rising Stars (2017-2023). The National Trial Lawyers' Association also named him to the Top 40 under 40 list. In 2019, he was honored with MAJ’s Outstanding Service Award. In 2022, he was named to The Daily Record’s Personal Injury & Medical Malpractice Power List. Since 2013, David has volunteered with Wills for Heroes.