Attorney
Eric M. Kopka
Eric M. Kopka served as a prosecutor while on active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps. As a Marine Judge Advocate, Mr. Kopka served as a trial counsel, battalion judge advocate (command legal advisor), and the Chief Trial Counsel for MCB Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.
During his tenure as a Judge Advocate, Mr.Kopka served the majority of his time at MCB Camp Lejeune and deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a member of 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2d Marine Division.
Mr. Kopka has a strong prosecutorial background and operational law experience. During his time as a prosecutor, Mr. Kopka was praised by his superiors and colleagues for his vast legal acumen and courtroom tenacity. As Trial Counsel and the Chief Trial Counsel, Mr. Kopka tried and supervised a variety of federal matters including, rape, sexual assault, aggravated assault, larceny, computer crimes, and drug distribution, possession, and use.
Mr. Kopka concluded his active duty Marine Corps career while serving as the Chief Trial Counsel at MCB Camp Lejeune, NC. Mr. Kopka has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Gold Star in Lieu of Second award, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, Sea Service Deployment Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, and the Global War on Terror Service Medal.
Mr. Kopka’s active duty career was spent in the court room and has focused his law firm on the exclusive practice of military law. Mr. Kopka has extensive experience in representing service members in both criminal and administrative settings.
Mr. Kopka has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Union College, Schenectady, New York, and a Juris Doctor degree from Roger Williams University School of Law, Bristol, Rhode Island. Mr. Kopka is a active member of the Washington D.C. Bar and is admitted to practice military law worldwide.
Paralegal
Frédérique Bedson
Frédérique Bedson has served as the senior paralegal since 2012. As a paralegal specializing in military law, Mrs. Bedson has extensive experience in a myriad of complex federal matters including cases related to sexual assaults, controlled substances, computer crimes, orders violations, and aggravated assaults. Mrs. Bedson has in depth knowledge of the Uniform Code of Military Justice in assisting active duty service members in courts-martials, administrative separations, and in petitioning boards of inquiry. Mrs. Bedson earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from West Virginia University and studied Paralegal Studies at Cape Fear Community College.