You searched “best MSPB attorney” because the stakes are high enough that guessing is not an option. That is the right instinct. The MSPB process has procedural traps that sink otherwise winnable cases, and the agency’s counsel on the other side handles these appeals every week.
Below are six MSPB attorneys I would trust with a federal employee’s career — including attorneys at other firms who I actively compete with, because this is not a decision where my market share should matter more than your case. You will also find a short guide on how to tell a competent MSPB attorney from one who is about to learn on your appeal.
You can skip straight to the list. If a name fits, call them. The clock on your response deadline is already running. I am Justin Schnitzer.
My practice at The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer is dedicated to MSPB appeals, federal EEOC cases, and responses to proposed disciplinary actions. Over the past decade I have represented federal employees across nearly every federal agency in the country.
Call (202) 964-4878 or contact us online for a consultation.
Call Us For a MSPB Consultation
Or, complete our short contact form
At a Glance: 6 MSPB Attorneys to Consider
| Attorney | Firm | What Sets Them Apart |
| Justin Schnitzer | The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer | Practice dedicated to MSPB and federal EEOC for over a decade |
| Aron Wersing | Federal Employment Law Firm of Aaron D. Wersing | Full-time federal employment; MSPB-focused |
| Robert Erbe | Law Office of Robert P. Erbe | 20+ years agency-side; Douglas factors authority |
| Eric Pines | Pines Federal | Large team; deep institutional federal experience |
| Kevin Owen | Gilbert Employment Law | Passman & Kaplan legacy; current on Board developments |
| Elizabeth Matta | The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer | Adverse action settlement work |
Read each profile below for the full case, or skip ahead to the criteria section to see how I evaluated them.
How I Chose These Attorneys
Every attorney on this list is someone I have either opposed in a case, sat across the table from in mediation, watched present at a federal sector conference, or worked alongside on a complex matter. I have direct experience with how they prepare, how they argue, and how they treat federal employees in difficult moments.
I excluded firms I have only read about. I excluded firms whose marketing is louder than their courtroom presence. I excluded national operations that hand cases off to whichever associate is available. The federal employee community is small enough that good lawyers are known by other good lawyers, and the names below come up consistently when federal employees ask me for a referral I cannot personally take.
This is not a comprehensive list of every qualified MSPB attorney in the country. It is a list of the ones I would trust with a difficult case if I could not handle it myself.
What to Look for in an MSPB Attorney
Not every attorney who advertises MSPB representation actually understands how the Board works. The difference between a good outcome and a devastating one often comes down to a few things most federal employees never think to check.
“A good lawyer knows: if the law is on your side, argue the law. If you don’t have the law, argue the facts. If the facts and law aren’t on your side, know when to bang on the table and yell like hell.”
Justin Schnitzer, Esq. · The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer
First, make sure the attorney focuses on federal employment law. General employment lawyers handle state labor disputes, wrongful termination in the private sector, and wage claims. That is a completely different world from MSPB practice. The procedural rules, the case law, the relationship between agencies and the Board, the Douglas factors, the burden of proof framework. All of it is specific to the federal sector. If your attorney has to Google “Douglas factors,” find someone else.
Second, ask how many MSPB cases they have actually handled. There is a meaningful difference between an attorney who has argued dozens of appeals before MSPB administrative judges and one who lists it on their website but has handled two cases. Volume matters. Pattern recognition matters. Knowing which arguments land with which judges matters.
Third, find out who will actually work your case. At some firms, you speak with a name partner during intake and then get handed off to a junior associate or paralegal. That may work for simple matters, but MSPB appeals can be complex. If direct attorney access matters to you, ask the question before you sign.
“At the MSPB, the stakes are high. You want someone who has been there before.”
Justin Schnitzer, Esq. · The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer
6 of the Best MSPB Attorneys in America (2026)
- Justin Schnitzer – The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer
- Aron Wersing – FEDLAW Federal Employment Law Firm
- Robert Erbe – Law Office of Robert P. Erbe
- Eric Pines – Pines Federal
- Kevin Owen – Gilbert Employment Law
- Elizabeth Matta – The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer
1. Justin Schnitzer – The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer
I will start with my own firm. Not because I want to call myself the best, but because I built my practice specifically to represent federal employees facing adverse actions, and you deserve to know who I am before I ask you to take my word on anyone else.
I am held in high regard by colleagues and MSPB judges alike, and that is a reflection of doing this work day in and day out for over a decade. My practice is dedicated to MSPB appeals, federal EEOC matters, responses to proposed disciplinary actions, and investigations into potential misconduct. I have represented federal employees across virtually every federal agency in the country.
What I hear from clients most is that they felt like I was genuinely in their corner. Every client gets my cell phone number. I know this can be the most stressful period of your career, and having a lawyer you can actually reach changes everything. I take the time to understand not just the legal issues but how the situation is affecting your life and livelihood. From there, I develop the best course of action to correct the wrong.
When you are a federal employee up against your own agency with its own team of lawyers, you need an attorney willing to fight. That is what I do.
Call (202) 964-4878 or contact us online for a consultation.
Lynn Huylar
Review of Justin Schnitzer
“He was knowledgeable about the federal law and employees rights and was able to give expert advice. He was professional, kept us informed every step of the way and worked hard for our cause. He was able to article our issues to the MSPB board and because of his excellent work the agency moved quickly to settlement. He was a big advocate for us in obtaining a fair resolution monetarily. Our case was settled in record time.”
2. Aron Wersing – Federal Employment Law Firm of Aaron D Wersing PLLC
Aron Wersing is a tenacious advocate with a deep, practical command of the MSPB process, which means he is not splitting time between private sector employment disputes and federal cases. He is in this world full time.
Aron handles a wide range of federal employment matters, including MSPB appeals, EEOC complaints, whistleblower retaliation, and federal disability retirement. His clients span across all federal government agencies, and he is well-versed in the specific procedural and substantive issues that come up in adverse action cases.
What I respect about Aron is that he understands the MSPB process at a practical level. He knows how the Board actually works, not just how the rules read on paper. That kind of experience is hard to find and invaluable when your job is on the line.
Client Review
Review of Aron Wersing
“I hired this firm after the VA proposed my termination. Mr. Wersing wrote a truly dynamite response to the proposed removal and coached me through a verbal response. Still, the director fired me and Mr. Wersing and his firm advised me to file an appeal with the MSPB. The whole process took several months, but the firm got me my job back with full benefits, a clean record, and refunded my attorneys fees once they got the VA to pay them.”
3. Robert Erbe – Law Office of Robert P. Erbe
Robert Erbe has a wealth of knowledge on all stages of the MSPB process. He writes like someone who has been in the trenches, because he has.
Robert spent over 20 years as a federal agency attorney before switching sides to represent employees. He is widely recognized as an expert on MSPB practice and procedure, as well as the Douglas factors. He is a frequent presenter at national federal sector labor and employment law conferences, including the annual Federal Dispute Resolution Conference. He also writes the Discipline Advisor and Arbitrator Advisor columns for CyberFEDS.
What stands out about Robert is the depth of his content and his willingness to share real, practical knowledge. His website is not a brochure. It is a resource. That tells you something about the kind of attorney he is.
4. Eric Pines – Pines Federal
Eric Pines is widely regarded as one of the most experienced MSPB attorneys in the country, and for good reason. He has been doing this work for a long time and has built a firm, Pines Federal, that operates at scale while maintaining a deep focus on federal employment law.
Eric started his career as in-house counsel for AFGE Local 1923 at the Social Security Administration’s headquarters. That background matters. He learned the federal sector from the inside before moving to private practice on the employee side. Pines Federal has also built an impressive library of resources, including a video library and podcast that cover federal employment issues in detail. That kind of investment in educating clients tells you they are serious about the work.
Client Review
Review of Eric Pines
“I hired Eric Pines where he, Stephen Goldenzweig, and Justin Schnitzer, represented me on various aspects of my case for a three year period for a federal employment case. This was a highly complex case which ultimately led to Mr. Pines successfully negotiating a nice settlement. Throughout the entire experience, Mr. Pines and his team were very enthusiastic, empathetic, and honest.”
5. Kevin Owen – Gilbert Employment Law
Kevin Owen and the team at Gilbert Employment Law are highly attuned to changes at the MSPB, regularly publishing insightful updates on new developments. In a practice area where the rules and the political landscape can shift quickly, that kind of attentiveness matters.
Gilbert Employment Law has a long history in federal employment law. The firm carries the legacy of Passman & Kaplan, one of the most well-known federal employment practices in Washington, D.C.
What sets this firm apart is the combination of institutional knowledge and staying current. They are not coasting on reputation. They are actively tracking how the Board is evolving and what that means for federal employees. Their Federal Legal Corner is a valuable resource for anyone dealing with MSPB issues.
6. Elizabeth Matta – The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer
Disclosure: Elizabeth is an associate at my firm. I am including her on this list because excluding someone I work with daily, and watch outperform attorneys at firms three times our size, would be its own form of dishonesty. Read her entry, then decide.
Elizabeth Matta is the attorney clients ask for by name after a referral. That is not marketing copy. It is what actually happens at our firm. Federal employees who work with her once tell their colleagues, and the colleagues come in asking specifically for Elizabeth.
She came to federal employment law from unemployment and housing law. That background gives her something most federal employment attorneys do not have: a working understanding of what happens to a federal employee’s life when their job is in jeopardy. The income, the security clearance, the housing, the family. She sees the case as a person, not as a docket number.
What sets Elizabeth apart is her settlement work on adverse actions. Proposed removals, long-term suspensions, demotions — she resolves cases on terms clients did not believe were on the table. She is exceptionally responsive: clients hear back the same day, not the next week. And her depth on the Douglas factors, the burden-of-proof framework, and the procedural rules that govern MSPB practice is the kind that comes from living inside the regulations, not skimming them.
If you are a federal employee facing a proposed adverse action, with or without a discrimination component, ask for Elizabeth specifically.
(For the record, I am a close second on this one.)
A Note on the Paid Ads at the Top of Your Search
Before you landed on this article, Google showed you sponsored ads. Some of those firms genuinely practice federal employment law. Others are general employment firms that have never argued an MSPB appeal. At least one will typically be a generic-sounding site that does not name a single attorney on its homepage.
Those ads tell you one thing only: the firm wrote a check to Google to sit above the actual search results. The older pay-to-play channels — Justia, Avvo, Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers, Expertise, Three Best Rated — work the same way. Badge placements and “Top 10” listings go to whoever pays the most, not to whoever does the best work.
Nobody paid me to put the names above on this list. I cannot be paid to put a name on this list. That is the only meaningful difference between this article and the ads and directories above it.
Frequently Asked Questions About MSPB Attorneys
Do I need to hire an MSPB attorney near me?
No. MSPB hearings are conducted nationwide, and many are held by video or telephone. What matters is the attorney’s experience with MSPB cases, not their zip code. The best MSPB attorneys represent federal employees across the country regardless of where they are based. You should choose the most experienced attorney for your situation, not the closest one.
When should I hire an MSPB attorney?
As soon as you receive a proposed adverse action from your agency. Many federal employees wait until after the final decision, but that is a mistake. An experienced MSPB attorney can help you craft a strong written and oral reply to the proposed action, which can sometimes resolve the matter before it ever reaches the Board. If the case does go to appeal, the earlier your attorney is involved, the stronger your position will be.
How much does an MSPB attorney cost?
Fee structures vary by attorney and by case. Some MSPB attorneys charge hourly rates, some work on flat fee arrangements, and some offer payment plans. The cost depends on the complexity of your case and the stage at which you hire counsel. Most MSPB attorneys offer an initial consultation where they can give you a clear picture of what representation will cost for your specific situation.
Can I represent myself before the MSPB?
Yes, you can. But the question is whether you should. The federal government will be represented by experienced agency counsel who argue these cases regularly. They know the rules, the case law, and the procedural requirements inside and out. Going up against that level of preparation without your own experienced attorney significantly reduces your chances of a favorable outcome.
What types of cases does the [MSPB](https://www.fedelaw.com/what-is-the-mspb/) handle?
The MSPB has jurisdiction over appeals from federal employees who have been subjected to certain adverse actions, including removals, suspensions of more than 14 days, reductions in grade, reductions in pay, and furloughs of 30 days or less. The Board also handles appeals related to whistleblower retaliation, certain veterans’ preference claims, and OPM determinations on retirement and insurance matters.
How long do I have to file an MSPB appeal?
Thirty days from the effective date of the adverse action. This is a hard deadline set by 5 CFR § 1201.22. Miss it and your appeal is almost certainly dismissed. If you are facing a proposed adverse action, engage counsel immediately rather than waiting for the final decision — the reply to the proposal often shapes the outcome before MSPB jurisdiction even attaches.
How did we select the best MSPB attorneys?
This list was assembled based on direct knowledge of the federal employment law community. Each attorney was evaluated based on their experience handling MSPB cases, their reputation among peers and judges, their track record of results, and their commitment to federal employee clients. These are attorneys I would personally recommend to someone I care about.
Need an MSPB Attorney?
If you are a federal employee facing a removal, suspension, demotion, or any other adverse action, the right attorney can change the outcome. At The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer, we represent federal employees nationwide in MSPB appeals, EEOC cases, and all federal employment matters.
When you call, you speak directly with me. Tell me what happened. I will tell you exactly where you stand.
Call (202) 964-4878 or contact us online for a consultation.
Justin Schnitzer is the founder of The Law Office of Justin Schnitzer, based in Washington, DC. He represents federal employees across the country in MSPB, EEOC, and adverse-action matters.