Rifkin Weiner Livingston

What Rifkin Weiner Livingston does

Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC is a Maryland-based law firm founded in 1989, operating from three offices in Annapolis (State Capital Area), Towson (Metro Baltimore), and Bethesda (Metro Washington, D.C.). The firm provides legal and regulatory counsel across ten practice areas: administrative law and regulatory compliance, business and commercial transactions, complex civil and commercial litigation, electronically stored information (ESI), government relations and lobbying, mediation and dispute resolution, sports law and gaming, state contracting and procurement, and white collar criminal defense. Its client base spans professional sports franchises (Baltimore Orioles, Maryland Jockey Club, MASN, Ripken Professional Baseball), large enterprises (Google, Meta, FedEx, Berkshire Hathaway Energy), healthcare organizations (Sheppard Pratt), cannabis operators (Curio Wellness), and Maryland state and local government entities.

The firm is partner-owned, led by Managing Partner Alan M. Rifkin (co-founder 1989), and operates using standard legal technology, document management, and case management systems — there are no proprietary technology platforms or software products. RWL generates revenue through traditional professional services billing (hourly rates and fixed fees) tied to matter complexity, attorney seniority, and practice area. Business development is relationship-driven, leveraging decades of Maryland government connections (former Governor's counsel, legislative staff, agency heads), peer recognition through Chambers, Best Lawyers, and Super Lawyers rankings, and thought leadership through publications and presentations. The firm is a member of SCG Legal, an international network of law firms in every U.S. state capital and over 80 countries.

RWL's strategic positioning is built on Maryland-specific expertise at the intersection of law, government, and business. Its procurement practice (Scott Livingston) holds a dominant share of Maryland State Board of Contract Appeals published decisions (50+), and its government relations practice is anchored by senior partners with direct executive and legislative branch experience. The 2013 merger with the Law Offices of Arnold M. Weiner expanded its litigation bench, and subsequent vertical additions (cannabis, ESG-related regulatory work) extend the firm's regulated-industry footprint.

Name

Rifkin Weiner Livingston

Legal name

Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC

Website

https://rwllaw.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Rifkin Weiner Livingston is a Maryland-based law firm serving sports franchises, Fortune 500 enterprises, healthcare and cannabis companies, and state/local government clients across ten practice areas including complex litigation, government relations, sports law, and procurement from offices in Annapolis, Towson, and Bethesda.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Regulatory Investigations, Enforcement Response & Legal Representation (MPAEAOAM), Litigation Support & Expert Witness Services (BPAHALAG)

Keywords

• Legal advisory services
• Complex commercial litigation
• Government relations lobbying
• Sports law practice
• State procurement law

Headquarters

HQ city

Annapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Billing: Traditional law firm revenue through client engagements billed at hourly rates or fixed fees for specific matters. Practice areas include business/commercial transactions, complex litigation, government relations, sports law, white collar defense, and regulatory compliance.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Rifkin Weiner Livingston is a Maryland-based law firm providing legal advisory and representation services across ten practice areas including complex litigation, sports law, government relations, state procurement, business transactions, white collar defense, regulatory compliance, cannabis law, mediation, and ESI/e-discovery. The firm serves enterprise clients such as the Baltimore Orioles, Maryland Jockey Club, Google, Meta, FedEx, and Berkshire Hathaway Energy with advocacy before Maryland state agencies, courts, legislative bodies, and administrative tribunals.

Product overview

Rifkin Weiner Livingston LLC is a Maryland-based law firm offering a comprehensive portfolio of legal services across ten distinct practice areas. The firm operates as a single integrated legal practice rather than a platform-with-modules architecture. Services span administrative law and regulatory compliance, business and commercial transactions, complex civil and commercial litigation, ESI/e-discovery, government relations and lobbying, mediation and dispute resolution, sports law and gaming, state contracting and procurement, and white collar criminal defense. The practice areas are led by specialized attorneys who employ a team approach to serve clients ranging from major sports franchises to individual executives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Complex Civil and Commercial Litigation High-stakes civil litigation services including class actions, False Claims Act cases, business fraud, and bet-the-company disputes for corporate and institutional clients.
• Sports Law, Gaming and Facilities Sports industry legal services for franchises, sports enterprises, and gaming operators including franchise governance, media rights, facility development, and gaming regulatory matters.
• Government Relations and Lobbying Legislative and government relations services including direct lobbying, legislative monitoring, and advocacy before Maryland government institutions for corporate clients.
• State Contracting, Procurement and Bid Protests Government procurement law services including bid protests, contract claims, and MBE compliance representation for Maryland state and local contracting.
• Business and Commercial Transactions Corporate and commercial legal services including entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, financing transactions, and contract negotiation for businesses.
• Administrative Law and Regulatory Compliance Regulatory and administrative legal services helping businesses navigate federal and state agencies, government investigations, and administrative proceedings.
• White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations Criminal defense services for executives and corporations facing state and federal investigations and prosecutions.
• Mediation and Dispute Resolution Alternative dispute resolution services for complex legal and business disputes, led by Barry Gogel.
• Electronically Stored Information (ESI) Legal guidance on ESI management, litigation holds, preservation, collection, and e-discovery matters for litigation matters.
• Cannabis Policy, Administrative Law and Litigation Legal services related to cannabis policy, licensing, regulatory compliance, and litigation in Maryland's cannabis market for growers, processors, and dispensaries.

Quantifiable outcome

• $185 million settlement - Devan v. Ernst & Young (Merry-Go-Round bankruptcy)
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers12 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Google LLCcoreOthersRWL provides government relations and regulatory compliance services to Google in Maryland legislative and regulatory matters
• Facebook/Meta PlatformsminorOthersRWL provides government relations representation for Meta in Maryland
• FedEx CorporationminorOthersRWL provides business and regulatory legal services to FedEx
• Berkshire Hathaway Energy GT&ScoreOthersRWL led effort to gain legislative and regulatory approvals for Dominion's (now Berkshire Hathaway) LNG export facility at Cove Point - state's largest capital project
• SCG LegalcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational network of prominent law firms with members in every state capital, many commercial cities, and over 80 countries. Alan Rifkin served as Chairman 2014-2015. Celeste Bruce served as immediate past Chair.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Gordon Feinblatt LLC: Baltimore-based boutique law firm with overlapping practice areas in business transactions, litigation, and government relations; competes with RWL for mid-market Maryland corporate clients.
• Venable LLP: Mid-Atlantic-based full-service law firm with comparable size and overlapping practice areas in government relations, regulatory, sports, and complex litigation; competes with RWL for Maryland and DC-based enterprise clients.
• Saul Ewing: Regional Mid-Atlantic law firm with similar practice mix across litigation, government relations, and business transactions; competes directly with RWL for Maryland-based institutional and corporate clients.
• Whiteford Taylor Preston: Maryland-headquartered regional law firm with comparable size, transactional, litigation, and government practice offerings; directly competes for the same Baltimore/Annapolis enterprise client base.
• Miles & Stockbridge (now Effect.EF): Historic Maryland-based law firm with comparable full-service practice areas including litigation, regulatory, and government work; directly competes with RWL for Annapolis and Baltimore clients.

Broad incumbents

• DLA Piper: Global law firm with major Baltimore and DC offices and broad capabilities in government relations, litigation, and regulatory; competes with RWL for large Maryland matters where scale matters.
• Hogan Lovells: Global law firm with strong DC presence and government relations/litigation practices; overlaps with RWL on regulatory advocacy and complex litigation for Fortune 500 clients with Maryland interests.
• Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough: Multi-state regional law firm with Mid-Atlantic presence and comparable government, litigation, and sports law practices; competes for similar enterprise clients across the East Coast.
• K&L Gates: Global law firm with significant Pittsburgh/DC presence and comparable energy, regulatory, and litigation practices; competes for Maryland-based energy and infrastructure clients (e.g., Cove Point LNG-related work).

Regional players

• Jackson Walker LLP: Texas-based full-service law firm with comparable sports law and government relations practices; comparable as a similarly sized regional powerhouse with elite sports/entertainment clients, though operating in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/RWLLS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rifkin-weiner-livingston-llc
• Xx.com/RWL_LLC

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles18 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Rifkin Weiner Livingston