SHORT SALES • LOAN MODIFICATIONS • SHORT PAYOFFS/SETTLEMENTS • DEFICIENCY SETTLEMENTS

Our Team

Jill Pogach Michaels, Esq.
Jill Pogach Michaels, founder and managing partner of her boutique law firm, The Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels, LLC. She began her career as a litigator for one of the region's most prestigious law firms. She left the firm to join the largest title company in Maryland. She quickly rose in the ranks and was promoted to Vice President and Manager of two offices in Bethesda, Maryland. One of these offices was inside a real estate broker with over 170 agents. Jill's years in private practice, depth of experience, perspective and wisdom have given her a seasoned advantage. Ms. Pogach Michaels graduated with Honors from The George Washington School of Law in DC. She is licensed to practice law in MD, DC, NJ and the US District Court, 4th Circuit. The Law Offices now have five attorneys in the practice, including a Spanish speaking attorney, and a large and growing support staff of paralegals and assistants. Ms. Michaels and her firm were featured in the September 2009 Maryland Bar Journal for Excellence in Foreclosure Prevention and her participation in the Maryland Pro Bono Foreclosure Prevention Project. Jill and her team of attorneys have successfully negotiated hundreds of short sales. They also have had tremendous success in loan modifications, Mediation, Motions to Stay, Exceptions to Foreclosures that have already occurred. They are currently working on various Consumer Protection suits in defense of homeowners. Ms. Michaels frequently serves as an Expert Witness in both civil and criminal Real Estate litigation cases.

Jill is also recognized as a six year Sterling Contributor to RPAC (the Realtor Political Action Committee) and has been a proud Member and active participant in The Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors (GCAAR) for many years. In December 2009, she received the GCAAR Affiliate of the Year award for her valuable teaching, training and support to the Association and the entire real estate community. She currently serves on the Contracts and Clauses Committee, RPAC and the Rookie Society. She has served on the Grievance Committee, Contracts & Clauses Committee, RPAC Committee and the Rookie Society (Chair 2008). She teaches for GCAAR, the Rempower Real Estate Academy, the GCAAR Summit (2008-2011) and for over twenty real estate brokerage houses in the region. Her dynamic seminars and continuing educations classes are frequently "Sold Out."

The law firm reaches out to the community through pro bono efforts on a frequent and consistent basis. It is Ms. Pogach Michaels' belief that she needs to help others in a meaningful way and that the best gifts in life only come from giving to others. She does this by making regular donations to individuals in need, non-profit organizations, and through free legal work for destitute individuals. In addition to her non-profit work on the board, she frequently serves as in house counsel for several non-profit religious organizations on a wide range of legal issues.

Michelle Adams, Esq.

Michelle Adams joined the Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels in 2009. Her law practice focuses on Foreclosure Defense including exceptions to foreclosure, motions to stay and loss mitigation strategies such as loan modifications, short sales and deeds-in lieu. She has closed over 150 short sales and helped many homeowners maintain their dream of homeownership.

Michelle also provides direct assistance to pro bono clients through the Maryland Foreclosure Prevention Pro Bono Project and is Of Counsel for several housing counseling agencies throughout the state of Maryland. She was recognized for her exceptional work on the foreclosure pro bono project in the September 2009 Maryland Law Journal.

Michelle received her BA in Sociology from Brandeis University and her JD from American University. Prior to joining the law offices, she was an Attorney with Arnold and Porter for 8 years where she was part of the product liability litigation practice concentrating on class actions and complex litigation.

Jung-Hoon Samuel ("Sam") Kim, Esquire of Counsel

Concentration Areas: Family and Business Immigration Matters, Removal and Deportation Defense, Asylum, Business Buy or Sell Transactions, Liquor License, Adoption Proceedings, and Real Estate Settlement.

Being a first-generation of the Korean-immigrant, Attorney "Sam" is an achiever of the American Dream. At the age of 20, he immigrated to the U.S. with little money and unpolished, broken English. While working two jobs to support his parents and siblings, he never abandoned his dream of becoming a lawyer. During law school, he interned for a judge at the Circuit Court for the Montgomery County and clerked for litigation attorneys at a prestigious law firm. After law school, he clerked at an immigration law firm where he was trained to deal with all types of immigration visas, asylum cases, and removal and deportation matters before the immigration court. His a strong addition to the team of lawyers at the Law Offices of Jill Michaels.

Melissa Giove Brault, Esq.

Melissa Giove Brault has been in the practice of law for 19 years, five of which involved handling complex litigation in state, federal, and bankruptcy courts. As an attorney at Tydings & Rosenberg, LLP, Melissa prepared and successfully tried personal injury cases, complex contract and employment disputes, bankruptcy litigation, and product liability actions. Melissa also represented the City of Baltimore in a major relocation dispute under HUD regulations. Melissa moved into the appellate arena for the next decade, authoring numerous appellate briefs in both state and federal court, with a focus on medical malpractice and contract disputes. As an attorney at the Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels, Melissa’s energies have turned to the area of foreclosure defense, where she negotiates loan modifications and short sales, prepares motions to stay foreclosure, argues exceptions to the ratification of foreclosure sales, and employs other loss mitigation strategies for her clients.

Melissa received her BA in Political Science and Political Philosophy from Duke University and her J.D. from Washington & Lee University, where she was a member of the Moot Court team.

Lilian Rodriguez, Esq.

Ms. Rodriguez began her career as a Probation Officer in New Jersey. She moved to Maryland and joined the Montgomery County Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as a Correctional Specialist in the Pre-Trial Services Division. She worked her way through law school and graduated from the prestigious American University School of Law with a Juris Doctorate in 2001. Ms. Rodriguez has managed her own successful settlement company for eight years and has handled residential and commercial real estate transactions. As a solo practitioner she has also handled family law cases, traffic offenses including driving under the influence, driver's license violations, and criminal law. In response to the many distressed homeowners in the current real estate market, Ms. Rodriguez has assisted countless homeowners in a pro bono capacity and while working as general counsel for a non-profit housing counseling organization obtaining loan modifications, short sales and other forms of loss mitigation. She was born in Honduras and is fluent in writing and speaking Spanish. Ms. Rodriguez is licensed to practice law in both Maryland and Virginia.

Timothy Sessing, Of Counsel
Tim attended the prestigious George Washington School of Law where he obtained his Juris Doctorate in 1996; Admitted into practice in Maryland, District of Columbia and the Federal Courts of Maryland and District of Columbia; Member of the Bar Association of Montgomery County and Frederick County Maryland. Mr. Sessing was born and raised in the state of Minnesota and currently resides in Montgomery County. Mr. Sessing primarily focuses on the following practice areas: Bankruptcy, Creditor Issues, Probate, Estate Planning, Wills, Short Sale Negotiations, Loss Mitigation and Business Law.

Valerie DuBois
Valerie DuBois has been successfully negotiating loan modifications for 2 years. Her significant real estate and mortgage experience positioned her well to understand the best way to navigate her client through the loan modification process. Valerie has 12 years experience in the mortgage business; 8 of which she ran her own company. Her experience includes every aspect of mortgage loans from perfect credit programs to niche products only available through a handful of banks nationwide. Valerie’s compassion for her clients and her never-take-no-for-an-answer attitude is shown time and again in the hundreds of loan mods she has been able to complete. She has taken loan modification negotiation to another level in dealing with ALL banks nationwide on behalf of individuals who are experiencing financial hardship. Valerie’s tenacity, work ethic, and experience put her among the most successful negotiators nationwide. Valerie wants all of her clients to know that they are in great hands when they hire her.

Greg Joseph

Greg Joseph has been negotiating short sales for the Law Offices of Jill Pogach Michaels for 3 years. His understanding of real estate coupled with his recognized negotiating abilities has enabled him to successfully negotiate several bank approvals during the short sale transaction. His strengths in working with real estate agents and their clients is apparent as they navigate through the complex short sale process. Greg comes to our firm with thirty-six years of residential real estate experience. He has been recognized as developing some of the most successful real estate offices and agents in the country. He served as Senior Vice President for two national real estate firms. He is recognized as a leading authority in the art of negotiating and is sought after as a lecturer for his seminars on negotiating a successful real estate transaction.