“He consistently exceeded my expectations from the first meeting to the settlement and custody arrangements he secured on my behalf,” are the words clients most often say when asked to describe their experience with Geoffrey Platnick, a Shareholder of Shulman Rogers, who has been recognized by Martindale-Hubbell (Preeminent AV Rating, the highest ranking), Bethesda Magazine, AVVO, Super Lawyers and scores of clients throughout Maryland and the District of Columbia for his divorce, custody and family law practice.

A senior executive with a national media company recalls, “I knew Geoff and his team were the right choice from the first meeting. He asked me to come in and talk. He assured me that at the end of our first meeting, I would have a clear understanding of the process, the gains and risks involved, as well as providing me the plan to get me through this ordeal with my dignity, assets and, most of all, continued access and custody of my children intact. During that initial meeting, I sat with Geoff and another experienced family lawyer for more than two hours and I received exactly what Geoff said he would deliver—a clear plan. However, the best part was he only charged me for the one hour he told me it would cost and not the nearly five hours of lawyer time it took to get me the understanding and comfort level I needed to protect my family and assets.”

A banking executive in the DC Metropolitan area says, “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 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.”

Geoff hits the ground running from the first meeting with a prospective client. One client writing a glowing review on AVVO said, “[w]hen I realized that my divorce was inevitable, I interviewed about 20 attorneys. In talking with them, many seemed angrier than I was…. When I interviewed Geoff, his approach was strikingly different. He started by focusing on where we were (the ex had been planning the divorce for months before I clued in so we were way behind and in a bad spot). Next, he asked me to make some tough choices and to be certain that those answers were what I really wanted. Once we were sure, he laid out an intelligent strategy, focusing on when to fight and when to compromise. At the end of the process, we didn’t get everything, but [Geoff] delivered on everything that I said mattered for my family and me.”

Clients rely on Geoff to assess their specific family circumstances and goals, and then formulate and execute a winning strategy to achieve a desirable outcome for them and their families. “I was very concerned that the time I spent building my career in the tech sector would hurt my chances of getting the equal custody arrangements I wanted and the time I knew my children needed with their mother. Geoff and his team outlined and delivered exactly what I needed to do to get the court to let me continue raising my kids and flourishing in my career.”

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 involved in large business sectors, partnerships, the legal field and family owned businesses routinely cite “…the strategy, tactics, subject matter knowledge and understanding of the details of my business…” he and his team employ to successfully represent their client’s individual interests in property distributions and business valuation awards are second to none.

A prominent federal government finance executive notes “[m]y divorce was a long, difficult, contentious mess. Geoff guided me through the whole process, though, answering every question and tirelessly advocating for me. There were so many twists and turns, but Geoff knew how to handle every situation. His strategic thinking and compassion were the keys to the success of my case. But he was more than just my attorney. Somewhere along the way, Geoff became a friend. He was always genuinely concerned for me on a personal level and took the time, aside from discussing my case, to just listen and help me cope with everything. I couldn’t have found a better person to help get me through the last two years.”

Geoff is a true problem-solver. According to a client reviewing him on Martindale, “Geoff is a very empathetic and diligent person and attorney. His tact in suggesting acceptable solutions to emotionally charged situations and sensitivity to child issues that can easily get neglected in the [ ] fracases in such cases is truly exemplary. I am … truly grateful for having had him as an advocate for the just and the right.”

He and his team have negotiated countless property settlement agreements, child custody agreements, pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, grandparent visitation agreements and modification agreements. In each matter Geoff is involved with, he and his team take the time to listen, understand and formulate the best way forward for the particular set of circumstances and for the individual. A prominent IT professional in the Washington metropolitan area says, “There is no cookie-cutter approach when it comes to Geoff’s negotiation and litigation strategies.”

Clients win by staying out of the courtroom if possible. Geoff is trained and certified in Collaborative Dispute Resolution Practice, a method of handling family law matters in which the parties agree to work together to resolve their disputes out of court and without litigation. Additionally, Geoff is certified as a mediator through the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers and regularly uses this training in representing his clients during the mediation process. Furthermore, because of his skill and reputation, Geoff is frequently selected by local attorneys to serve the role as a neutral mediator in their cases.

While Geoff will try first to resolve cases outside of a courtroom, his trial practice is smart, creative and designed to win. “I knew I was in for a tough battle,” one client recalls. “I was not perfect, but I knew that I deserved a fair settlement and the right to be with our children equally after my spouse fabricated a domestic violence incident to kick me out of the family home and gain leverage with her custody case. With immediate efforts, Geoff once again got me equal access to my children during the actual separation and long before the divorce case was resolved by the court. He creatively dealt with all of the parenting criticisms the other side raised during their attack of me — including making the false allegations of domestic violence go away. Because of his courtroom skills, he got me a great property settlement and he returned to me the access to my children that I wanted and they needed. Geoff is an extremely experienced litigator. His team was passionate, articulate and skilled in making my case the priority.”

Geoff regularly and successfully litigates statewide before Family Division magistrates and judges of the Circuit Courts of Maryland and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in contested and uncontested divorce, custody, property division and financial support matters. His experience as a former Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he worked in the area of child support establishment and enforcement, gives his clients an insider’s view of the process and issues  they now face.

Geoff is on the cutting edge of nuances in family law. He is abreast of current trends and recent case law. This is a real value for clients. One client noted that, “I retained Geoff after interviewing 6- 8 top family law attorneys for my very difficult case. Geoff exceeded my already high expectations. He provided excellent advice and took great care of me, while ensuring I received a great outcome, which I certainly did. I felt comfortable, confident and knowledgeable every step of the way.” Another client writes, “Geoff’s reputation as one of the best attorneys in his field is well deserved. He represented me extremely well. I feel lucky to have met him.”

Beyond his skills in and out of the trial courtroom, Geoff is well known to the Maryland appellate courts and is regularly appointed by the trial courts to represent the needs of children as a trained and experienced Best Interest Attorney from its select and narrowly tailored list. Best Interest Attorneys are frequently appointed by the courts to provide minor children their own representation. As a Best Interest Attorney, Geoff is trusted by the courts to make independent assessments of what is in a child’s best interest and advocate for these assessments in court.