Maurice “Mac” VerStandig

Awards

2013 – 2023 – AV Rating – Martindale-Hubbell
2020 – 2023 – Rising Star – SuperLawyers

Education

2006 – University of Wisconsin – Bachelor of Arts with Honors
2009 – University of Miami School of Law – Juris Doctor (Cum Laude)

Practice

An AV-rated attorney known for his aggressive, unconventional, and detail-oriented approach to cases, Mr. VerStandig counsels many of the world’s preeminent poker players and professional gamblers, as well as various businesses and numerous individuals whose complex and diverse personal holdings regularly invite an equally complex and diverse array of legal issues.

He has successfully tried cases before dozens of federal and state courts, negotiated favorable settlements in a multitude of other litigation matters, and structured financial transactions and corporate deals involving tens of millions of dollars. Over his career, he has established a reputation as a source of pragmatic legal advice for businesses and individuals alike.

Mr. VerStandig has been counsel in many of the most high profile gaming-centric lawsuits of the past decade, advocating on behalf of bettors and other gaming industry professionals in varied and often complex contexts. He has equally established himself as a respected presence in bankruptcy courts throughout the United States, representing creditors in efforts to regain control of their collateral, trustees in adversary proceedings concerning gaming-centric obligations, and debtors in efforts to reorganize businesses in need of a fresh start.

Background

Mr. VerStandig came up through one of Maryland’s largest and preeminent law firms, learning his way around the courtroom and boardroom alike under the tutelage of some of the Mid-Atlantic’s top attorneys. More than half a decade — and hundreds of cases — later, he departed to form his own practice, taking with him an eclectic array of clients and focusing intently on their needs in a more personal and flexible legal setting.

Prior to entering private pracice, Mr. VerStandig studied under the Hon. John K. Olson on the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida. He then served as law clerk to the Hon. Steven G. Salant on the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, Maryland, managing a wide array of civil matters and gaining appreciable experience in the field of domestic relations law.

Representative Cases

Obtained $2.7 million in judgments on behalf of a group of poker players victimized by an industry Ponzi scheme, in a series of cases spanning multiple courts in differing states
Successfully defended an industry-leading poker staking business in an investigation by the SEC, ultimately securing dismissal of the inquiry following initiation of a federal declaratory judgment lawsuit challenging the agency’s regulatory jurisdiction
Appointed as class counsel in consumer rights litigation against a national gaming operator, garnering both injunctive relief as well as a monetary recovery
Won class certification and secured subsequent judgments on behalf of a group of casino floor massage therapists in a groundbreaking lawsuit challenging the exempt classification of those performing commissioned hourly work in poker rooms
Served as counsel to the estates of two large Maryland law firms, guiding one through the bankruptcy process and another through receivership
Collected millions of dollars for private lenders, a community bank, and individual debt investors by representing their interests as creditors in bankruptcy cases, in negotiating successful workout agreements, and in prosecuting collection proceedings
Successfully defended multiple tournament poker champions in litigated staking disputes stemming from their appearance at the final table of the Main Event of the World Series of Poker
Won a client-favorable judgment following a four week jury trial on securities fraud claims related to the sale of a promissory note secured by dozens of commercial investment properties
Garnered dismissal of federal firearms charges on behalf of a Vietnam veteran
Represented the Attorney General of Maryland in his 2014 gubernatorial campaign

Community Involvement

When not advocating on behalf of clients, Mr. VerStandig is a proud member of the Board of Visitors of the University of Wisconsin Department of Communication Arts as well as the Board of Directors of the Charity Series of Poker, and a former director of Women’s American ORT Foundation and the Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington.

A self-proclaimed expert on off-Boardwalk Italian food and off-Strip Thai cuisine, Mr. VerStandig has proud roots in the Atlantic City and Las Vegas poker communities, and is a frequent figure in card rooms throughout the United States. He regularly plays on Live at the Bike, is well-versed in the smoked fish spreads served in various South Florida casinos, and is a strong advocate of all manner of New England tournament poker at the end of a long summer in the sweltering heat of the Mojave Desert.

Bar & Court Admissions

Supreme Court of the United States

District of Columbia Court of Appeals

Maryland Court of Appeals

Supreme Court of Florida

Supreme Court of Nevada

Supreme Court of Virginia

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

United States District Court for the District of Colorado

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida

United States District Court for the Northern District of Florida

United States District Court for the Southern District of Florida

United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois

United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois

United States District Court for the District of Maryland

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri

United States District Court for the District of Nebraska

United States District Court for the District of Nevada

United States District Court for the District of North Dakota

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Oklahoma

United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia

United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin

United States Tax Court

Call Today!

(301) 444-4600

Call Today!

(301) 444-4600