Managing Director
Drake Zaharris
“At PK Law, we know that our long range success depends upon the skill and success of our lawyers and support team. We strive to maintain a firm culture that attracts and retains the best legal talent in our markets, and we work with our lawyers to help them attain their personal and professional goals. We expect our lawyers to continue to be viewed as leaders in the profession and in the community and to provide effective and dependable service to help our clients achieve their business and personal goals.”
Drake Zaharris is the Managing Director of Pessin Katz Law, P.A. Mr. Zaharris has an active business and litigation practice. He works primarily with individual entrepreneurs and business owners in complex commercial litigation, contract disputes, construction and financing litigation, purchase and sale of businesses and business formation and financing. Drake has tried cases in state and federal courts in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and elsewhere. Over the past twenty-five years, his clients have involved him in business deals throughout Maryland, the Mid-Atlantic region, and internationally.
Education
- Duke University, B.A.
- Suffolk University Law School, J.D., with honors
Bar Admissions
- Maryland, 1982
- District of Columbia, 1985
- Pennsylvania, 1991
- Massachusetts, 1982
- United States District Court for the District of Maryland
- United States District Court for the District of Columbia
- United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
- United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- United States Supreme Court, (Celotex Corp. V. Catrett)
Community Involvement
- Board of Trustees, Living Classrooms Foundation (1996 — Present)
- Executive Committee, Living Classrooms Foundation (2011 –
Present) - Board of Trustees, The Children’s Guild (1998 — 2001)
- Board of Directors, Baltimore County Development Corporation (1992 — 1995)
Professional Involvement and Recognition
- Baltimore County Bar Association Plumhoff Professionalism Award, 2016
- Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, Baltimore County, Appointed by Governor Ehrlich, July 2003 – 2005; Reappointed by Governor O’Malley July 2007 – 2011 and July 2011 – 2015
- MSBA Bench Bar Committee 2015-
- Chairman, Baltimore County Bar Association Bench Bar Committee, 2013-2014
- Vice-Chair, Baltimore County Bar Association Bench Bar Committee: 2012-2013
- Selected “Best Lawyers in America ®” for Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law, 2013-2025
- Selected “Best Lawyers in America ®” for Corporate Law and Closely Held Companies and Family Business Law, 2021-2025
- Past President, Maryland Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Baltimore County Bar Association Law Day Award, 2018
- Recipient, Defense Research Institute Exceptional Performance Award
- Selected for inclusion in Super Lawyers 2009-2022, 2024
- Leadership — Baltimore County (2000)
- Member, Defense Research & Trial Lawyers Association
- Member, Maryland Defense Counsel
- Member, The Harmonie Group
Representative Matters
VEI Catonsville , LLC v. Einbinder Properties, LLC, 2013 WL 3198414, Md. Court of Special Appeals (2013) – A declaratory judgment was rendered by the Circuit Court for Baltimore County in favor of Einbinder Properties, LLC (“Einbinder”), represented by Mr. Zaharris and Pessin Katz Law, P.A. (“PK Law”). The case involved the exercise of an option to purchase and a determination of value based upon the terms of the option. The lower court found that an appraisal of the property at issued complied with the dictates of the “Agreement Regarding Right of First Refusal and Option to Purchase.” VEI appealed and the Maryland Court of Special Appeals affirmed and ruled in the favor of Einbinder. Notably, in the underlying case there were three potential values that the court could select to set the value of the purchase price under the terms of the option. The court selected the highest value (7.4 million dollars) for PK Law client, Einbinder.
The case identified above is representative. It is important to recognize that each case is different and that an attorney’s past record is no assurance that he/she will be successful in reaching a favorable result in any future case.
AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale-Hubbell
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Super Lawyers
Drake Zaharris
Managing Director
