Tim Hyland is the founder of Hyland Law. He is well-known as one of the “go-to” counsel for difficult civil litigation and appeals in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia.

Tim has successfully represented clients in a range of commercial disputes, including domain name, trademark, shareholder disputes, common law and securities fraud, employment, and contractual matters; and in handling cases in federal and state appellate courts. Tim also serves as corporate counsel to a number of public and private companies, and private schools.

Having represented some of the largest domain name registries and registrars in the world for more than 20 years, Tim has secured numerous state and federal trial and appellate victories in the domain name field, many of which were cases of first impression. In addition, Tim has won groundbreaking appellate victories in cases ranging from First Amendment rights, to escrow agreement interpretation, to the law of de facto mergers. Representative victories include:

• Successfully represented a major domain name registrar in the seminal appellate case involving whether a domain name is a property right, Network Solutions, Inc. v. Umbro Int’l, Inc., 259 Va. 759, 529 S.E.2d 80 (2000);
• Represented a major internet services company in securing prompt dismissals of consumer litigation in California, New York, Florida, Alabama, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, and other states;
• Represented the nation’s largest medical group and others as amicus curiae counsel in the United States Supreme Court, in a case involving immunity for Public Health Service personnel, with the case resulting in a 9-0 victory, Hui v. Castaneda, 559 U.S. 799 (2010); and
• Obtained summary dismissal of a defamation case against an Arizona resident, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, on jurisdictional grounds.

Tim is a Northern Virginia native and holds BA and JD degrees from the University of Richmond where he was a member of the McNeill Law Society recognized for graduating in the top 10% of his class. He serves on the University of Richmond Law School Advisory Board.

Tim is rated “AV” by Martindale-Hubbell, its highest rating available to a lawyer. He also has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a top-rated business litigation attorney in Virginia and Washington, DC in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and was named by Virginia Business Magazine as one of Virginia’s “legal elite” in civil litigation.

Tim is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, New York, the District of Columbia, and West Virginia. He is admitted in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, the Eastern District of Virginia, the District of Maryland, the District of Columbia, the Northern District of Illinois, the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern District of Virginia and the District of Maryland, the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth Circuits, as well as the United States Supreme Court.

Tyler Southwick focuses her practice on commercial litigation, representing businesses and individuals in state and federal courts. Tyler has successfully represented clients in a range of commercial matters, including trademark and copyright infringement, domain name disputes, shareholder disputes, and breach of contract actions. She also assists clients with business formation and organization, contract negotiation, trademark and copyright registration and enforcement, in addition to providing companies with strategic business advice on domain name registration, brand protection, and developing their intellectual property portfolio.

She has been recognized by Super Lawyers as a top-rated civil litigation attorney in Virginia and Washington, DC in 2021.

Before joining the firm, Tyler held an associate position at Harris, St. Laurent & Chaudhry LLP. Prior to that, she held senior non-legal positions in a number of international locations. Most notable was the period she spent managing Department of Defense programs in the Middle East where she assisted US Military and NATO forces by providing logistical and operational support. This experience in her prior career prepared her well for handling high-stakes, sensitive matters for firm clients.

Tyler received her Juris Doctor from George Mason University School of Law. While in law school, Tyler interned for the appellate defense division of the US Army JAG Corps. She was an active member of the Pro Bono Society providing legal assistance in numerous civil disputes.

Tyler is admitted to practice in Virginia and the District of Columbia. She is also admitted to practice in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.

Kayla Carroway is the newest addition to Hyland Law, and she will be focusing her practice on commercial and real estate litigation. Before joining the firm, Kayla was a judicial law clerk for Judge Daniel S. Fiore, II at the Arlington County Circuit Court.

After earning her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kentucky in 2014, Kayla worked for the Kentucky House of Representatives as a legislative assistant. Kayla then relocated to Northern Virginia and earned her Juris Doctor degree from the George Mason University School of Law in 2019. While in law school, Kayla worked as a law clerk at small firms in Northern Virginia and Washington DC. She was also an active member of the Moot Court Board, served as the Executive Vice President of the Trial Advocacy Association, and was an Associate Articles Editor for the George Mason Law Review.

Kayla is admitted to practice in Virginia and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.

“Mutual trust is the most important aspect of the attorney-client relationship,” says Michael Geltner of Counsel at Hyland Law.

With almost five decades of legal experience and twenty-six years as a law professor, Michael brings an unprecedented depth of experience to his clients. His practice focus is government contract law, leasing and financing law, libel and slander and related torts, First Amendment, investment law, including SEC, and appellate practice.

Michael has called the DC area home for the past 40 years, but grew up in New York City and Philadelphia. He holds a BA and LL.B. (law degree) from the University of Pennsylvania and a JD from Columbia University where he graduated Magna Cum Laude: order of the Coif and received the Robert Noxon Tappan Award in Constitutional Law.

Michael is a respected legal voice lending his teaching skills to a variety of non-legal organizations such as civic and school groups. He has made regular television appearances as a legal expert and is involved in local youth sports.

Michael J. Bramnick is an attorney focusing on all aspects of construction, business law and litigation, collections, family law, domestic relations and general civil litigation throughout Maryland, D.C. and Virginia. Clients value his ability to analyze their legal issues in order to efficiently resolve claims and avoid costly and protracted disputes whenever possible. Mike provides experienced, effective and committed representation to businesses and individuals throughout Maryland, Virginia and D.C.

Mike represents contractors, subcontractors, material suppliers and other construction professionals in all aspects of the construction process ranging from contract review to litigation or alternative dispute resolution.  He regularly handles matters involving breach of contract and payment disputes, mechanics liens, and other claims.

Mike has experience handling a variety of civil litigation matters ranging from contract disputes, business torts, commercial real estate disputes, post-judgment enforcement and collections, non-compete claims, and violations of the home improvement licensing law and regulations.

A significant part of Mike’s law practice also includes representing buyers and sellers involved in residential real estate contract disputes, including claims related to:

• Wrongful failure or refusal to proceed to closing
• Disputes involving the return or disposition of earnest money deposits
• Proper exercise or removal of a contract contingency
• Contract interpretation
• Commission and fee disputes
• General breach of contract claims

Mike has repeatedly been named a “Rising Star” by Maryland and Washington D.C. Super Lawyers Magazine.

Mike received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Muhlenberg College in 2003, and in 2006 received his Juris Doctor from American University, Washington College of Law. During his time in law school, Mike was a judicial intern for four senior Judges at The Superior Court for the District of Columbia and a law clerk for a boutique litigation firm.  After graduation he began his career at a mid-size law firm focusing exclusively on family law before joining another prominent litigation firm where he spent five years handling construction, business and commercial matters.

Mike is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, and the District of Columbia. He is also admitted in the United States District Courts for the District of Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Elizabeth Dwyer focuses her practice on commercial litigation. She has successfully represented businesses and individuals in a wide variety of disputes relating to the internet and technology, government contracts, commercial real estate, and private schools in state and federal courts. Representative victories include:

• Trial victory awarding a private school a monetary judgment in state court in Maryland;
• Arbitrating and negotiating a successful resolution for a well-known IT company of a dispute concerning government contracts before the United States Postal Service Board of Contract Appeals; and
• Obtaining summary dismissal of a defamation case against an Arizona resident, in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, on jurisdictional grounds, Malebranche v. Johnson, 2015 WL 4396745 (D. Md. 2015).

Prior to joining Hyland Law, Elizabeth practiced at several firms in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. Elizabeth graduated cum laude from the Franciscan University of Steubenville in 2007, and in 2010 received her Juris Doctor from Ave Maria School of Law.

Elizabeth has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who in America for her noteworthy accomplishments and dedication to the field of law.

Elizabeth is admitted to practice in Virginia, Maryland, and District of Columbia. She is also admitted in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia, U.S. District Court of Maryland, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, and the United States Supreme Court.