Andalman & Flynn in Baltimore: Commercial Litigation from a Downtown Firm with Deep Local Roots
Andalman & Flynn is a general litigation practice based in downtown Baltimore that handles contract disputes, business torts, and commercial claims for mid-market companies and their executives. The firm operates as a traditional partnership with roughly a dozen attorneys and focuses on cases litigated in Maryland state courts and federal court in the District of Maryland, with occasional work in Virginia and Delaware.
What Andalman & Flynn actually is
The practice sits in the mid-tier segment of Baltimore's legal market. It is not a solo practitioner and not a national firm with rotating associates. The partners have maintained the same practice name and office location on Charles Street for decades, which matters for clients who need continuity and an attorney who will still be in the same conference room five years into a dispute. The firm takes cases to trial, does not confine itself to settlement work, and bills hourly rather than on contingency. This model suits clients with the financial capacity to fund a defense or prosecution through discovery and trial, not clients seeking a lawyer who shares the financial risk of the outcome.
Services and billing structure
Andalman & Flynn's general litigation docket includes breach of contract, fraud, business disparagement, conversion, and disputes over non-competes and intellectual property. The firm also handles employment claims that bubble up to the litigation stage. Retainer arrangements are standard; the firm typically requires a $10,000 to $25,000 initial retainer depending on case complexity and expected scope. Billing occurs at hourly rates that range from $250 to $400 per hour for associate work and $350 to $500 for partner work, aligned with Baltimore market norms for established firms but below rates charged by national firms and appellate boutiques. Confirm current rates directly; hourly rates adjust annually. The firm does not typically take cases on contingency. Clients should budget for discovery costs, which sit outside hourly fees and accumulate quickly in multi-party disputes.
How Andalman & Flynn compares to other Baltimore litigation options
A client choosing among general litigation firms in Baltimore faces a spectrum. At one end sit solos and small two-attorney practices that offer lower hourly rates, often $150 to $250, and faster attorney access but limited resources for document-heavy discovery or parallel court battles. At the other end sit major national firms (Venable, DLA Piper, Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr) where rates exceed $600 per hour and junior attorneys staff routine work. Andalman & Flynn occupies the practical middle: experienced partners who will personally know the judges in Baltimore County and Baltimore City, reasonable rates, and depth to handle a two-year contract dispute without outsourcing to counsel in D.C.
Clients seeking appellate-only work should look to specialized boutiques like Silverman Thompson or Gould Killian, which focus on written briefs and oral argument and tend to charge flat fees for that work. Clients facing criminal exposure embedded in a business dispute may want a dual-counsel approach, adding a criminal defense specialist (the Rosen Law Firm and Goldstein & Bashner handle that locally) alongside commercial counsel.
Who this firm suits and does not suit
Andalman & Flynn works for established businesses with genuine contractual disputes, companies defending against breach claims, and executives defending non-compete litigation. The firm suits clients who can fund a case through depositions, expert reports, and trial. It does not suit startups with no litigation budget, individuals seeking pro bono representation, or claimants who cannot afford a $15,000 starting retainer. It is not a plaintiff's contingency shop; if your claim hinges entirely on winning at trial to be paid, this is not the right door.
What the first visit involves
An initial consultation typically runs 60 to 90 minutes and costs $500 to $800, though many clients find this fee credited against the retainer if they engage the firm. During that meeting, bring all written agreements in dispute (contracts, emails, any correspondence showing the alleged breach), a chronology of events, and names of key witnesses or parties. The attorney will ask for specifics on damages (what did the breach cost you) and liability (what exactly did the other party agree to do or not do). If the matter seems outside the firm's practice focus or if conflict of interest exists, the attorney will say so rather than take the case. After the consultation, expect a follow-up letter outlining the legal issues, preliminary risk assessment, and the proposed retainer amount and scope of work.
Hours, location, and logistics
Andalman & Flynn operates standard business hours, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The office is on Charles Street in downtown Baltimore, which offers on-street and public parking garage access. Attorney availability outside business hours for true emergencies can be arranged, but this is not a 24-hour firm and clients should not expect email responses at midnight. The firm's proximity to the federal courthouse on Lombard Street and Maryland state court buildings on Cathedral Street minimizes travel time for hearings and filings.
Andalman & Flynn has sustained a local commercial litigation practice in Baltimore long enough to build relationships with judges, court staff, and the wider bar. That continuity and the firm's mid-market position make it a reasonable choice for a business that needs experienced trial counsel without the overhead cost of national firm rates.
