Mark Cummings
We interviewed the partners and staff at SCE, and asked Mark the following questions:
What is your favorite aspect of working at Sher, Cummings & Ellis?
The collegiate atmosphere in our office; we generally have two or three interns from the law school working alongside our legal staff.
What is the most rewarding part of your career?
The respect of a thankful client after achieving success in their legal endeavor.
What is your favorite book?
My favorite book is To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
Education:
Marshall-Wythe School of Law, College of William and Mary and International School of Law, J.D., 1978;
University of Virginia, B.A., 1973;
Admitted:
1978, Virginia
1979, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia, U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, Virginia Supreme Court
1987, U.S. Supreme Court
1988, District of Columbia
2002, U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
Memberships:
Arlington County Bar Association (Director, 1987-1989; President, 1990-1991; Member, Judicial Selection Committee), 1993-2002.
Arlington County Bar Foundation (Board of Directors, 1990—present; Chairman, 2001-2002) and Virginia Bar Association (Member, Judicial Selection Committee, Federal Judiciary 2003—present).
Virginia State Bar (Bar Council, 1995-2006; 2007-2013).
The District of Columbia Bar; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association (Board of Governors, District 12, 2001—present).
American Association for Justice (2015-present).
George Mason American Inn of Court (2017-present).
Biography:
Delta Theta Phi.
Articles Editor, International School of Law Review, 1977-1978.
Author: “Enforcement of the Federal Trade Commission Act: Does the Consumer Have a Private Right of Action in Federal Court?” ISL Law Review, Vol. 2, page 99, 1977.
Adjunct Professor, George Mason University School of Law, 2000—present.
Awards:
SuperLawyers Top Attorneys in Virginia, 2008-2017
Washingtonian Magazine’s Best Legal Minds, 2011
Washingtonian Magazine’s 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 Top Lawyers: Criminal Defense Attorneys
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating
Representative Cases:
Mark L. Martin v. GFC Facilities Inc. et al. CL2020-05680 Circuit Court for Fairfax County (2022). $3 million dollar case settlement following mediation pending jury trial.
Securities and Exchange Commission v. Christopher J. Clark et al. United States District Court for the EDVA (December 13, 2021). Case Dismissed by Motion for Judgment as a Matter of Law pursuant to Rule 50 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
United States v. W. Mark Felt and Edward S. Miller, Crim. No. 78-00179 (D.C. D.C., 1980)
Coleman v. Hogan, 254 Va. 64, 486 S.E.2d 548 (1997)
Weimer v. Commonwealth, 5 Va.App. 47, 360 S.E.2d 381 (1986)
Espinozo v. Hillwood Square Mutual Association, 525 F.Supp. 559 (E.D.1981)
Richmond Fredericksburg & Potomac Rail Road v. Davis Industries, Inc. 787 F.Supp. 572 (E.D. Va. 1992).