About Us

Adam M. Smallow is the President and Client Experience Officer at Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow. His mission at the firm is to ensure that all injured victims receive a superior client experience through high-quality medical care and crystal-clear communication.
Originally from Philadelphia, Adam attended college at The George Washington University in Washington, DC, and law school at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
As the firm grew over the past decade, so did the quality of medical providers that are available to assist all clients. As the legal team grew, so did a culture of excellence that was dedicated to client care. Today, the firm represents injured victims across the state of Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic region in the areas of car and truck crashes, medical malpractice, and nursing home negligence
Adam has developed several community initiatives in Harford County that include the Fill a Backpack event for local students at the beginning of the school year and the Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Drive for senior citizens. Additionally, the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow has partnered with Pathfinders for Autism, a Maryland non-profit organization that supports and improves the lives of individuals with autism and those who care for them. In 2022, Adam introduced the annual Attorneys for Autism Awareness event, a dinner, and a silent auction that raises significant funds for the Pathfinders organization.
Adam’s vision is to continue to elevate the practice of personal injury law in Maryland by ensuring that injured victims have access to quality medical providers, stay informed throughout their cases with their legal team, and receive the best resolutions possible.

Cecilia I. Lavrin is a former registered nurse who worked on medical and obstetrical units. After graduating from law school, she spent the first six years defending physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers in medical negligence suits. She then went on to act as the Director of Risk Management for a regional medical center for two years. For the last 20 years, Ms. Lavrin has used her background in nursing, defense law, and risk management to pursue cases involving medical and nursing home negligence and personal injury litigation, recovering millions of dollars on behalf of her clients. Prior to joining the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow in 2022, she was an attorney at a major medical negligence firm and had managed her own law firm in Easton and Cambridge, Maryland, where she concentrated on representing victims of medical mistakes, as well as assisting other law firms with their medical and personal injury cases. Her background in nursing allows her to quickly and effectively review and understand medical records, choose the most effective medical experts, and consult with experts on an advanced level. She has litigated cases in Maryland at both the state and the federal level and has been admitted pro hac vice in the District of Columbia and the states of Tennessee, Virginia, New York, and Florida. Additionally, Ms. Lavrin has drafted briefs and argued cases before the Maryland Court of Special Appeals.

Ms. Lavrin strongly believes in a close relationship with her clients and educating them on their medical and legal issues. She has often found that her clients and their loved ones were not provided a careful explanation of the care they received, and are appreciative of a discussion of the medical facts and history using straightforward and simple language. Ms. Lavrin has lived most of her life in Maryland and is the mother of twins. While she lives and works in the Baltimore area during the week, Ms. Larvin spends weekends on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, where she enjoys time with her husband and her hobbies of kayaking and gardening.

Julia c. Fuller is the Office Manager at the Law Offices of Adam M. Smallow. She graduated from Harford Community College with her Associate degree in paralegal Studies. Julia has over 18 years of experience and knowledge in Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Social Security Disability, and Estate Planning.

Taylor Knoebel was born and raised in Harford County, while working at PetSmart, Taylor attended Harford Community College to obtain her degree in paralegal studies. After graduating, she began her career in the legal field while occasionally still finding dog treats in her pockets. COVID-19 spread during the start of her career which is why she considers herself a pandemic paralegal. Taylor works at the Law Office of Adam M. Smallow as a case manager.

Michelle Beckwith brings to the Law Office of Adam M. Smallow over 30 years of experience and a strong knowledge and understanding of Personal Injury, Workers’ Compensation, Medical Malpractice, and Criminal Law. Michelle is currently a Sr. Paralegal in our personal injury department working closely with clients helping with their property damage claims, facilitating medical treatment, and working with the case through settlement. She started her paralegal studies at the Community College of Baltimore County and then enrolled in the Jurisprudence Program at the University of Baltimore. In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with her family, and friends and reading.

Jane Pessagno was born and raised in Harford County, Maryland. She has successfully worked within both the private and non-private sectors, contributing her talents and skills in a myriad of ways. A natural people person, she cares about the details and ensures that clients and coworkers always have an exceptional experience. When she’s not working, she enjoys cooking, entertaining, and traveling. She is a dog lover and avid reader, residing in Bel Air.

Brooke Schneiders was born and raised in Harford County where she grew up playing sports and was an active member of the organization Best Buddies Maryland, a program supporting children with special needs. She attended Fallston High School where she was on the honor roll all four years. As she grew up spending many years as a nanny, she realized her passion for helping the education development of children. Brooke is now attending Towson University Northeastern to obtain her degree in Elementary and Special Education and will graduate in the spring of 2023. In the meantime, Brooke is gaining knowledge of the legal field while working with a great team.