About Derek Howard
Derek Howard Teslik is an attorney who has built a steady, jurisdiction-spanning career since completing law school in the mid-2000s. He combines a traditional legal education with years spent in firm practice. Colleagues describe him as methodical and exacting in his work; clients have counted on him for matters that require careful attention to procedural details.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Washington University in St. Louis in 2000. Seven years later he returned to Washington University for his law degree, receiving a J.D. in 2007. The gap between degrees included time that informed his decision to pursue law, and his academic record reflects a course of study aimed at preparing for practice in major U.S. jurisdictions.
His early professional years included a role as an associate at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. There he worked on matters typical for a large firm associate: managing filings, researching case law, drafting briefs and memoranda, and participating in client conferences. The position exposed him to complex procedural work and the expectations of large firm practice, and it helped shape the practical skills he carries into later roles.
Teslik has been a member of a professional association since 2008. He maintains active admission to practice in both the District of Columbia and New York. That dual admission enables him to take on matters that touch both jurisdictions and to coordinate with counsel in different regulatory and court environments. His approach emphasizes precision in pleadings and a careful reading of local rules.
He is listed as working out of the Gray Miller Persh office. Over the years he has moved from associate-level responsibilities to roles that involve greater oversight of case preparation and client interaction. He balances procedural rigor with an eye toward practical outcomes. His current practice centers on legal matters in the District of Columbia and New York.
