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Elizabeth Payne-Maddalena is Counsel at Berenzweig Leonard. She joined the firm in December of 2019, bringing five years of civil litigation and trial experience. At Berenzweig Leonard, Elizabeth uses her advocacy skills to help clients gain favorable outcomes in litigation, as well as offering advice to help protect them from potential future actions against them. Elizabeth works on a range of matters, including business litigation, employment matters, and contractual issues. 

Prior to joining Berenzweig Leonard, Elizabeth worked as a personal injury attorney representing plaintiffs in Maryland and Virginia. As a personal injury attorney, Elizabeth gained a reputation for being a fierce advocate in and out of the courtroom. 

Elizabeth graduated magna cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law. During law school, she served as the Manuscripts Editor for the University of Baltimore Law Forum Journal, where her comment on public utility regulations was also selected for publication. Before law school, she spent a couple of years working in issue advocacy and grassroots affairs for a political organization in Washington, D.C. She double-majored in Psychology and Government and International Affairs at George Mason University.

Elizabeth is barred in both Maryland and Virginia state courts, as well as the U.S. Federal Courts of Maryland and the Eastern District of Virginia.

RECOGNITION AND CERTIFICATIONS

  • Up & Coming Lawyers Honoree, Virginia Lawyers Weekly, 2025
  • Top Attorney, Arlington Magazine, 2025

RECENT REPRESENTATIVE MATTERS

(DISCLAIMER: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF FACTORS UNIQUE TO EACH CASE, AND THE CASE RESULTS STATED BELOW DO NOT GUARANTEE OR PREDICT A SIMILAR RESULT IN ANY FUTURE CASE UNDERTAKEN BY ELIZABETH PAYNE-MADDALENA OR BERENZWEIG LEONARD)

  • Represented construction company and its owner against claims by former customers for breaches of contract, breaches of express and implied warranties, consumer protection act violations, fraud and negligent misrepresentation; motion to dismiss granted on all counts against company’s owner and on all but two of the counts against company. M. Isicoff, et al. v. S&K Roofing Company, Inc., et al., Civil Action No.: C-13-CV-24-000834 (Howard Co. Cir. Ct, March 20, 2025).
  • Represented defendant government contractor in lawsuit brought by employees’ former employer seeking immediate injunctive relief as well as alleging breach of contract, intentional interference with contract, unfair competition, and civil conspiracy; motion to dismiss granted on all counts and case fully dismissed with prejudice. Sirius Federal, LLC v. Kate Yoash, Landon Fielder, and CTG Federal, LLC, 2023 WL 4456786 (D. Md. July 11, 2023).
  • Represented defendant nonprofit employer in lawsuit brought by former employee alleging religious discrimination; motion to dismiss granted on all counts and entirety of case dismissed. McKethan v. The Navy League of the United States of America, Civil Action No.: 1:20-cv-00527-LO-JFA (E.D. Va. April 27, 2021).

PUBLICATIONS:

  • Getting the Lights Back On: An Analysis of the Maryland Energy Service Quality and Reliability Act’s Impact on Utility Liability and Consumer Rights, 43 U. BALT. L.F. 133, 2013

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS

  • Virginia Bar Association
  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • Fairfax Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association