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We are a Washington, D.C. based law practice that offers services in civil and criminal law. Our focus is on getting results for our clients. In order to offer our clients high quality legal services at lower prices, Apex is composed of a network of lawyers with portable practices. We can come to you (D.C. and local Maryland), meet for a business lunch or you can come into the office. We have found our portable service is a great convenience for busy professionals, non-DC residents, our elderly, and disabled clients. The price of our house-call service and in office consultation is now the same--$320.00. While we prefer cash, you may use a credit/debit card to pay for your legal consultation fee. Please see the Payment Plan Page for more important information about consultation fees and retainers.
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Who We AreAndrellos Mitchell is the principal of Apex Legal Services, PLLC (ALS). Apex Legal Services is the continuation of The Law Office of Andrellos Mitchell, PLLC which began in 1997. The law practice primarily focuses on complex civil litigation, such as Employment Law, Probate, Wills and Estate Law, Small Business Matters, Consumer Bankruptcy, and Family Law. Mr. Mitchell has represented hundreds of clients in various legal matters. He has litigated and represented clients against some of the top law firms in the United States (e.g., Steptoe & Johnson LLP, Reed Smith LLC, Venable LLP, White & Case, and Hoguet Newman & Regal, LLP, etc.) in and out of state and federal court. From 2007-2015 Mr. Mitchell served as Court Appointed Counsel in the Probate Court of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia primarily representing clients in Guardianship & Conservatorship matters. He also acts as counsel for the Personal Representative. Additional Probate Law experience includes litigation of Will Contests, and drafting Estate Planning Documents such as Wills, Durable Power of Attorney, Living Will, and Healthcare Power of Attorney. From 1997 to the present Mr. Mitchell has worked intermittently as a Contract Attorney for top national and international law firms primarily analyzing discovery materials and regulatory compliance documents under provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act in Washington, D.C. The work involves investigations and reviews by government regulatory agencies such as the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). He has extensive experience as a quality control/quality assurance second-level reviewer. He has expertise in privilege review as well as privilege and HIPPA-related redaction. He has experience providing support to the completion of major mergers and acquisitions in the fields of healthcare and telecommunications. He also has experience providing litigation support to employment discrimination, white collar criminal, and products liability litigation. In the mid 1990's, Mr. Mitchell worked as a Fraud Examiner for the D.C. Department of Insurance, Securities & Banking (DISB). In a broad sense the work involved conducting investigations into complex, series and serious fraud allegations ensuring the best possible evidence is secured and that cases are fully and efficiently investigated in order to detect offences allowing a considered decision to be taken about the prosecution of offenders. On a micro level the work involved performing market conduct examinations (i.e., regulating the insurance industry to ensure compliance with the laws of the District of Columbia which touch and concern sales, advertising, agents, underwriting, complaints, and rating of various lines of insurance) within the Fraud Bureau. After law school Mr. Mitchell was hired as a Law Clerk by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to serve in its highly competitive Law Clerk Program. Mitchell worked in Washington, DC at the National Prison Project (NPP). His work involved assisting ACLU lawyers with the representation of prisoners bringing class action lawsuits under 42 U.S.C. Sec. 1983 and the United States Constitution for civil rights violations. He performed legal research, briefed cases, wrote legal memoranda, digested depositions, drafted legal pleadings and prepared discovery materials for trial . He also filed pleadings in the Superior Court for the District of Columbia and The Supreme Court of the United States. He met with prison officials to discuss enforcement of consent decrees, and met with inmates to address concerns related to their legal rights. In his final semester of law school, Mr. Mitchell worked as a Legal Intern at the nationally-renowned Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia (PDS) under the supervision of one of its star trial attorneys, Sharon Styles. A number of lawyers at PDS during Mitchell's internship are now judges on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Mitchell's internship duties included: Assisting attorneys in all aspects of case preparation, performing legal and case-preparation research, drafting Motions, interviewing incarcerated and institutionalized clients, responding to inmate letter requests for legal assistance, prepare pre-trial motions, conducting background investigations on witnesses, interviewing witnesses, gathering records, conducting crime scene investigations, and preparing for trial and other court appearances. Additional duties included attending trials, hearings, parole hearings, and appellate arguments. Take notes at all meetings and legal proceedings. With his no-nonsense attitude and direct approach to practicing law, unlike many lawyers practicing law in the District of Columbia and surrounding jurisdictions Mr. Mitchell has never been sanctioned by any State Bar and / or Court for any type of ethical violation. For 28 years he has demonstrated high ethical standards while aggressively representing his clients and producing positive results. Mr. Mitchell is a life-long Independent. He has never been a member of the Democrat or Republican Parties. Instead, Mitchell prefers to make political decisions/votes on a case by case basis after considering the totality of the circumstances, and determining what policies are in the best interest of himself and the larger community, as they relate to his morals and values. He is a staunch advocate for Freedom of Speech. Mr. Mitchell is also a Writer/Author who contributes his analysis, commentary and opinion to newspapers such as The Washington Times, The Washington Informer, and The Daily Caller. EDUCATION (B.S.) Social Work/Frostburg State University - 1986 (NA) University of Texas at Austin /Auditing - 1986 (M.A.) Education /University of the District of Columbia (UDC) 1990 (J.D.) Law/UDC - David A. Clarke School of Law - 1993 STATE BAR MEMBERSHIPS District of Columbia - 2001 FEDERAL BAR MEMBERSHIPS United States Tax Court - 2009 Supreme Court of the United States of America - 2004 United States District Court for the District of Columbia - 1996 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia - 1996 United States District Court for the District of Maryland - 1995 United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland - 1995 IMPORTANT CASES In The Superior Court of the District of Columbia Maria Pineda v. General Promotional Technology, Inc., et al. Real Estate / Breach of Contract): The law office successfully dismissed a complaint against our client, a Vietnamese-American businessman, bought by a Hispanic tenant making numerous allegations concerning his property including fraud and breach of contract. Outcome: The case against my client was dismissed without prejudice. In The Superior Court of the District of Columbia Frank & Stein Hotdogs v. Ibg Partners LLC & Penzance 1101 Connecticut, LLC (Fraud/Breach of Contract): The law office successfully represented our client, a Korean-American businesswoman, who sued her landlord over violations of her commercial lease agreement. Outcome: Settlement In The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Sun v. Lalos & Keegan (Employment Discrimination): The law office successfully settled a case for our client, an older professional, Chinese-American businesswoman, with MBA and JD degrees who sued for discrimination after she was fired from a D.C. Patent & Trademark law firm allegedly for insubordination among other things. Outcome: Our client received a Financial Settlement. In The United States Bankruptcy Court For The District Of Columbia In re L. Pence - Complex Ch. 7 Bankruptcy Outcome: Discharge of over $400,000 in debt. In The Superior Court of the District of Columbia Phillips v. Phillips (Will Contest / D.C. Probate Court): Sisters dispute the validity of their mother's Will leaving a multi-million dollar estate to their brother in a hotly contested trial. Outcome: The court invalidated the Will. In The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Nuzzi v. AMTRAK (Wrongful Termination): A white male employee sued for an alleged wrongful termination after a female at a training conference made allegations of sexual harassment. Outcome: My client's case was dismissed. In The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia McDonald v. The American Red Cross (Tax Garnishment): A white male employee alleged that his Constitutional Due Process Rights had been violated by his employer when it garnished his wages based on an order from the California Franchise Tax Board without first getting an order from a court in the District of Columbia. Outcome: My client's case was dismissed. In The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Bush v. Planned Parenthood (Medical Malpractice): An African-American female delivered a fetus in her home in the early morning hours after she had been prepped at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, D.C, Inc. to have an abortion at the clinic the next day. Outcome: My client received a Financial Settlement. In The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Oliver v. White & Case, LLP (Employment Discrimination): A young, professional, African-American male sued for discrimination after being forced out of his job at a top international law firm. Outcome: My client received a Financial Settlement. PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS District of Columbia Bar, Current Member Christian Trial Lawyers Association (CTLA), Current Life Member Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Current Member Metropolitan Washington Employment Lawyers Assoc. Former Member Maryland Employment Lawyers Association, Former Member District of Columbia Bar Association, Former Member American Bar Association, Former Member Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, Former Member Pennsylvania Bar Association, Former Member Federal Bar Association, Former Member Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), Former Member PUBLICATIONS . What To Do If Stopped By The Police For DUI/DWI In D.C. (Aug. 2018) Publication: The Washington Informer Publication Description: The article gives basic information about how to conduct yourself if you are stopped by the Police for Driving Under the Influence (DUI), Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) and Operating a vehicle while impaired (OWI) in the District of Columbia. It also tells you what to expect once you are stopped and arrested. The article also gives insight into your legal rights and the difficulty and consequences of asserting your legal rights. Finally, the article shares Mr. Mitchell's experiences when stopped by the police. . Protect Your Family With Estate Planning (Dec. 2013) Publication: The Washington Informer Publication Description: The article explains the basics of estate planning beyond just getting a Will drafted. It discusses the importance of a Durable Power of Attorney, Living Wills, Healthcare Power of Attorney (HCPOA), and Trusts. It also points out the importance of becoming the Guardian or Conservator for a mentally incapacitated family member or friend. Publication: The Washington Informer Publication Description: A description of things you should know and do before filing Consumer Bankruptcy.
EARLY BACKGROUND In 1979 Mr. Mitchell was recruited to attend Frank W. Ballou Senior High School in Washington D.C. He was accepted via Advanced Placement into the school’s elite Science & Math Program at age 14. As a teenager he would compete in the sport of track and field through the Amateur Athletic Union (AAU). In High School he would participate and letter in Junior Varsity and Varsity Football (Wide Receiver) as well as Varsity Track and Field (400 Meter Sprinter). Andrellos would also participate in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFJROTC). He would complete High School in 3 years. During his senior year in high school in 1982 Mr. Mitchell was heavily recruited to participate in Track & Field. He would attend Mount Union College. A small, private, elite, Liberal Arts College in the Buckeye State in Alliance, Ohio. He would enter college as a 17 year old freshman and compete in Track & Field in the Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC). The third oldest athletic conference in the United States. Mr. Mitchell would go on to win Gold (1600 Meter Relay) Silver (400 Meter Dash) and Bronze (600 Yard Dash, 1600 Meter Relay) medals to become a 4 time - All-Ohio Athletic Conference Champion. In his sophomore year he would transfer to Frostburg State College. Before the track season would begin, he would suffer a horrific leg injury while training for a pre-season meet. In spite of the injury, over the next 3 years. Mr. Mitchell would endure and go on to letter in all 3 years, as well as qualify for the National Championships on the Mile Relay (1984,1985,1986), win a silver medal in the 4oo Meter Dash at the Historically NCAA Division II, 1985 Indoor Mason Dixon Conference Track & Field Championships. At the anchor leg, he would also lead his team to a gold medal in the mile relay, but would be disqualified after he was pushed by a runner from a rival team, and Mitchell returned the favor. He was completely devastated and disappointed that his coach failed to challenge the disqualification. During the 1986 Indoor Track Season he would win a bronze medal in the Mile Relay at the Mason Dixon Conference Track & Field Championships and he would again win a bronze medal in the mile relay in the Outdoor Track Season at the Mason Dixon Conference Track & Field Championships. He would also win a Gold Medal in his first and only appearance at the 1986 Penn Relay Carnival, and later that same year he would earn honors as an NCAA Track & Field All-American on the 1600 Meter Relay when competing at the 1986 NCAA Division III Outdoor Track and Field Championships, which was won by his school, Frostburg State College. In 1984 in his junior year in college, Mr. Mitchell would pledge Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is the first Black, Inter-Collegiate Greek-Lettered fraternity in the United States. It was founded on December 4, 1906 at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. It includes members such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Mayor Andrew Young, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Olympian Jesse Owens, Hubert H. Humphrey, 38th Vice President of the United States, W.E.B. Du Bois, Paul Robeson, Edward Brooke, U.S. Senator, David Dinkins, Dr. Cornell West, Dick Gregory, and many other great men. Mr. Mitchell would be unanimously elected to serve as Vice President of his college chapter. Although raised in Washington D.C. and Maryland, Mr. Mitchell is a proud native of Louisiana. He is of Black and Native American descent. The 58 year old lawyer is based in Washington, D.C. LEGAL HONORS, AWARDS & REGOGNITION WASHINGTON LAWYER MAGAZINE (The Official Publication Of The District Of Columbia Bar) Featured on the cover of The Washington Lawyer Magazine for a story about solo practitioners. (January/February 2023 Issue) AVVO - NATIONAL ATTORNEY RANKINGS (8.6 OUT OF 10) EXPERTISE.COM - SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST REAL ESTATE LAWYERS IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR 2022 EXPERTISE.COM - SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST PROBATE LAWYERS IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR 2022 EXPERTISE.COM - SELECTED AS ONE OF THE BEST CHILD SUPPORT LAWYERS IN WASHINGTON, DC FOR 2022 OTHER HONORS, AWARDS & RECOGNITION
NCAA TRACK & FIELD ALL-AMERICAN - 1986 PENN RELAYS CHAMPION-GOLD MEDALIST (4 × 400 Meters Relay) 1986 MASON DIXON CONFERENCE CHAMPION (TRACK & FIELD) - 1986,1985 ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, INC. OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD - 1985 4-Time/ALL-OHIO ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPION (TRACK & FIELD) - 1983
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