Mark E Schamel

I am one of the lucky people who has called Mark my friend since 2001. He and I lost touch for a number of years, but I always felt like if I ever got in personal legal trouble, Mark would be the first person I would call. And, he was. Last year Mark swiftly stepped in to defend me against a TRO file...d by my (now former) upstairs neighbor to gain advantage against my husband in a longstanding condo dispute. It was a dark period in my life, but Mark was able to resolve the TRO matter and the longstanding condo dispute. Any client that Mark takes on is a lucky client indeed. I also echo many of the clients reviews about Mark being smart, commanding, and overall excellent attorney and strategist.

I served as local counsel on a 100 count multi defendant RICO, money laundering case. Mark Schamel was incredible. He orchestrated a tsunami of evidence, arguments and experts that overwhelmed and overpowered the Government. Over the course of 18 months, Mark removed a prosecutor from the case for mi...sconduct, exposed the Governments overreaching and resolved the case after a corporate entity pled to a single misdemeanor charge. He is an amazing lawyer and an even better human being.

I met Mark over July 4th weekend in 2017. It's a remarkable journey since. He is a rare combination of intellect, knowledge, quick thinking, energy, passion, and compassion to his clients. He is a REAL trial lawyer. He discussed or emailed his plans along the way. He encouraged my involvement in the ...filings. As the defendant, one MUST involve in his/her case seriously, and I did. He was aggressive, but he knew when to be humble. This was particularly important in my case, as it took many unique turns. He executed well with an excellent outcome; a dismissal of multiple criminal charges in a federal court. We didn't always agree, but he respected my disagreement(s). I recommend him strongly in all criminal matters.

For anyone looking for legal counsel, look no further: Mark is your guy. He understands that the legal system can be a scary place, and he understands that you hire lawyers to help you navigate it. He understands the rules, and he understands the law. His experience speaks for itself. Even more impor...tantly, though, Mark is an exceptional person who cares about you and how your case will impact your life. He fervently believes in people, and wants to be a positive force in the world. I learned these things when I worked with Mark on a pro bono case involving a wrongly convicted prisoner who is now serving a life sentence. Mark and his firm donated literally thousands of hours to this cause. Why? For the simple reason that they believed their client had been abused by our criminal justice system. They weren't looking for publicity; they were looking for justice. Mark and his colleagues did not just look to "check the boxes" or just say there were doing pro bono work. They committed themselves to pursuing justice, even though this meant years investigating the client's case, interviewing witnesses, constructing legal arguments, preparing for court hearings, filing briefs, and doing all the things that lawyers need to do to win a case. They did so with a single-minded focus on how these things would affect the client. They did so because they cared about doing what was right; not what was easy. Even though this meant long hours for them, lost time with their families, and enormous stress, they recognized that the cause--the client--was worth fighting for. Through it all, Mark treated everyone--clients and opponents alike-- respectfully. He understood that he was only as strong as his team, and he made everybody feel like they had a voice. Mark is a rare person. He is open about who he is. He is loud about his principles. He cares for people so much that that he is willing, time and again, to inconvenience himself. And, he stands up for people who feel bullied or alone. Mark is the best of us, fighting for people who sometimes get accused of being the worst of us. Why? Because he realizes we are all people. We all deserve somebody who cares about fighting for what's right. And, Mark is one hell of a fighter.

Mark came to my rescue when I was had hit my lowest point in my life. I was charged with a felony and two misdemeanors in DC for having a gun in my car. At the time, I was pursing a professional doctorate degree and had high hopes of working in the intelligence community. First, Mark was great at ...communication. I rarely, if ever, had to reach out to him for an update on my case. He keep me informed throughout the process and when negotiations appeared to be going south, he kept pushing. I almost felt like he was defending his little brother the amount of time he spent helping me and guiding. When the time came to make a decision on the offer versus going to trial, Mark explained all my options and allowed me to make the decision that was in my best interest. He considered every possible angle. In the end, due to his excellent representation, I walked away with a minor misdemeanor conviction, no felonies, and paid a $50.00 fine. What he did was a miracle. Additionally, I got my state license and the job in the intelligence community with no issues getting a security clearance. I owe my life to Mark and his superb representation.