Amanda Karras
Executive Director / General Counsel
akarras@imla.org
(202) 466-5424 x7116
Staff
Amanda Karras is the Executive Director / General Counsel of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. In this capacity, Ms. Karras oversees IMLA’s governance and staff. Ms. Karras also oversees IMLA’s legal advocacy efforts with the United States Supreme Court, Circuit Courts, and state appellate courts by reviewing and evaluating requests for IMLA’s amicus assistance, advising the legal advocacy committee regarding potential amicus cases and their significance to local government, coordinating case strategies with IMLA’s amicus authors, and drafting and revising amicus briefs. Ms. Karras has authored numerous amicus briefs including at the Supreme Court merits and petition stage as well as in federal circuit courts. Ms. Karras is also responsible for developing the content at IMLA’s conferences. Additionally, Ms. Karras leads a number of working groups for IMLA on emerging issues. Ms. Karras has also co-taught a course on local government law at George Washington University Law School. Prior to joining IMLA, Ms. Karras worked in private practice in Boston, Massachusetts, focusing on employment law and litigation, first with Ropes & Gray, LLP and later with Hirsch Roberts Weinstein LLP. Ms. Karras received a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Colby College and earned her Juris Doctor from Suffolk University Law School, graduating magna cum laude. Ms. Karras served as an Articles Editor for the Suffolk University Law School Law Review. Ms. Karras is admitted to practice in Massachusetts, the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts, and the United States Supreme Court.
Charles W. Thompson, Jr. is currently on the staff of IMLA serving as Of Counsel. Before assuming this role, Mr. Thompson served for fifteen years as the Executive Director and General Counsel of the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Prior to IMLA, Mr. Thompson served as County Attorney for Montgomery County, Maryland from 1995 to 2006. For the previous 17 years, Mr. Thompson served as County Attorney for Carroll County, Maryland. Mr. Thompson received a bachelor’s degree in history from Virginia Military Institute and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Baltimore School of Law. For over twenty years through 2021, Mr. Thompson served as an adjunct professor at the George Washington University, National Law Center, teaching State and Local Government Law. Mr. Thompson is admitted to practice in Maryland, the U.S. District Court for Maryland, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court. Mr. Thompson was awarded the ABA, Section of State and Local Government Law Jefferson Fordham Advocacy Award in 2011 and its Daniel Curtin Lifetime Achievement Award in 2021 and in 2021 he was recognized by IMLA with its highest honor, the Charles S. Rhyne Award.
Erich Eiselt
Deputy General Counsel and Director of Legal Advocacy
eeiselt@imla.org
(202) 466-5424 x7108
Erich Eiselt is IMLA’s Deputy General Counsel and Director of Legal Advocacy. In that role he reviews appellate cases for potential IMLA amicus support and collaborates with authors in developing arguments and information of value to the court which will advance local government interests. He has authored and contributed to the writing of numerous IMLA amicus briefs filed in courts around the country and speaks regularly on Supreme Court issues.
In addition to his Legal Advocacy service, Erich heads IMLA’s Affirmative Litigation Group, which serves as a focal point for IMLA members confronting harm to their communities, from public nuisance to consumer fraud, false claims, environmental threats, and beyond. Erich has presented on a range of affirmative litigation matters to various state legal associations, the National League of Cities, and other organizations.
Erich also serves as editor of IMLA’s flagship publication, Municipal Lawyer. He has written features on a spectrum of topics affecting local government including opioids, public nuisance, sanctuary cities, PFAS, fracking, short term rentals, music licensing, drones, legislative prayer, public duty, online travel companies, and others.
Erich comes to his position with significant experience managing attorney teams and advising both large and entrepreneurial entities on legal and financial matters. He began his career with Anderson Russell Kill & Olick in New York City and six years later moved to assume the Chief Legal Officer role at a New York-based international information company. He has headed various venture-funded entrepreneurial firms and serves as Board Chair of Jubilee Jobs, Inc., a Washington DC nonprofit that has placed more than 27,000 people in entry-level employment since 1983. He is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served on the Editorial Board of the Virginia Journal of International Law, and is admitted to the Bar of New York, the Sixth Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court.
Deanna Shahnami
Assistant General Counsel and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
dshahnami@imla.org
(202) 466-5424 x7105
Deanna Shahnami is IMLA’s Assistant General Counsel and Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, where she is responsible for developing the content at IMLA’s conference as well as participating in IMLA’s amicus activities and contributing legal analyses to Municipal Lawyer and eNews. Deanna heads IMLA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Group, providing resources, updates, and monthly discussions on DEI issues and programs for IMLA members. Before assuming this role, Deanna was IMLA’s associate counsel. Deanna was the 2021 first place winner of ISBA’s Lincoln Award Legal Writing Contest for her article, “Liberties and Lockdowns: Illinois COVID-19 Restrictions and First Amendment Rights.” Prior to joining IMLA, Deanna worked in the office of counsel for a telecommunications consulting firm. She received a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Florida and earned her Juris Doctor from DePaul University College of Law. Deanna is admitted to practice in Florida and Illinois.
Ravinder Arneja is IMLA’s Associate Counsel, where he oversees the firm’s distance learning programming as well as participating in IMLA’s amicus activities and contributing legal analyses to Municipal Lawyer and eNews. Prior to joining IMLA, Ravinder received his bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Maryland Baltimore County and earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan Law School. Prior to graduating in 2022, Ravinder worked as a summer intern in the Frederick County State’s Attorney’s and participated in an externship for the US Department of Treasury. Ravinder is admitted to practice in Maryland.
Trina Shropshire-Paschal
Director for Event Information and CLE Accreditation
Conference & Seminar CLE Information
Conference & Seminar Registrations
trina@imla.org
(202) 466-5424 x7102
Trina Shropshire-Paschal has been a member of the IMLA team since 1986 and serves as the Director for Event Information and CLE Accreditation. She serves as head of the IMLA Events Department and manages the administrative processing for IMLA’s Accreditation Status as an Approved (M)CLE Provider. She oversees the CLE and CPD filings with all state bars and law societies for live and distance learning events for the organization and the event attendees. Trina was assistant to IMLA’s founder Charles S. Rhyne and served as the membership department liaison where she implemented the membership billing coding system. Prior to joining IMLA, Trina was employed by a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization where she managed confidential reports, payroll and a myriad of duties. Trina resides in the District of Columbia with her husband.
Jennifer Ruhe
Deputy Executive Director
jruhe@imla.org
(202) 466-5424 x7106
Jennifer (Jenny) Ruhe is the Deputy Executive Director for the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Jenny has been with the organization since 2013. She attended the University of Richmond and got her undergrad in Business Administration. During her time at Richmond, she played on the Spiders Division I soccer team and was a captain her senior year. After graduating in 2010, Jenny attended the College of Charleston and got her Masters in Business Administration with a concentration in marketing. Jenny now lives in Frederick with her dog, Rosie.
Caroline Storer
Director of Marketing and Communications
cstorer@imla.org
(202) 466-5424 x7104
Caroline Storer is the Marketing Director for the International Municipal Lawyers Association. She oversees member outreach and marketing; managing IMLA’s website, social media accounts and design assets. She also manages IMLA’s virtual learning platforms during IMLA’s distance learning program throughout the year in addition to fully training all speakers. Prior to joining IMLA she attended Florida Southern College and got her degree in Advertising and Public Relations and Interpersonal and Organizational Communications. After graduating in 2017 she went on to complete a media internship at an American study abroad college in Grantham, England. Caroline has been with IMLA since 2018 and now lives in Rockville, MD with her cat, Harper.
Carolina Moore joined IMLA in 2017 to provide administrative support to the membership department, working along with the Director of Administration to maintain the direction and flow of IMLA Member dues. Previously Carolina has worked for some of the larger law firms in Washington, DC in the litigation area. Originally from Georgia, Carolina holds an Associate Degree in Business from Trinity University in Washington, DC. Carolina resides in Silver Spring, Maryland.
Avery Morris is the Administrative Coordinator for the International Municipal Lawyers Association. Avery joined the organization in 2023. Prior to joining IMLA, she attended La Salle University, where she received her BA in English. During her time at La Salle, she was an athlete on the Women’s Rowing team.