Our Staff
Sharon E. Goldsmith, Esq.
Executive Director
443-703-3048 | sgoldsmith [at] probonomd.org
Sharon E. Goldsmith joined PBRC in 1990 as its founding director. Sharon manages the overall operation of PBRC, including strategic planning, media relations, program development, financial management, human resources, board development, project incubation, and leadership. She also works closely with the Court of Appeals on its Standing Committee on Pro Bono Legal Services as well as with local pro bono committees and legal services providers to ensure the most effective and coordinated system of pro bono delivery exists statewide.
Annie Brinkmann Speedie
Deputy Director
443-703-3051 | aspeedie [at] probonomd.org
Annie Brinkmann Speedie joined PBRC in 2011 and serves as the Deputy Director. Annie supervises PBRC’s Pro Bono Projects in the areas of home preservation, consumer protection, tenant advocacy and immigrant assistance, and she oversees PBRC’s extensive volunteer attorney recruitment and support activities. She also manages the Litigation Fund, contributes to PBRC’s grant proposals and reporting requirements, provides support to the Pro Bono Coordinating Council, and offers technical assistance to other legal services programs.
Melissa Chiasera, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)
mchiasera [at] probonomd.org
Melissa Chiasera joined PBRC in 2020 and serves as the Staff Attorney for the Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP). Melissa is responsible for coordinating PBRC’s limited-scope courthouse-based pro bono clinics for consumers and tenants in addition to recruiting and mentoring CAP volunteers. Melissa is a graduate of the Chicago-Kent School of Law, and prior to moving to Maryland, she was a prosecutor for the Erie County District Attorney’s Office in Buffalo, NY.
Sydney Dunning, Esq.
Director, Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)
443-703-3049 | sdunning [at] probonomd.org
Sydney Dunning joined PBRC in 2016 and serves as the Director of PBRC’s Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP). Sydney is responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of CAP including recruitment, training, and mentoring CAP volunteers and coordinating CAP courthouse-based pro bono clinics where staff and volunteer attorneys provide pro bono limited scope representation to tenants (Baltimore City) and consumers (Baltimore City and Prince George’s County) in district court.
Elizabeth L. Grove
Executive Assistant
443-703-3045 | egrove [at] probonomd.org
Elizabeth Grove joined PBRC in 2013 and serves as Sharon E. Goldsmith’s Executive Assistant. Elizabeth coordinates meetings and conference calls, manages communications, organizes files and record-keeping, responds to general inquiries, tracks donations, and assists with special events. She also works with the Standing Committee and Pro Bono Liaisons, and helps ensure that attorneys meet reporting requirements. Elizabeth also provides support to the staff and Board of Directors.
Allison Harris, Esq.
Director, Home Preservation Project (HPP)
443-706-3050 | aharris [at] probonomd.org
Allison Harris joined PBRC in 2019 and serves as the Director of the Home Preservation Project. Allison oversees outreach to the Maryland legal community to recruit and train volunteer lawyers, and is responsible for running legal clinics that aim to protect senior citizens and to stabilize low-income Marylanders in their homes.
MatZyonna "Matte" Howard
Project Coordinator, Home Preservation Project (HPP)
443-703-3052 | mhoward [at] probonomd.org
Matte Howard joined PBRC in the fall of 2019 and serves as the Project Coordinator for the Home Preservation Project. Matte is the point of contact for clients interested in attending legal advice clinics and/or seeking other legal resources. She also assists with managing and tracking the Home Preservation Project trainings offered to volunteer attorneys who participate in estate planning, tax sale, and utility bill clinics.
Lidija Jurovich
Marketing and Communications Associate
ljurovich [at] probonomd.org
Lidija Jurovich joined PBRC in 2020 as the Marketing and Communications Associate. Lidija handles all marketing efforts at PBRC including promoting events, managing external communications, and other press outreach. She designs the social media, digital, and print collateral as well as manages the Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram pages. Lidija is also the site administrator for Maryland Free Legal Answers.
Monica Larsen
Paralegal, Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project (MILAP) / Asistente Legal del Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland
443-703-3054 | mlarsen [at] probonomd.org
Monica Larsen joined PBRC in 2018 as the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project Paralegal. Monica is the Spanish-speaking point of contact at weekly legal clinics, conducts follow up with clients, serves as a resource for Marylanders looking for legal help, and manages the volunteer interpreters.
Monica Larsen se unió al PBRC en 2018 y es la asistente legal para el Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland. Monica es el punto de contacto para hispanohablantes en las clínicas legales, mantiene contacto con los clientes, sirve como un recurso para los residentes de Maryland que buscan ayuda legal y está a cargo del grupo de intérpretes.
Akeria "Kira" Lumpkins
Paralegal, Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)
443-703-3047 | alumpkins [at] probonomd.org
Kira Lumpkins joined PBRC in 2019 and serves as the paralegal for the Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP). Kira assists at CAP’s courthouse clinics, helps track grant progress, and manages case files and client data. In this role, she provides support to the activities of both the Consumer Protection Project and the Tenant Volunteer Lawyer of the Day Program.
Jade McDuffie McClary, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Home Preservation Project (HPP)
443-703-3028 | jmcclary [at] probonomd.org
Jade McDuffie McClary joined PBRC in 2020 and serves as a staff attorney for the Home Preservation Project. Jade is responsible for coordinating community outreach for the Home Preservation Project’s clinics in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. Jade also assists with recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys who participate in estate planning, tax sale prevention, and utility bill clinics.
David "Dave" Pantzer, Esq.
Director of Education, Outreach & Technology
443-977-6721 | dpantzer [at] probonomd.org
Dave Pantzer joined PBRC in 2018. Dave leads PBRC’s efforts to engage with the bar and the public, develops and supports partnerships with legal and community groups, supervises attorney recruitment and training for the partnerships, and oversees the use of emerging technologies and platforms to support PBRC’s mission. He is also the site administrator for Maryland Free Legal Answers and is the staff liaison for the Annual Pro Bono Service Awards.
Kiah E. Pierre
Training & Records Manager
443-703-3046 | kpierre [at] probonomd.org
Kiah Pierre joined PBRC in 2009 and serves as the Training & Records Manager. Kiah coordinates pro bono trainings for lawyers, refers trained lawyers to legal service providers, and tracks the status of their pro bono activity. She also manages volunteer records, contributes to PBRC’s grant reporting requirements, and coordinates PBRC’s annual Partners for Justice Conference.
Linzey Powers
Development Director
443-613-8144 | lpowers [at] probonomd.org
Linzey Powers joined PBRC in 2017 and serves as the Development Director. Linzey oversees PBRC’s fundraising efforts, building relationships with individuals, corporations, and foundations who share our vision of access to justice for all.
Catherine "Cate" H. Scenna, Esq.
Director, Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project (MILAP) | Directora del Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland
443-465-4627 | cscenna [at] probonomd.org
Cate Scenna joined PBRC in 2015 and serves as the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project Manager. Cate is responsible for recruiting, training, and mentoring volunteer attorneys for the statewide Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project. Cate is also responsible for coordinating the Project’s courthouse clinics where volunteer attorneys meet with unaccompanied children to identify legal arguments they can make in their deportation proceedings and provide information about obtaining pro bono representation.
Catherine “Cate” Scenna se unió al PBRC en 2015 y sirve como la Directora del Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland. Cate es responsable de reclutar, entrenar y aconsejar a los abogados voluntarios que apoyan el Proyecto. Cate también es responsable de coordinar las clínicas de corte del Proyecto en las cuales abogados voluntarios se reúnen con menores no-acompañados para identificar argumentos legales que puedan utilizar en sus procedimientos de deportación y para proveer información acerca de cómo encontrar representación pro bono.
Marc S. Schultz
Project Coordinator, Home Preservation Project (HPP)
443-703-3053 | mschultz [at] probonomd.org
Marc Schultz, a Baltimore Corps Fellow, joined PBRC in 2019 as a Project Coordinator for the Home Preservation Project. Marc is responsible for coordinating Baltimore City legal advice clinics to stabilize low income seniors in their homes.
Alexa Siegel, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project (MILAP) / Abogada de medio tiempo, Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes en Maryland
asiegel [at] probonomd.org
Alexa Siegel joined PBRC in 2019 and serves the Maryland Immigrant Legal Assistance Project as a part-time Staff Attorney. Alexa is responsible for training and mentoring volunteer attorneys, as well as lending her expertise in removal defense to broaden the services we offer through our courthouse clinics.
Alexa Siegel se unió a PBRC en 2019 y da servicio a el Proyecto de Asistencia Legal para Inmigrantes de Maryland como Abogada de medio tiempo. Alexa es responsable de capacitar y asesorar a abogados voluntarios, así como de prestar su experiencia en defensa en contra de la deportación para ampliar los servicios que ofrecemos a través de nuestras clínicas en los tribunales.
Daria J. Zane, Esq.
Staff Attorney, Courtroom Advocacy Project (CAP)
dzane [at] probonomd.org
Daria Zane came to PBRC in 2019. She works on the Courtroom Advocacy Project, PBRC’s limited-scope courthouse-based pro bono clinics for consumers and tenants in Baltimore City and Prince George’s County. Daria is also an adjunct professor at the University of Baltimore School of Law and University of Maryland Carey School of Law. Before joining PBRC, Daria spent over 15 years litigating criminal and civil matters, representing plaintiffs and defendants. Daria graduated from the George Washington University Law School.