Meet The Team
We Would Love To Add Your Case To Our Long List Of Success Stories.
Beverly Winstead, Esq.
Tax Attorney, Business Leader, Athlete and Speaker
Beverly Winstead, Esq., is an accomplished and award-winning tax attorney, law professor, philanthropist, and public speaker, bringing unmatched legal experience and a persistent focus on creating positive financial outcomes for her clients. Her tenacity on the court led to her induction into the Sports Hall of Fame at her University. That tenacity aids her in resolving disputes with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and state tax agencies and helps her reduce – sometimes even eliminate – her clients’ tax debts. The firm provides counsel for individuals, corporations, and nonprofits; handles litigation in the U.S. Tax Court and in Maryland courts for civil tax matters. She also offers legal services in negotiations, settlements, assessments, and client counseling. Beyond tax resolution, Ms. Winstead offers business structure advice, estate planning, and financial asset protection. She has served as director of the Low Income Taxpayer Clinic at the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she is an adjunct law professor.
Michele Hallman
Attorney | Advocate | Strategist
Michele Hallman brings a wealth of legal expertise to her work in tax law and financial advisory. An accomplished trust attorney with a law degree from Tulane Law School in New Orleans, Louisiana, Michele is admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. Her practice areas include trust law, where she has provided counsel to Fortune 50 financial services companies such as Citicorp, Wells Fargo, and US Trust.
Ms. Hallman’s legal career, spanning over two decades, also includes serving as a litigator and labor negotiator for the District of Columbia Government, experiences that have honed her negotiation skills and commitment to equity and fairness. Her client portfolio is diverse, representing individuals, business owners, tax return preparers, and trust beneficiaries in all tax controversy matters. Her unique blend of skills are an asset to the businesses she works with, guiding them through the intricacies of board governance by aligning legal compliance with strategic objectives.
When not advocating for her clients, Michele enjoys volunteering in her community and spending time with her family.
Lourdes Eliacin Mars, M.A., Esq.
Associate Attorney | Advocate for Justice | International Affairs Specialist
Lourdes S. Eliacin Mars is a dedicated attorney and advocate with a passion for justice, equity, and community empowerment. As an Associate Attorney at The Law Office of Beverly Winstead, she provides comprehensive legal support to clients in tax law, estate planning, and business compliance. Her commitment to resolving tax controversies and crafting tailored estate plans underscores her focus on client-centric solutions.
Lourdes earned her Juris Doctor from the University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, where she excelled as Manuscripts Editor for the Journal of Race, Religion, Gender, and Class. Her academic achievements are complemented by leadership roles, including serving as 2E Class Vice President and competing with the Thurgood Marshall National Trial Team.
Before embarking on her legal career, Lourdes cultivated a global perspective through her master’s degree in international affairs from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in international and global studies from the University of Central Florida, where she graduated cum laude. Her research on political violence in Haiti reflects a deep commitment to understanding and addressing systemic inequities.
In addition to her legal practice, Lourdes has an extensive background in grant writing and nonprofit leadership, having served with organizations like the Tahirih Justice Center and the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. She is fluent in French and Haitian Creole and has in-country experience in Haiti, Venezuela, Indonesia, and Europe.
As a proud member of the Maryland State Bar Association and the National Bar Association, Lourdes is committed to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion within the legal profession. Her multifaceted expertise and unwavering dedication to justice make her a trusted advocate and community leader.
Charlotte Holmes
Firm Administrator
Charlotte oversees the firm’s day-to-day operations, supports the team, and helps ensure that our internal systems and processes allow us to provide clients with an efficient, responsive, and professional experience.
Before joining the firm, Charlotte built an accomplished career in education and administration, serving in leadership roles that included high school principal and district athletic administrator. Throughout her career, she successfully led teams, managed complex programs, implemented organizational initiatives, and developed systems designed to improve performance and accountability.
Charlotte’s strengths in strategic planning, team development, process improvement, and organizational leadership have made her an integral part of the firm’s continued growth. She works closely with firm leadership and staff to strengthen operations, improve workflows, coordinate resources, and ensure the team has the support needed to serve clients effectively.
Charlotte holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Her extensive leadership experience, combined with her commitment to excellence and continuous improvement, helps provide the operational foundation that allows our attorneys and professionals to focus on what matters most—serving our clients.
Belén Azimonti
Case Management Coordinator
Belén is an Argentine lawyer with a background in financial regulation, corporate law, compliance, and legal operations. Prior to joining our firm, she served as Legal Counsel at HSBC Bank Argentina and worked in private practice advising clients financial regulatory and compliance matters.
At the firm, Belén supports our team with case and document coordination, workflow management, client communications, and deadline tracking. Her attention to detail and strong organizational skills help ensure that client matters remain organized and move forward efficiently.
Based in New Zealand and working remotely with our team, Belén brings an international perspective and valuable legal experience to the firm. She is committed to providing responsive, organized support and helping us deliver a seamless experience for our clients.
Ryan Morris
Paralegal
Ryan plays a crucial role in our law firm by assisting attorneys in the preparation of legal documents, such as contracts, wills, and pleadings. He provides support with tax preparation and assists attorneys in the preparation of legal documents, i.e., wills, trusts, and other pleadings. He also conducts thorough legal research and gathers relevant information to support cases, ensuring that all findings are accurately documented and organized. Additionally, he also interacts with clients, manages communication and helps to clarify legal procedures, which are essential in maintaining effective client relations and the smooth operation of the firm.
Ryan is currently pursuing B.S. in Accounting at Morgan State University. He is a licensed notary and a member of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA).
Brent Simpson
Senior Business Adviser
Brent Simpson is a serial entrepreneur, internationally sought-after speaker and growth strategist, creative problem-solver, venture capitalist, sales trainer and negotiations specialist. He loves working with entrepreneurs who have turned their passion into a business but realize they need additional executive-level brainpower. Making decisions on who to hire/fire, what platforms to market on and how to engage clients, when to expand, how to add revenue streams into the business can be overwhelming. Brent makes these decisions seem like second nature, while also making sure his entrepreneurs have a road map to success.
