Photo of Megan E. Coleman Esq.

Megan E. Coleman, Esq.

  • Partner

Location :

Phone :

Fax :

301-441-3003

Email :

Photo of Megan E. Coleman Esq.

Megan E. Coleman, Esq. has been practicing criminal defense with the law office of MarcusBonsib, LLC since 2008. Ms. Coleman has experience handling misdemeanor and felony cases in Maryland State and Federal Courts including at the trial and appellate levels. Ms. Coleman has defended clients against assault, arson, drugs, burglary, theft, fraud, human trafficking, prostitution, sex offenses, child abuse, child pornography, robbery, and murder. 

Megan Coleman is a native of Buffalo, New York and will always have a place in her heart for snow, wings, and the Buffalo Bills. Ms. Coleman attended college at the University of Rochester where she majored in Spanish and minored in Legal Studies. Ms. Coleman interned at the City of Rochester’s Office of the Public Defender. Ms. Coleman’s intern experience at the courthouse made her realize that she did not want merely to help individuals behind the scenes, rather, she wanted to be their voice in the courtroom.

After college, Ms. Coleman attended the Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law. During law school Ms. Coleman participated in a number of activities to prepare her for trial advocacy. Ms. Coleman participated on a trial team where she received an award as the Best Overall Advocate among 40 trial advocates from all over the country at an invitational co-sponsored by the American Bar Association Criminal Law Section.

During law school, Ms. Coleman gained valuable internship experience. Ms. Coleman interned with the United States Department of Justice in its Criminal Division, Child Exploitation and Obscenities Unit. Ms. Coleman researched various statutory and sentencing issues that arose in those cases, and prepared legal memoranda for the prosecuting attorneys. Ms. Coleman also worked as a law clerk at MarcusBonsib, LLC under the supervision of Robert C. Bonsib, Esq., whose practice was focused on criminal defense. In that position Ms. Coleman helped to prepare complex and high-profile trials, drafted numerous appellate briefs, and personally drafted a Petition for a Writ of Certiorari which the United States Supreme Court granted and issued a summary remand.

Ms. Coleman became a member of the Maryland Bar on December 17, 2008. This December marks Ms. Coleman’s 10th anniversary as a practicing attorney in Maryland and as an Associate at MarcusBonsib, LLC.

Over the last decade, Ms. Coleman has contributed to the legal community by volunteering her time as a coach for a high school mock trial team, authoring monthly legal articles for the Prince George’s County Bar Association NewsJournal, and giving legal presentations to other practitioners.

In 2018, Ms. Coleman was recognized as a 2018 Rising Star by Super Lawyers for her excellence in the practice of Criminal Defense.

Below are results that demonstrate Ms. Coleman’s hard work and legal acumen:  

  •  Certiorari granted by the Court of Appeals of Maryland in a felony drug and gun case in 2018 
  •  Certiorari granted by the Court of Appeals of Maryland in a murder case in 2018
  •  Reversal of a felony drug conviction at a post-conviction hearing that would have otherwise resulted in the client’s deportation in 2017
  •  Dismissal of federal charges relating to a hot car death of a child after the Magistrate Judge sided with the defense interpretation of the statute in 2016
  •  Not guilty jury verdict for 2nd degree murder charge in 2016
  •  Not guilty jury verdict for 1st degree burglary charge in 2015
  •  Not guilty jury verdict for human trafficking and prostitution in 2015
  •  Hung jury in child sexual abuse case in 2015
  •  Suppression of defendant’s statements in murder prosecution in 2014
  •  Not guilty jury verdict for 2nd degree murder charge in 2014
  •  Dismissal of 2nd degree rape charge and sex offenses in 2013 where defense challenged prosecutor’s preparation right up to morning of trial in 2013
  •  Dismissal of 2nd degree rape charge and sex offenses where defense challenged victim’s identification of defendant pre-trial in 2013
  •  Dismissal of 22 count indictment charging identity theft and fraud where defense demonstrated to the police, and to the prosecutor, that a look-alike of the Defendant was the actual perpetrator in 2012
  •  Stet of theft charges mid-trial due to defense cross-examination of complaining witness in 2012
  •  Reversal on appeal of felony theft and misconduct in office convictions in 2012
  •  Reversal on appeal of federal honest services fraud convictions in 2012
  •  Reversal on appeal of harassment and false statement convictions in 2011
  •  Not guilty court verdicts in two different assault Cases in 2011
  •  Reduction of federal sentence after government concedes sentencing error discovered by defense on appeal in 2011
  •  Not guilty court verdict of theft over $10,000 and related counts in 2011
  •  Dismissal of 23 count rape indictment where defense raised question as to credibility of complaining witness in 2010
  •  Hung jury in rape trial in 2010
  •  Not guilty jury verdict for rape and sexual offenses in 2010
  •  Reversal on appeal of 2nd degree murder conviction in 2010
  •  Illegal sentence vacated and client spared $10,000 in 2010
  •  Not guilty court verdict for 2nd degree assault of student in 2009
  •  Not guilty jury verdict for sexual abuse of student in 2009


Ms. Coleman can be seen regularly in both the State and Federal Courthouses of Maryland.
For a consultation with Ms. Coleman, please contact her at 301-441-3000 or
at [email protected].

Areas of Practice

  • Criminal Defense
  • Criminal Appeals

Bar Admissions

  • Maryland, 2008
  • U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 2008
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit, 2009

Education

  • Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, Washington, District of Columbia
    • J.D. - 2008
    • Honors: CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy, Lead Articles Editor
    • Honors: National Trials Team Recipient of Best Overall Advocate and First Place Winner at Invitational Criminal Trial Advocacy Competition (2008)
  • University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
    • B.A. - 2005
    • Honors: with Distinction
    • Honors: Management Studies Certificate from the William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration
    • Major: Spanish
    • Minor: Legal Studies

Honors and Awards

  • 2018 Super Lawyers Rising Star in Criminal Defense
  • 2018 Prince George’s County Bar Association President’s Award for Contributions to NewsJournal
  • 2015 Prince George’s County Bar Association President’s Award for Contributions to NewsJournal

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • CJA Appellate Panel for the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • Appellate Panel for the Maryland Office of the Public Defender
  • National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
  • Maryland Criminal Defense Attorneys’ Association
  • Maryland State Bar Association and its Litigation and Criminal Law Sections
  • American Bar Association
  • Prince George’s County and Montgomery County Bar Associations

Past Employment Positions

  • MarcusBonsib, LLC, Law Clerk, 2007 to 2008
  • U.S. Department of Justice, Criminal Division – Legal Intern (2007)

Megan’s Awards & Associations

  • MSBA | Maryland State Bar Association