Fleming had the distinct honor of serving as a trial counsel, a torts attorney, an operations attorney, and a staff attorney with the United States Air Force’s Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps for approximately seven years. Among others, she served as a legal advisor for several multinational military exercises, counsel for a public health working group during the coronavirus national emergency, and as a legal advisor to the highest court of the United States Air Force, the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. Spending nearly three years assigned to the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals, she researched, prepared, edited, or drafted hundreds of appellate orders and or opinions. Prior to commissioning as a JAG, she spent nine years as an Air Force cryptologic linguist responsible for translating, analyzing, and reporting on national intelligence priorities.
Recognized as a subject matter expert and certified as both a senior language analyst and senior intelligence analyst, she authored a 400-page training manual and led job qualification training for a threat assessment program. Though ostensibly unrelated, each of these experiences required application of advanced critical thinking and analytic methods to gather, evaluate, and synthetize data from multiple and complex sources — enabling her to find solutions for clients’ toughest problems. She enjoys the challenging aspects of federal, military, and appellate advocacy which often involve intricate and counterintuitive legal doctrines. Known for tackling the most complex issues, Fleming is passionate about learning inside and outside of the legal domain. Her hobbies include Lego building, vehicle repair, DIY projects, spending time with her dogs, and playing or watching a variety of sports.
Fleming holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of South Carolina School of Law, a Master of Professional Studies from the Pennsylvania State University, a Bachelor of Science from the Pennsylvania State University, an Associate of Science from the Community College of the Air Force, and an Associate of Arts from the Defense Language Institute.
Karen has rejoined the firm where she practiced from 2001-2004. As a senior litigation
attorney, Karen brings a wealth of experience, competence, and a desire to serve the
clients of the firm.
Karen grew up as an Air Force “brat,” as her father served as a Weapon System Officer
(WSO) in the F-111 Aardvark. She followed his path by being commissioned as a
Second Lieutenant through the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC) at
Cornell University. After some time in the Individual Ready Reserve, she attended law
school at the University of Colorado. Upon graduation, her commission was reactivated
and she joined the Air Force Judge Advocate Corps in 1993. Karen spent 24 years as
an Air Force Judge Advocate, retiring in 2017 as a Colonel after serving on active duty
and in the Reserves.
During her military tenure, she served 3 years as a trial defense counsel, which included
duty representing cadets as the Military Cadet Counsel at the United States Air Force
Academy. She then spent 8 years as an appellate defense counsel, representing
military members before the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals and the Court of
Appeals for the Armed Forces. After 5 years at two operational bases as the Staff
Judge Advocate and the Deputy Staff Judge Advocate, Karen served as a judge on the
Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals for 3 years. She finished her Air Force career as
agency counsel on cases being heard by the Air Force Board of Corrections for Military
Records and also during Officer Grade Determinations involving senior military officer
misconduct.
On the civilian side, before retiring in 2025, Karen spent 21 years as an Associate
General Counsel with the Department of Defense Office of General Counsel. In that
position, she managed and worked on major litigation involving the Department and its
senior officials. This included issues relating to international law, personnel/fiscal/health
policy, the Freedom of Information Act and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
She is happy to be back in private practice where she can put her skills and experience
to use aggressively protecting the rights of our nation’s military members and civilian
employees in these especially challenging times.
In her free time, Karen enjoys boating on the Chesapeake Bay and volunteering with a
local animal rescue.
David Sheldon began his over 25-year career as a military defense lawyer in the U.S. Navy. In four years of naval service, he built a distinguished record representing officers and enlisted members before the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Court of Military Review, the Court of Military Appeals, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Mr. Sheldon launched his civilian career in 1994, earning a national reputation as an expert in military defense. Today, he frequently provides comments and analysis on high-profile military cases for CNN, NBC, CBS, and ABC television news and National Public Radio. Mr. Sheldon represents members of every branch of the armed services and the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service.
As the lead military defense lawyer in numerous high-profile cases, he has successfully defended soldiers, sailors, and airmen of every rank and stature. While some of the more highly publicized cases are a matter of record, far more have been won without highly visible media coverage. Mr. Sheldon takes great pride in that fact; often clients are best served by avoiding the glare of the media.
Areas of Practice
- Military Law
- Military Defense
- Courts-Martial
- Administrative Discharge Reviews
- Corrections of Military Records
- Security Clearances
- Medical Malpractice at Military Facilities
Education
- University of Montana School of Law, Missoula, Montana
- Juris Doctor – 1990
- Law Review: University of Montana, Co-Editor
- University of Montana, Montana
Professional Associations and Memberships
- National Institute of Military Justice, Board of Advisors
- American Association for Justice
- National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
- Judge Advocates Association
Past Employment Positions
- U.S. Navy, 1991 – 1994
- Feldesman, Tucker, Leifer, Fidell and Bank LLP, 1994 – 2001
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