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Geoffrey Platnick (“Geoff”) has a singular focus—achieving his clients’ goals. With a practice dedicated exclusively to family law within the state of Maryland and the District of Columbia, Geoff takes the time to meet people where they are, help them understand the legal road ahead, and formulate a strategy that will lead to the resolution they seek. This strategy always involves negotiation, but often includes litigation. Specifically, individuals rely upon Geoff to assess their specific circumstances and objectives, and then formulate and execute a winning strategy.

Geoff is a problem-solver and understands the personal turmoil individuals face during divorce and custody disputes. To reduce the emotional and financial expense to his clients, Geoff tries to resolve matters outside of a courtroom. However, if that is not an effective way forward, his clients can rely on his smart and creative trial strategies that can deliver a win—even when faced with a less than favorable set of facts.

Most family law disputes do settle out of court, which means that many family lawyers lack experience in the courtroom. Geoffrey Platnick is different. He has extensive litigation experience, including having started his legal career as an Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia in the area of child support establishment and enforcement.

After leaving government service in 2005, Geoff entered private practice committed to concentrating in family law. Geoff’s deep understanding of the issues impacting families has earned him the reputation of a trusted counselor as well as a shrewd negotiator and fierce litigator. He empowers his clients with knowledge, giving them an insider’s view of the divorce and custody process.

During his years in private practice, Geoff has litigated countless family law cases at prominent local firms, including, most recently, as an Equity Shareholder of the Potomac law firm of Shulman Rogers. Geoff continues to regularly litigate statewide in the courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia in contested and uncontested cases.

Geoff approaches each legal matter with the eye of a tactician, carefully evaluating the strengths, weaknesses, and complexities of each case. He is prepared to advocate compellingly at trial if needed; however, Geoff’s courtroom experience enhances his ability to negotiate favorable outcomes outside of the courthouse. Because he is well-prepared to litigate a case if a trial serves his client’s needs, Geoff will not simply encourage clients to settle their dispute unless doing so is in in their best interests.

Recognizing that individuals are often most successful in achieving their goals by avoiding litigation, Geoff often recommends, and engages, in the process of mediation to resolve family disputes amicably. Geoff is certified as a family law mediator and uses this skill to resolve disputes by mediation. Because of his talent and reputation in the mediation process, Geoff is frequently selected by local attorneys to serve as the neutral mediator in their cases as well. Additionally, Geoff is trained and certified in the Collaborative Divorce process, a method of handling family law cases in which parties work together to resolve their disputes cooperatively. Geoff is committed to making available a range of alternative dispute resolution options to facilitate settlement whenever possible.

Specifically, Geoff’s areas of practice include all aspects of complex family law matters, including divorce and complex custody litigation, child support, business valuation, property division and alimony issues. His clients are often involved in business sectors, partnerships, the legal field and family-owned businesses and they praise Geoff’s strategy, tactics, subject matter knowledge and understanding of their unique and personal situations.

Geoffrey Platnick takes a particular interest in representing parties enmeshed in complex child custody disputes. Based upon his experience with such matters, Geoff is also frequently appointed by Maryland trial courts to represent the needs of children as a Best Interest Attorney (“BIA”). In this role, a judge appoints an attorney to make an independent assessment of what is in a child’s best interests during a custody dispute, and then the BIA advocates on behalf of the child in court. The court maintains a select list of attorneys who are trained and may be appointed in this important capacity, and Geoff is honored to serve in this select group.

Geoffrey Platnick is a frequent community leader, and serves as a volunteer on the Board of Trustees for The Treatment and Learning Centers, a charitable organization dedicated to improving lives and expanding possibilities for those with special needs in a thoughtful, caring, and individualized manner. While Geoff enjoys the strategizing involved in successful advocacy, he never loses sight of the fact that his work has a profound impact upon the lives of the individuals and children he represents. He approaches every legal matter with not only skill and strategy, but compassion.

As a recent client noted, “Geoff is the best of the best. I interviewed several top lawyers for my difficult divorce. Geoff came highly recommended from multiple sources, and I realized why soon after he took my case. Geoff exhibited superior knowledge, had [an] impeccable courtroom presence and took excellent care of me throughout my divorce process. In addition, he truly cares about his clients and works diligently to ensure they receive a great outcome, which I certainly did. I could not have asked for better representation.”


Contact & Links
Location
  • 1201 Seven Locks Road, Suite 360-7A
    Potomac, MD 20854
Languages
  • English
Education
  • University at Buffalo, Juris Doctor - Law Degree, graduated 2002
  • West Virginia University, BA, graduated 1991
Bar Admissions
  • Maryland, Court of Appeals
  • District of Columbia, Court of Appeals
  • Maryland, United States District Court for the District of Maryland
Affiliations
  • American Inns of Court - 2013 to Present - Barrister
  • American Inns of Court - 2009 to 2012 - Associate
  • American Bar Association - 2002 to Present - Member
  • Maryland State Bar Association - 2002 to Present - Member
  • Montgomery County Bar Association - 2002 to Present - Member
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section 2005 - Present - Member
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section 2007 - Chair - Continuing Legal Education Committee
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section 2008 - Chair - Continuing Legal Education Committee
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section 2009 - Section Chair
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Family Law Section 2010 - Section Chair

Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® 2024 for work in:
  • Family Law
Awards:
  • 2019 AV Preeminent Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2019 Best Lawyers
  • 2020 Best Lawyers
  • 2020 AV Preeminent Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2018 Best Lawyers
  • 2018 AV Preeminent Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2012 to Present - Montgomery County Bar Foundation Leader
  • 2017 Top Divorce Attorney - Bethesda Magazine
  • 2013 Top Divorce Attorney - Bethesda Magazine
  • 2010 Top Divorce Attorney - Bethesda Magazine
  • 2017 AV Preeminent Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2016 AV Preeminent Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2015 AV Preeminent Rated - Martindale-Hubbell
  • 2013 Maryland Rising Star - Super Lawyers
  • 2012 Maryland Rising Star - Super Lawyers
  • 2011 Maryland Rising Star - Super Lawyers
  • 2011 Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers - LexisNexis
  • 2010 Maryland Rising Star - Super Lawyers
  • 2004 Attorney of the Year Award Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia
Additional Areas of Practice:
  • Family Law Arbitration
  • Family Law Mediation

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What You Should, and Should Not, Do During a Child Custody Case


What You Should, and Should Not, Do During a Child Custody Case

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Geoffrey S.

Platnick

The Basics of Child Custody Litigation


The Basics of Child Custody Litigation

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Geoffrey S.

Platnick

The Ins and Outs of Alimony in Maryland


The Ins and Outs of Alimony in Maryland

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Geoffrey S.

Platnick

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