Ontaneda-Bernales Appointed to Maryland Health Care Commission

BALTIMORE November 7, 2007 — Ober|Kaler is pleased to announce that Sylvia Ontaneda-Bernales, an associate in the firm's Complex Civil Litigation practice, has been appointed by Governor Martin O’Malley to the Maryland Health Care Commission (MHCC). Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales is one of six new appointees to the 15-member commission, an independent regulatory agency that plans for health system needs, increases accountability and improves access to health care.

The appointment, which was announced on October 25, is the latest in a series of honors for Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales. She also recently received the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service 2007 Educator Award, as well as the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association Public Service Award.

Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales was selected on the basis of her strong credentials, including her long-time interest in health issues, having been an active member of the Washoe County Health Systems in Reno, Nevada.

A former journalist and documentary filmmaker, Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales is active in both legal and community organizations. She is a member of the American Bar Association; the American Immigration Lawyers Association; the Bar Association of Baltimore City, in which she serves on the Judicial Administration, Pro Bono Legal Services and the CLE and Events Committees; the District of Columbia Bar; the Maryland Hispanic Bar Association, in which she serves on the Board and on the Immigration and Foundation Committees; the Hispanic National Bar Association; the Maryland State Bar Association; and the Women’s Bar Association of Maryland. She is also an active member of Community Law in Action’s Mentoring to Empower Program and volunteers as a mediator in District One, Baltimore City.

Ms. Ontaneda-Bernales is a graduate of George Washington University Law School (J.D., 2002) and the University of Nevada at Reno (M.A., 1996; B.A. 1993). She resides in Baltimore City.

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Ober|Kaler is a national law firm that provides integrated regulatory, transaction and litigation services to financial, health care, construction and other business organizations. The firm has 127 attorneys in offices in Baltimore, Washington, D.C. and Fall Church, Va.

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