Portrait of Howard Kurman

Howard K. Kurman

Founder and Principal

Howard K. Kurman is a labor and employment attorney. Howard regularly counsels clients on all aspects of proactive labor/employment issues. He represents employers ranging in size from as small as 20 employees to those employers with geographically disparate locations consisting of over 2,000 employees. Howard assures, through regular contact with his clients, that they promulgate and maintain the most effective employment policies that will, to the extent possible, minimize their legal exposure in today’s litigious workplace. Howard also offers advice on critical employment documents such as employee handbooks, employment agreements, covenants not to compete as well as confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements, stand-alone employment policies and collective bargaining agreements.

Howard is frequently retained by companies to conduct objective and well- respected workplace investigations. These investigations encompass a wide-ranging spectrum of issues including workplace harassment, employee misconduct, whistle-blower complaints and misappropriation of proprietary or confidential company data. He has been widely recognized for his thorough investigatory techniques and his comprehensive written reports which are provided to his clients at the conclusion of his investigation. Frequently following the completion of his investigations Howard is then retained to conduct remedial training of a company’s managerial staff for the purpose of avoiding similar problematic issues in the future. Uniformly his managerial training has received superlative reviews by those companies who have utilized his sophisticated workplace training modules.

Howard is also a skilled employment litigator who has successfully represented employers in a myriad of administrative, judicial, and commercial litigation before the NLRB, EEOC, federal and state courts and other administrative agencies such as the Department of Labor and OFCCP. He also counsels clients on union-related issues, and regularly serves as chief spokesperson in  collective bargaining negotiations on behalf of his unionized clients.

Throughout his extensive legal career, Howard has represented a multitude of nonprofit organizations in both employment-related and governance/compliance issues. Over the years, many nonprofit organizations have sought out his expertise in navigating the often-specialized legal issues which such organizations much confront in today’s extensively regulated nonprofit environment.

Throughout his extensive and sophisticated legal practice Howard has developed a reputation for providing representation to his management clients and high-level executives that is predicated upon sound practical legal advice. Upon returning to private practice after working several years in in-house labor positions (at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, and at The Baltimore Sun), he successfully began the firm's comprehensive labor and employment practice, which currently encompasses dozens of skilled labor and employment attorneys. His prior in-house experience has enabled Mr. Kurman to relate to the middle and upper management levels of any company in a non-legalistic and practical manner. Thus, his clients often perceive him as part of their trusted advisory team, so much so that he is often consulted before an employment issue arises as opposed to after the problem has become a much more inflammatory one to resolve.

    Education

    • Georgetown University Law Center (LL.M.)
    • University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law (J.D., cum laude)
    • University of Maryland College Park (B.S., summa cum laude)
      • Economics (Phi Beta Kappa)

    State Bar Admissions

    • Maryland

    Court Admissions

    • Supreme Court of the United States
    • United States District Court for the District of Maryland
    • United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

    Professional Affiliations

    • Unified Community Connections, Board of Directors
    • Member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Maryland Carey School of Law and Past Chair
    • The Children’s Guild, Board of Directors
    • Industrial Relations Research Association, Maryland Chapter, Past President

    Recognitions

    • Named The Best Lawyers in America® for Employment Law - Management (2015-2027)
    • Who’s Who in American Law, 10th Edition
    • AV Preeminent® Rated Attorney​, as reported by Martindale-Hubbell
    • Selected to Maryland Super Lawyers® for Employment & Labor (2010-2013 and 2016-2026)
    • Icon Honors, The Daily Record, 2022
    • Distinguished Lawyer™, The Expert Network©, 2017
  • Biography
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Firm Highlights

  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Events
    The 2026 Economic, Tax, and Accounting Updates
    We are looking forward to the Mid-Atlantic CFO Roundtable's next event on November 13, 2026. This is a program with topics built for Finance Executives. We are extremely fortunate to have three excellent speakers: Dr. Daraius Irani, Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University; Mike Stankus, Tax Office Managing Principal at BDO; and Daniel Wahlberg, Managing Partner of Acclare Solutions. The economy is rapidly changing with various factors driving it. The November 3rd midterm elections may also have an impact. Our three expert presenters will discuss the ramifications of the election, and the current year updates to GAAP financial reporting and Federal and State income taxes. Please join us for what will surely be an informative and timely discussion. Meet Our Speakers: Daraius Irani, Ph.D. • Towson University Vice President, Business & Public Engagement Dr. Daraius Irani serves as Vice President of Business and Public Engagement at Towson University as well as the chief economist for the Regional Economic Studies Institute (RESI) at Towson University, a policy group providing economic, fiscal impact, and policy analysis to public and private entities.  Dr. Irani is often called upon to provide economic presentations to organizations across Maryland. He has appeared on numerous television programs and in local and regional print media. Dr. Irani holds a Ph.D. in economics from University of California, Santa Barbara. Dan Wahlberg • Acclare Solutions Managing Partner With over 28 years of experience, Dan Wahlberg is a recognized leader in audit and assurance for the Mid-Atlantic’s middle market business community. As a licensed CPA in Maryland and Virginia, Dan has led assurance practices at top regional firms, including serving as Baltimore Audit Managing Partner and Assurance Practice Leader at BDO USA in Baltimore and as Partner and member of the Management Committee at Hertzbach & Company P.A which merged into BDO in 2020. His expertise centers on delivering clarity, strategic guidance, and proactive solutions to middle-market businesses across Baltimore and beyond. His entrepreneurial spirit has led him to begin a new CPA firm this year with four other CPAs serving the business community. Dan holds a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Rutgers University and began his career at PWC in New York. He is also deeply engaged in the community, previously serving as President of ACG Maryland and current Board member and as Audit Committee Member for The Associated: Jewish Federation of Baltimore.  Mike Stankus • BDO USA LLP Tax Office Managing Principal Mike Stankus is the Tax Office Managing Principal for the firm’s Baltimore office. He has more than 16 years of experience providing tax planning and preparation and management advisory services for his clients. Mike focuses on advising privately held businesses and their owners on effective growth and tax strategies. He also performs various engagements for mergers and acquisitions and complex cost accounting projects and projections. In addition, he represents various government contracting clients before the DCAA and assists with FAR compliance. Mike’s areas of concentration include working with government contractors, professional service firms, construction companies, and homebuilders.
  • Blog Posts
    Powering the Future Maximizing Energy Storage Value with David Braun
    In this episode of the MSSIA Insight Podcast, host Matthew Karmel, Chair of Offit Kurman’s Environmental & Sustainability Practice, sits down with David Braun, Chief Commercial Officer at Intelligent Generation, to explore how distributed energy storage is creating new opportunities for businesses, developers, and the broader energy grid.With more than 35 years of experience in the energy and utility sector, David shares how battery storage can help commercial and industrial customers earn revenue, reduce energy costs, and improve power reliability. The conversation explores revenue stacking, including how batteries can generate value through wholesale energy markets, reduce capacity and transmission charges, store excess solar energy, and provide backup power during outages or disruptions.Matthew and David also discuss the evolving energy storage landscape across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware, highlighting differences in state policies, utility programs, and opportunities for virtual power plants. David explains how industry collaboration through MSSIA can help advance effective energy policies and accelerate project development.Looking ahead, David shares his perspective on the future of distributed energy storage, the transition toward a more interconnected and resilient grid, and the importance of accurately modeling battery economics to demonstrate project value and support investment decisions. In this episode, you’ll learn about: How battery storage can help businesses earn revenue, save money, and protect operations. What revenue stacking means and how multiple battery applications create economic value. How rising capacity and transmission charges are influencing energy storage opportunities in PJM. The differences in energy storage policies and incentives across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The role of virtual power plants in supporting grid reliability and managing energy demand. Why accurate financial modeling, customer load profiles, and utility rate structures are critical to evaluating battery projects. How MSSIA supports industry collaboration and policy advocacy across the Mid-Atlantic. Whether you're a solar or storage developer, investor, contractor, attorney, or clean energy professional, this episode offers practical insights into the economics, policy considerations, and emerging opportunities shaping the distributed energy storage market. About the MSSIA Insight Podcast Powered by Offit Kurman and presented in partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Solar & Storage Industries Association (MSSIA), the MSSIA Insight Podcast explores the legal, regulatory, and business developments shaping the solar and energy storage industries across New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. Hosted by Matthew Karmel, the podcast features conversations with industry leaders and subject matter experts, delivering actionable insights to help clean energy professionals navigate an evolving industry. New episodes are released every other month.   Join our next policy committee call as a guest to see firsthand the impact we're driving: https://forms.gle/8WqmDvdJUKBh35Qw7
  • Podcasts
    The College Prep Most Parents Skip with Candace Dellacona and Kimberly Lau
    When the "Cornell 7" case made national headlines this fall, many parents found themselves asking a question they never expected to face: what actually happens when something goes wrong on campus? We spend so much time preparing our kids to get into college and succeed once they get there, but how often do we prepare them for what happens next if a report is made, by them or about them? In this episode of The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide, host Candace Dellacona is joined by her colleague Kimberly Lau, who represents both complainants and respondents in Title IX matters such as the case capturing the latest headlines. Together, they break down what Title IX is, who it protects, what happens when a college receives a report, and what students and parents should know before their child ever needs it. Kimberly explains why Title IX reaches far beyond athletics, what it generally means when a student is contacted by the campus Title IX office, and what a family should do first, whether their child is reporting something that happened to them, is the subject of a complaint, or simply got caught up in a situation they never expected. She also walks through how privacy rules affect what a school can share with parents, who can sit in on meetings, how investigations, hearings, and decisions typically unfold, and why preserving evidence and knowing your school's policies early can make all the difference. Whatever the outcome of the case making headlines, it has put a spotlight on how campus processes work, and on how much families often don't know until they're in the middle of one. If you are sending a freshman off to campus, welcoming a student home for the holidays, or simply want to be the kind of parent your child feels safe calling when things go wrong, this conversation offers clear, practical guidance you can use now. As Candace puts it, calling home right away is not a sign that your child has failed at being an adult. It is knowing where to turn. This episode is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Every situation is different, so please consult an attorney about your specific circumstances. Learn more about Kimberly Lau and her practice at Offit Kurman: https://www.offitkurman.com/kimberly-lau Connect with Kimberly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberlylauesq/ Follow and subscribe to The Sandwich Generation Survival Guide wherever you listen to podcasts. New conversations are released on the first and third Tuesdays of every month. If this episode resonates with you, leave a five-star rating or review and share it with another sandwich generation caregiver!