About Us

We’re here to be your Advocates.

A Voice for Communities Across Maryland

O’Brien Law is proud to continue the excellent legal reputation of a legal practice started in 1996 to combat a devastating problem: the overwhelming presence of lead paint-based poisoning among Baltimore’s children.

Since then, the attorneys at O’Brien Law have not wavered on their promise to be an advocate for any individual who needs them. Today, O’Brien Law continues to be a strong voice for children and adults alike and has recovered over $500,000,000 in life-changing settlements for our clients.

Experts at Navigating the Complex Legal Process

The attorneys at O’Brien Law have spent years perfecting their complex litigation processes and apply their dependable, proven and results-driven strategies to a variety of practice areas including lead paint poisoning, premises liability and other serious personal injury matters. As a team of dedicated attorneys with a history of providing a voice for communities across Maryland, we aim to extend our expertise and passion to help seek justice for victims in any and every way we can.

Further, taking our compassion for others and drive to help every family that we can, the attorneys at O’Brien Law also help families plan for the future and protect their assets by designing personalized estate plans meet our clients specific needs and objectives.

If you, your child, or someone you know has been affected by lead paint or other injustices, or want to plan for the future with an estate plan, do not hesitate to reach out to our team of attorneys today.

Our Philosophy

Dependable

We are with our clients every step of the way, explaining the legal process and accompanying you in the courtroom if a settlement cannot be reached.

Respectful

We develop meaningful relationships with our clients and care for their well-being, even after your case is closed.

Compassionate

We provide a caring, personalized approach to your case helping you navigate the trauma of an injury for yourself or a loved one.

Our Team

Cara O’Brien

Managing Attorney

Avalon Brandt

Attorney

Lonnie Hernandez

Office Manager

Liz Roberts

Legal Assistant

Cara O'Brien

Ms. O’Brien has dedicated her legal career for over a decade to representing and advocating for individuals that have been injured by the negligence of others in complex personal injury litigation. Ms. O’Brien has extensive courtroom experience and has successfully represented hundreds of individuals injured through the negligence others, obtaining millions of dollars for her clients and multiple seven-figure verdicts. Using those skills, Ms. O’Brien also helps individuals and families plan for the future through estate plans that will provide for their families or other beneficiaries and protect their assets. Read More...

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Ms. O’Brien attended Loyola University Maryland and received a Bachelor of Business Administration degree, summa cum laude, with a major in economics and minor in mathematics in 2004. She attended the University of Maryland School of Law and received a Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, in 2007. After graduation, Ms. O’Brien served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Stephen M. Waldron in the Circuit Court for Harford County.

Over the years, Ms. O’Brien has successfully tried multiple cases to verdict on behalf of her clients including obtaining a verdict for over $5,000,000 on behalf of two clients. Ms. O’Brien has changed the lives of her clients through hundreds of six- and seven-figure settlements as well. She has also represented clients at both appellate levels.

Ms. O’Brien was selected to the 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 Maryland Super Lawyers Rising Stars list and the 2023 and 2024 Super Lawyers list, an honor bestowed upon only 2.5% of Maryland’s lawyers. She is also a member of the American Association for Justice, Maryland Association for Justice, Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, Baltimore City Bar Association, Anne Arundel County Bar Association, the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland, J. Dudley Digges Inn of Court, Trial by Woman and the Society of Women Trial Lawyers. Ms. O’Brien is the current co-chair of the Legislative Leader’s Recruitment Committee, former co-chair of the Women’s Caucus for the Maryland Association for Justice and serves on the Board of Governors for the organization. Ms. O’Brien also serves on the executive board of the Society of Women Trial Lawyers. Ms. O’Brien has been invited to speak and has presented at national litigation conferences over the years.

Ms. O’Brien was selected by The Daily Record as a 2019 Leading Women awardee, which recognizes women age 40 or younger for the tremendous accomplishments they have made so far in their career based on professional experience, community involvement and commitment to inspiring change. She was also part of The Daily Record’s “Women Who Lead” initiative, participating in
a year-long program focused on topics that affect women leaders and building strong connections that will make a positive impact across Maryland. In 2022, Ms. O’Brien was also chosen by The Daily Record’s “Power List” of the Top 25 Personal Injury/Medical Malpractice attorneys in the state of Maryland, a recognition voted on by the editorial team, readers, the legal community, and some of the finest practitioners in the state in this complex field. Ms. O’Brien was honored to receive the 2024 Women’s Caucus Award from the Maryland Association for Justice in recognition of her commitment to mentoring and supporting women attorneys.

Ms. O’Brien loves coming to work each day to achieve justice for her clients. Ms. O’Brien enjoys learning about her clients as well as staying up to date on the current legal and medical issues affecting her cases. Her compassionate yet aggressive approach to her cases allows her to obtain the best possible outcome for each client and build relationships with her clients that often continue after the case is resolved.

Ms. O’Brien is involved in several community groups and associations. Notably, she served on the board of Community Law in Action and was involved with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake as a mentor for over 7 years. Ms. O’Brien currently serves on the Maryland State Bar Association’s Ethics Committee and as an officer on the Parent Teacher Organization for her local elementary school. She also serves on the Peer Review Committee for the Attorney Grievance Commission of Maryland.

When she is not aggressively fighting on behalf of her clients and managing the firm, she enjoys spending time with her family, 3 children and friends, running, and cheering on the Ravens and Orioles.

Ms. O’Brien is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Washington D.C. and the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

Avalon Brandt

Avalon Brandt is a native of Baltimore and was educated in the Baltimore City School System until moving to Harford County where she graduated from Joppatowne High School in 1977. Ms. Brandt did not take a traditional path to law school, having worked as a Paralegal and Legal Secretary for over 10 years before entering law school. In 1988, she received her Bachelors’ degree from the University of Maryland and in 1994, she received her Juris Doctor degree from the University of Maryland School of Law. Read More...

Immediately after law school Ms. Brandt formed her solo practice with a primary focus in family law. In 1996, Ms. Brandt joined a former law school friend and they formed Wilson & Brandt, P.A., where Ms. Brandt continued her family law practice in addition to estates and trusts and minor criminal defense cases.

In 2001, she shifted her focus to complex civil litigation and joined the law firm of Saul E. Kerpelman, P.A. and began what would be decades long career representing children and adults who were exposed and to and injured from childhood lead poisoning. In 2002, Ms. Brandt won her first lead poisoning trial with a jury verdict of $4.1 million dollars and since then, has obtained jury verdicts of $2.7 million dollars and $1.2 million dollars for other clients, as well as hundreds of life-changing settlements on behalf of her clients.

In 2015, Ms. Brandt joined the law firm of Evan K. Thalenberg, P.A. and continued to represent lead poisoned adults and children. For more than 22 years Ms. Brandt has litigated hundreds of lead paint cases and has obtained more than $50 million in settlements for her clients.

Today, Ms. Brandt continues to practice complex civil litigation and returns to estates and trusts with O’Brien Law.

Ms. Brandt is a member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, she has been recognized as a Super Lawyer. Ms. Brandt has been admitted Pro Hac Vice in Illinois and South Carolina.

As evidenced by her work in and out of the courtroom, Ms. Brandt has a deep commitment and passion to help others. Since 2008, Ms. Brandt has been on the Board of Directors for L.I.F.E. Incorporated (“Living In a Free Environment”), a non-profit organization which provides housing, employment and social activities for adults who have disabilities.

Ms. Brandt lives in Baltimore with her husband, and is an avid sports fan who loves football, basketball and Mixed Martial Arts.

Lonnie Hernandez

Lonnie Hernandez joined the firm in 1993 as a legal secretary. She held just about every support position possible, before becoming the Office Manager in 2002.

Before moving to Maryland, Lonnie lived in Tampa, Florida, working with the American Red Cross as a secretary in Financial Affairs and Public Relations for 5years.

In addition to gardening and watching documentaries in her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband, her adult children and especially her 5 grandchildren. Lonnie often says, “If I knew grandchildren were this much fun, I’d have had them first.”

Liz Roberts

Liz Roberts started her career in 1973 in the Marketing Field. She joined the firm in 2012 as an Assistant and has worked in various roles for our team.

After a life changing event, Liz has been an active volunteer at the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Hospital. Today, Liz uses her compassion and kindness to assist clients and colleagues.

Liz loves to spend time with her 2 children, 5 grandchildren and family. In her spare time, Liz loves to entertain and host dinner parties overlooking the Inner Harbor.

About Us

We’re here to be your Advocates.

A Voice for Communities Across Maryland

Experts at Navigating the Complex Legal Process

Our Philosophy

Dependable

Respectful

Compassionate

Our Team

Cara O’Brien

Avalon Brandt

Lonnie Hernandez

Liz Roberts

O’Brien Law

Sharing your story,

protecting your rights.

Cara O'Brien

Avalon Brandt

Lonnie Hernandez

Liz Roberts

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