Geoffrey S. "Geoff" Platnick

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.”