Claudia has more than 14 years of legal experience. She began her career practicing family law with the Maryland Legal Aid Bureau. She later went on to join the largest family law firm in Maryland, where she handled complex domestic litigation cases involving support and property distribution issues. In 2005, Claudia decided to focus on real estate law exclusively. Since then, she has conducted thousands of real estate settlements.

Claudia is a member of the American Bar Association, Maryland Bar Association, and the Montgomery County Bar Association. She is a former member of the Montgomery County Maryland American Inn of Court.

Claudia received her B.S. from American University and her J.D. from Catholic University, Columbus School of Law. She is admitted to the Maryland State Bar, the District of Columbia Bar, and the U.S. Supreme Court Bar.

Claudia lives with her husband and two young kids in the Cleveland Park neighborhood, and enjoys doing yoga and supporting great charities, like DC WISE, Inc. 

With more than 20 years of experience as a mortgage banker and title attorney, Marty began his legal career with Ridgway and Griffin in Rockville, MD. Rising to the rank of partner and subsequent co-owner of the firm’s title company, Universal Settlements, LLC, he conducted thousands of settlements. His contribution to Universal was instrumental in the firm’s growth and eventual sale to First American Title Insurance Company, where Marty assumed the role of Regional Vice President and Mid-Atlantic Direct Operations Manager.

Marty brought his dedication and experience to KVS Title, LLC, where he focuses his time on conducting residential and commercial real estate settlements. Marty teaches continuing education courses for real estate and mortgage professionals. He is a member of the American, Maryland, and District of Columbia Bar associations. He is also an affiliate member of the Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors and District of Columbia Association of Realtors.

Marty was born and raised in the Washington Metropolitan area. He attended Gonzaga College High School, received his B.A. from Fordham University and earned his J.D. from American University’s Washington College of Law. He is admitted to the Maryland State Bar and District of Columbia Bar.

Marty lives in Silver Spring, MD, with his wife and three children. He actually thinks working hard is fun—he loves a good problem to solve. But when he’s not working, he likes to coach youth sports, golf, and is an avid runner.

Melissa began her legal career as a trial attorney at the Baltimore Law Firm of Tydings and Rosenberg, LLP, where she primarily handled trials in the areas of products liability, corporate and commercial litigation, and products liability. From 1997 to 2011, Melissa worked of counsel at Brault Graham, LLC, where she focused primarily on appellate brief writing. Melissa then turned her energies to the real estate world, where she represented hundreds of homeowners facing foreclosure. Prior to joining KVS, Melissa was managing attorney of the DC office for a large settlement company, where she conducted hundreds of settlements and taught a myriad of educational classes for real estate professionals in Maryland and DC.

Born and raised in Smithtown, New York, Melissa received her B.A. from Duke University, where she graduated with a degree in Political Science and Political Philosophy. While attending Duke, Melissa attended the prestigious Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, where she studied comparative British and American Law. This experience compelled her to attend law school at Washington & Lee University School of Law, where she received her Juris Doctor in 1991.

Melissa is a member of the Maryland State and Montgomery County Bar Association, and an affiliate member of GCAAR. She loves watching college sports (especially when her Duke Blue Devils are playing) and, in her free time, works as a fitness instructor at Sport & Health. She also enjoys volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House, and visiting her two children in college--as often as they will let her!

Noah is a third-generation Washingtonian and has been working in the local real estate industry since 2005. Noah began his legal career as an associate at Steptoe & Johnson, LLC, and then served as a partner and in-house counsel for a small Maryland-based residential real estate construction and development company.

Prior to joining KVS Title, Noah spent three years as the managing attorney of the Silver Spring office for a large title company. His legal experience includes litigation, real estate zoning, and contract law.  As an attorney with KVS, Noah enjoys bringing all of this experience to assist clients in navigating the complex and exciting journey of buying and selling homes.  

Noah graduated from the American University Washington College of Law, and earned his B.A. degree from the University of Michigan. Noah is licensed to practice law in both the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

He now resides in Chevy Chase, MD, with his wife and two young sons, and enjoys any opportunity to spend time with them—especially when it comes to participating in and watching just about any sport imaginable.

For the past 10 years, Danny has focused his practice on real estate transactions. With 8,000 settlements under his belt, he brings exceptional skill and experience to the settlement table. Prior to joining KVS Title, Danny was an owner and served as settlement attorney for Counselors Title in Gaithersburg, MD, and managing attorney of the Rockville Office for Universal Settlements. Danny has taught contracts and agency at hundreds of continuing real estate education courses to thousands of real estate professionals.

A native of Salisbury, MD, Danny graduated from the University of Maryland, College Park. He earned his law degree from the University of Baltimore in 2001. Danny is a member of the bars of both the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Danny lives in Kensington, MD, with his wife, two boys, and a dog named Jake. With his love for tennis, football, and hockey, Danny is an avid fan of the ATP Tennis Tour, the Washington Redskins, and the Washington Capitals. 

Andrew has been in the title business for over 7 years and has conducted countless settlements. He has experience reviewing sales contracts, curing title defects, managing the entire closing process and preparing legal documents for real estate transactions. Prior to joining KVS, he managed a branch office for a large settlement company in Northern Virginia and resolved underwriting issues at another local title company.  He began his legal carrer practicing civil litigation in the District of Columbia. Andrew is an active member of both the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors and the Greater Capital Area Association or Realtors and is currently serving on the NVAR Standard Forms Committee. He has taught a variery of continuing education classes to Realtors in all 3 juridictions, instructing on everything from contracts to ethics to legal updates.

Andrew enjoys this business because every day brings something different. He likes meeting new people at the settlement table and solving problems.

Andrew grew up in Vienna and attended Gonzaga College High School. He received a BA from Boston College and a JD from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law. He is admitted to the Virginia and District of Columbia bars.

Andrew lives on Capitol Hill with his wife, 2 young sons and dogs. He likes to travel, golf and support DC sports teams, especially the Washington Redskins.

Suzanne, a native Washingtonian, joins KVS Title with over 20 years of experience as a title attorney who has conducted over ten thousand settlements. Immediately prior to joining KVS, she served as a Regional Vice President for a large area title company. Suzanne prides herself on the long-term relationships she has maintained with realtors and homeowners who have come back to her time and again to handle their closings.

In addition to her love of being at the closing table, Suzanne is well known and respected as a long-time Continuing Education Instructor for Realtors through multiple continuing education programs. She teaches a wide range of classes, including contract basics, Fair Housing, Ethics, Agency Law, and Legal Updates. Realtors seek out Suzanne's classes for her legal expertise, creativity and case studies. She has also served on several committees of the Greater Capitol Area Association of Realtors, including the Public Policy Committee and Forms Committee.

Suzanne earned her JD from Georgetown University Law Center and received the International Academy of Trial Lawyers Advocacy Award for work at the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, representing appellants in Social Security Disability Claims. She graduated from Boston University with a B.A. in Political Science and Women's Studies.

Jen has been serving the DC Metro real estate community as an attorney for more than thirteen years.

Prior to joining KVS Title, she conducted thousands of real estate closings as a Managing Attorney for a large area title company.

While you may occasionally see her at the closing table, Jen loves the challenges of being a part of the title clearance team. Her areas of expertise consist of residential real estate transactions, foreclosures, and devising creative solutions to title issues.

Jen received her B.A. from Towson University and her J.D. from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law. She is admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia, and is a member of both Bar Associations. A long-time Hill resident, Jen spends her spare time with her rescue beagle, Millie, volunteering with Habitat for Humanity’s Global Village, and trying new restaurants.

A native Washingtonian, Laura is admitted to practice law in the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia. She earned her JD from the George Washington University Law School, and a B.S. in Biology from Texas A&M University. Laura previously practiced family law litigation in Northern Virginia prior to making a shift to the title industry.

Laura now lives in Bethesda, Maryland with her husband, two children and two dogs. In her free time, Laura enjoys spending time with her famiy at the beach in Lewes, Delaware.

Lily grew up in snowy Syracuse, NY until her freshman year in high school, when her family relocated to Northern Virginia. Lily earned her B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland and the District of Columbia and is an active member of both jurisdictions' bar associations.

When not working at KVS, Lily spends time polishing her skills as a voiceover actor. Her dream is to voice a commerical for a major brand. Lily enjoys spending time with family and friends traveling, and trying new restaurants. She's a pretty good baker too.

Joe joins KVS Title with 10 years of settlement experience in the DC metro area, having performed thousands of closings and having taught numerous continuing education classes to local realtors. Prior to his real estate career, he clerked in Circuit Court in Frederick County and later worked at a litigation firm in Annapolis.

Originally from New Jersey, Joe has been in the DC area since graduating from Catholic University as an undergrad in 2001, later earning his law degree from Catholic in 2008. He is admitted to practice in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. Joe lives in Rockville with his wife and two children, and can usally be found at one of their many practices or games.

Charles has been practicing real estate law since 2015. Prior to joining KVS, he oversaw and conducted hundreds of real estate closings at a prominent area title company. His closings have taken him throughout the area, from Shenandoah to the Eastern Shore, and everywhere in between. His experience has also included resolving underwriting issues, preparing legal documents, and mediating contract disputes. Charles also served as a real estate instructor and creator of continuing education real estate clases for Realtors in Virginia, DC, and Maryland.

Charles earned his J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law and earned his B.A. degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Charles is licensed to practice law in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Charles lives in Fairfax with his wife, kid, and cat. In his spare time, Charles trades derivatives and is trying to visit all the US National Parks. He is also hooked on bubble tea.

Brendan gravitated towards the real estate title business shortly after law school, with nearly a decade of both commercial and residential settlements under his belt since then. After learning the ropes on national, multi-state commercial deals, he transitioned primarily to conducting residential closings across DC, Maryland and Virginia.

Born and raised in Rockville, MD, Brendan graduated from nearby Sandy Spring Friends School. While fully intending to develop useful life skills, he instead earned a degree in English from the College of Wooster. Brendan then took a three year break from seeing the sun to study at Syracuse University College of Law, and upon graduating returned to become a member of the Maryland State Bar.

Against the protest of his Virginia friends and colleagues, Brendan laid down roots in Silver Sping, MD. When not in settlement you can find him with family and friends, lounging with his smush face English bulldog and pit bull, or shouting angrily at the DC sports teams he loves so dearly.

Prior to joining KVS Title, Gina worked as a general practice attorney in the federal government and as an associate at a large law firm handling business transactions. She also served on the staff of a historic house museum and remains involved in community arts activities. At KVS Title, Gina focuses her practice on residential real estate transactions and clearing complex title issues in preparation for settlement.

Gina earned her J.D. from the American University Washington College of Law and her B.A. from Fordham University. She also holds an M.A. in the History of Decorative Arts from the Corcoran College of Art + Design. Gina is admitted to the New York State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.

When she’s not working hard at KVS, you can find her in the pottery studio, at a yoga class, or rehearsing with her amateur dance troupe. She’s a perpetual night owl, and you’ll never find her without a cup of coffee in the morning.

Dave has been serving the DC Metro real estate community as an attorney for more than seven years. His areas of expertise consist of commercial and residential real estate transactions, foreclosures, and matters concerning complex title issues.

Dave received his B.A. from Bridgewater State College and his J.D. from Roger Williams University School of Law in 2003. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Maryland, the District of Columbia, and the State of Connecticut. He is a member of the Maryland and District of Columbia Bar Associations.

Outside of the office, Dave spends most of his time with his wife and family. His hobbies include cooking, swimming, hiking, and attempting new hobbies. 

Michelle Smith joins KVS Title with 13 years of legal experience in the real estate industry. She had worked for several years as a settlement attorney in Northern Virginia, and takes pride in her part of making for the closing process a smooth and successful experience. Prior to becoming a settlement attorney, Michelle worked as a civil litigation attorney, where she defended an array of cases involving real estate law and complex title issues.

Michelle received her J.D. from Syracuse University College of Law in 2007 and is admitted to the Virginia Bar. A Northern Virginia native from a real estate family, Michelle's overarching goal is to add value to the real estate industry and the agents that work within it. She loves teaching classes on the different facets of the real estate industry, from property drafting contracts, working with clients, and dealing with unconventional trasaction.

When Michelle is not conducting settlements, she can usally be found playing with her two young children. She is an avid animal lover, and enjoys rooting for Washington D.C. professional sports team.

Liz joined KVS Title in 2020 with over 13 years of experience in complex commercial litigation practice and was a core member of the legal team that set the basic framework for residential mortgage-backed securities litigation nationwide. Liz enjoys bringing her experience in problem solving to conducting real estate settlements and aims to cultivate long-term partnerships with clients at the settlement table.

Liz grew up in Akron, Ohio and earned her A.B. from Harvard University. She lived and practiced in New York City for several years after earning her J.D. from Columbia University. Liz is admitted to the New York State Bar and the District of Columbia Bar.

As a relative newcomer to the D.C. area, Liz spends weekends with her husband and mini dachshund, Cashew, exploring museums and restaurants and taking advantage of the numerous accessible hiking and biking trails. She's also an avid reader and loves to watch her husband cook elaborate meals while she drinks a glass of white wine.
  

Dan has been working in the real estate industry since 2009. During that time he has conducted thousands of settlements. He enjoys helping clients navigate through difficult transactions and loves being at the table when clients purchase their first home.

Dan grew up in New York but received his J.D. from Suffolk Law in Boston MA. He is a member of the Virginia Bar and soon to be a member of the DC Bar.

When he’s not working at KVS, Dan, his wife, and dog like to spend as much time outside as possible. You can usually find them either hiking, running, or exploring one of the many trails in Virginia.

Semmes Evans Zazzara is an experienced real estate settlement attorney who began conducting closings in early 2002.  She graduated from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, as President of her graduating class and has been a member of the District of Columbia Bar since 1991.  Semmes focuses on real estate settlements in Virginia, Maryland and DC and works closely with real estate agents, loan officers and clients to ensure smooth, problem-free closings. 

Semmes served as branch manager of a large title company where she was liaison with the company’s corporate office and where she oversaw the productivity of the office,

while managing a team of over twenty people.  

Semmes raised two boys in Arlington and has been heavily involved in the PTA and fund-raising for Arlington Public Schools.   She was also involved in the Arlington County Parks & Recreation Department as team manager for boys’ lacrosse and baseball teams for eight years.

In her spare time Semmes writes for The Zebra, an Alexandria monthly paper that reports all good news and local interest stories.

Ashley has been working in the real estate industry for more than 12 years. She was a licensed real estate assistant for 6 years before moving over to the title side of the business.

While there she gained extensive knowledge of the title business and became a licensed title agent. Before joining KVS, she was running the back office for a boutique brokerage.

Having been a licensed agent, Ashley knows what is most important to clients and she loves helping them at KVS Title.

Originally from Michigan, Ashley has called Arlington home for 13 years and graduated from Marymount University with a degree in business and marketing. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, attending concerts, and traveling. 

Jenny is our Director of Business Development and has 10 years of experience in the title industry. She was born in Arlington, VA, and seems to know everyone who lives and works there. In fact, she makes it her business to do so, because she values relationships and knows how much they matter.

Jenny prides herself on finding out what a client wants, and then seeing to it that KVS delivers. And as her clients can attest, she will not be outworked when pursuing the client's objective.

As a native Arlingtonian and graduate of Georgetown University, Jenny prides herself on doing her share for local community and charitable causes. Her favorite hobbies are hiking with her husband, cheering on her son’s baseball team, shopping with her daughter, and people watching with her dog, Grover. Give her a call and get to know her. She will be happy to hear from you.

Having always had a love for people, places, and spaces, Emily England came to KVS Title from the world of property management where she was the Director of Business Development for a Washington DC-based company. There was no problem to difficult or issue to complicated to solve, and she brought that tenacity to KVS Title where she is eager to help Agents with their transactions.

As a member of the KVS Business Development team, Emily is a trusted resource for Agents and loves to provide assistance, solutions, and answers when problems or issues arise, or a strategy is needed. Emily works with her exceptional team to ensure that Agents always have the tools they need to help their clients succeed and businesses thrive.

Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Emily attended Bentley University, a business school in Boston where she fell in love with America, and her now-husband. She has lived in Washington, D.C. for over a decade and can be found exploring DC's wonderful restaurant scene, sipping a glass of fine wine (she also previously worked in PR in the wine industry), or going on local adventures with her husband and young son.

After working for nearly ten years as a licensed assistant, Colleen's transition to KVS Title was a natural one. She has worked directly with several top producing agents, in that time becoming familiar with the regional contracts, learning the process buying and selling inside and out, acclimating to the pace of the market, and building her network of resources.

As a member of the Business Development Team at KVS, Colleen can now use her background knowledge, paired with the vast resources of the firm, to resolve issues and seek solutions. Her goal is to help agents succeed and their businesses thrive.

Colleen grew up in Northern Virginia and graduated from James Madison University with a degree in Public Relations. She currently lives in McLean, VA with her young daughter and spends her free time with family and friends enjoying all the sights and sounds this region has to offer.

Andrew has been in the Title industry since 2016 and has worked in Business Development since graduating college. He is passionate about his client's needs and believes in making a difference in their business. He prides himself on his responsive and problem-solving nature given the lightening-quick real estate industry. If he does not know the solution to a problem, Andrew will do anything he can to find it. Andrew is a licensed settlement agent, which helps him be an even better resource to his clients.

Andrew grew up in Pennslyvania before he attended James Madison University and ultimately moved to the DMV in 2014. In his spare time he enjoys hiking, traveling (domestically and abroad), camping, movies, and spending time with his wife and young son.