Cipriani & Werner, P.C. is pleased to announce that Jessica P. Butkera, Carlos M. Lastra, and Tracey J. Coates have been selected for inclusion in the 2024 list of Maryland Super Lawyers.  Additionally, Florina Lupei was honored as a Rising Star.

Ms. Butkera was recognized in the area of General Litigation and is a partner in the firm’s Maryland (Metropolitan D.C.) office.  Her general litigation practice includes product liability, general & premises liability, professional liability, employment law, construction, motor vehicle/motor carrier and environmental toxic tort matters. Ms. Butkera also has extensive experience in defending professional negligence claims.  Ms. Butkera received her B.A., cum laude, from The George Washington University in 2002 and her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law in 2007.

Mr. Lastra was recognized in the area of Family Law and is a partner in the firm’s Washington metropolitan area (DMV) offices and Co-Chair of the firm's DMV Family Law practice group.  His practice focuses on all areas of family law including alimony, use of forensic evidence, child custody and childcare concerns, child guardian issues, child visitation and guardianship representation.  Mr. Lastra received his B.A. from the University of Miami in 1989 and his J.D. from the University of Miami School of Law in 1992.

Ms. Coates, recognized in the area of Family Law, is a partner in the firm’s Washington metropolitan area (DMV) offices and Co-Chair of the firm's DMV Family Law practice group.  She represents clients from a wide range of family structures in a variety of domestic relations matters, including pre-marital agreements, divorce and separation, child custody, child support modification, enforcement of court orders and agreements, adoption, and guardianships.  Ms. Coates received her B.A. from Smith College in 1998 and her J.D. from Hamline University School of Law in 2005.

Ms. Lupei is an associate in the firm’s Washington metropolitan area (DMV) offices and was named a Rising Star in the area of Family Law.  She concentrates her practice in family law (including international family law matters), trademark and copyright, international law and general litigation matters for clients in the DMV area, New York and Europe, particularly the diplomatic community with U.S. residences.  Ms. Lupei received her Bachelor of Laws in 2013 and her B.A. in Marketing Management in 2014 from Babes-Bolyai University in Romania.  She then received her LLM in intellectual property from The George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. in 2019.  Ms. Lupei is fluent in Spanish and Romanian.