Ms. Whisonant is currently an associate at Hodes, Pessin & Katz. Her practice includes complex appellate work, labor and employment litigation, and education law. Ms. Whisonant represents and counsels both public and private sector clients in a variety of litigation-related matters.

As a leader in the HPK Appellate practice group, Ms. Whisonant has drafted and filed briefs for the United States Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, the Court of Appeals of Maryland, and the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland. The issues she has briefed for the various courts of appeal have ranged from federal questions under the United States Constitution to statutory interpretation of state laws. She has argued whether states are immune from suit (and liability) under the Eleventh Amendment to the United States Constitution in the Court of Appeals of Maryland. Additionally, she has argued that federal law pre-empts certain Maryland, California and Arizona state laws in amici briefs filed in the United States Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, respectively. Ms. Whisonant also has experience with construction litigation appeals in the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland and the Court of Special Appeals of Maryland.

In addition to her active appellate practice, Ms. Whisonant practices Labor and Employment litigation in HPK's Labor and Employment practice group. She represents employers against claims brought under both federal and state law, as well as wrongful discharge claims, both in federal and state courts.

Ms. Whisonant is an active member of the HPK Education and School law practice. She has litigated both tort and contract cases for a number of the firm's twenty school board clients in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, as well as the Maryland State Circuit Courts and District Courts. Additionally, Ms. Whisonant has participated in administrative proceedings on behalf of school board clients, including teacher and administrator transfers and terminations.

Ms. Whisonant's public sector practice also includes representing Maryland county governments with compliance issues. She is well-versed in the Maryland Public Information Act and the Maryland Open Meetings Act. She effectively counsels county government clients regarding their rights and obligations under both statutes.

In today's technologically-driven legal marketplace, Ms. Whisonant well-versed in both the state and federal electronic discovery rules that drive litigation in federal and state courts. She implements electronic discovery solutions that are cost-effective for clients and assistive to the litigation process. She has tailored situation-specific electronic discovery solutions in state and federal court cases, as well as administrative proceedings. For example, she formulated a solution to an electronic discovery problem for a county school board client that saved the client many thousands of dollars in litigation costs.

Ms. Whisonant has spoken at seminars regarding electronic issues and the law. In November 2008, she presented a seminar on Cyberbullying and other legal issues relating to student and teacher internet use at the Association of Independent Maryland Schools' Annual Conference at the Baltimore Convention Center. Additionally, she has created a seminar regarding electronic discovery.

Prior to joining Hodes, Pessin & Katz in 2007, Ms. Whisonant taught middle school in Prince George's County, Maryland. She remains dedicated to the smooth operation of the Maryland public schools so that they can achieve their ultimate goal: educating students.

Education

• University of Michigan, JD 2004
• University of Michigan, A.B. 1999 with honors

Bar Admission

• U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland
• Court of Appeals of Maryland

Bar Associations

• Maryland State Bar Association, Leadership Academy Committee — June 2008 — present
• Section Council, Young Lawyers Section, Maryland State Bar Association — 2006-2009
• Maryland State Bar Association, Leadership Academy Fellow — June 2007 — June 2008

Other

• Ms. Whisonant is married to Ronald T. Whisonant. They reside in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, but can be found most weekends playing golf throughout the D.C. and Baltimore metropolitan areas.

• "The Open House," New Lawyer, ABA GPISolo Division Newsletter (2007)
• Class Size as a Mandatory Subject of Collective Bargaining in Prince George's County, Maryland: 2006

• Pro Bono Attorney, Community Law Center, Small Business Legal Services Project — 2006
• University of Michigan Alumni Club of Greater Washington, D.C.

• Community Law Center, Small Business Legal Services Projec