Jessica Markham

Jessica Markham practices all aspects of family law in Maryland and Washington, D.C. She has trial experience in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, Baltimore County and Washington D.C. courts and is also trained in Collaborative Law. Ms. Markham also handles guardianship matters and is frequently appointed by the Court as an attorney for Allegedly Disabled Adults and as Guardian of the Property. Ms. Markham has also been appointed by the court in Family Law matters as a Child Privilege attorney and a Best Interest Attorney (formerly Guardian Ad Litem).

Ms. Markham is the author of the American Bar Association book published March 2021, entitled “Representing Federal Employees and Their Spouses in Divorce: A Practical Guide.” https://www.americanbar.org/groups/family_law/publications/books/

Ms. Markham also has an active mediation practice, helping parties to resolve both custody and divorce/property disputes as a neutral. Ms. Markham frequently serves as a court appointed custody mediator in the Montgomery County Circuit Court Child Custody/Access Mediation Program and as an Attorney-Facilitator through Montgomery County Circuit Court, Family Division Services. Ms. Markham has been approved by the Maryland Administrative Office of the Courts as a Circuit Court Alternative Dispute Resolution Practitioner mediator and serves on the roster of court-approved divorce/property mediators in Montgomery County. Ms. Markham also previously mediated in the Family Mediation Program, Multi-Door Dispute Resolution Division of the DC Superior Court and in 2015 she participated in a study through the National Institute of Justice and Indiana University Maurer School of Law, mediating cases with parties reporting a high incidence of Interpersonal Violence, utilizing both shuttle and video-conferencing methods. Ms. Markham is also on the Court-Approved roster of ADR Facilitators in the DC Superior Court.

In 2018, 2019 and 2020 Ms. Markham was recognized by her peers for inclusion in "The Best Lawyers in America"© in the field of Family Law, for the Washington D.C. Area. The entire firm was ranked in the category of Best Family Law Firm in 2019 and 2020. Best Lawyers is a purely peer review publication.

Ms. Markham served on the Montgomery County Commission for Juvenile Justice, having been appointed by County Executive Ike Leggett and confirmed by the County Council in 2015.

Ms. Markham is honored to have been selected as a Daily Record 2016 Leading Woman. The Daily Record's Leading Women awards honor 50 women who are 40 years of age or younger for their accomplishments in their careers so far. A panel of previous winners selected the honorees based on their professional experience, community involvement and commitment to inspiring change.

Ms. Markham is a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation. The Fellows comprise a global honorary society of attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and to the welfare of their communities. Established in 1955, Fellows support the research of the American Bar Foundation.

Ms. Markham has also received a Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV Preeminent in the field of Family Law. Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings are ratings by legal peers reflecting Very High General Ethical Standards and Legal Ability (including Legal Knowledge, Analytical Capabilities, Judgment, Communication Ability and Legal Experience). In addition, Ms. Markham has been selected for inclusion as a "Rising Star" by Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine (2011-2019) and Washington DC SuperLawyers Magazine (2013-2019).

Since 2013, Ms. Markham has had the pleasure to serve as a Judge of various local mock trial competitions, including the Maryland State Bar Association Mock Trial Competition, George Washington University Mock Trial invitational and the American Law School invitational.

In law school Ms. Markham served as a Florida Supreme Court Certified Legal Intern for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office where she focused on prosecution of juvenile misdemeanor and felony crimes.

Prior to the formation of the Markham Law Firm, Ms. Markham was an associate and then a principal in one of the area's top boutique family law firms.

Ms. Markham has volunteered her time with numerous legal organizations including Wills for Heroes and the Whitman-Walker Legal serving transgender and gender expansive adult and minor clients.

Honors & Awards:

• "The Best Lawyers in America"©, Family Law, Washington D.C. Area (2018, 2019 and 2020),
• "The Best Lawyers in America"©, Best Family Law Firm (2019 and 2020);
• Leading Woman, The Daily Record (2016),
• Top Attorney, Divorce, Bethesda Magazine (2019)
• Top Attorney, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bethesda Magazine (2019)
• Top Divorce Lawyer, Washingtonian Magazine (2019)
• Top Vote Getter, Family Law Attorney, Bethesda Magazine Reader’s Poll (2020)
• Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV Preeminent (2013)
• Rising Star, Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine (2011-2019)
• Rising Star, Washington DC SuperLawyers Magazine (2013-2019).

Speaking Engagements/CLEs: Dividing Retirement Assets: From Private Employer Plans to Federal Pensions (American Bar Association, October 2020); Navigating Online ADR: Family Topics (Maryland Judiciary Mediation and Conflict Resolution Office, May 2020); Online Dispute Resolution- Moving Your Mediation Practice Online (Montgomery County Bar Association, April 2020); Retirement and Pension Benefits Issues – Federal, State, and Military (Montgomery County Bar Association, February 2020); Quick to Caucus (American Bar Association, April 2019; Montgomery County Bar Association, 2020); What the Heck is a QDRO and Why Do I Need One? (Montgomery County Bar Association, October 2016); Tips and Tricks for Drafting Retirement Provisions in Property Settlement Agreements (Montgomery County Bar Association, 2016); Litigating a Child Custody Case (Montgomery County Bar Association, 2016); The Legal Process of Separation and Divorce in Montgomery County (Montgomery County Women's Commission, 2012, 2015).

Bar Association, Professional Memberships: Solo/Small Firm Section Chair (Montgomery County Bar); Racial Justice Council, Community Outreach Committee (Montgomery County Bar); MSBA Membership and Content Committee; Montgomery County Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section); Women's Bar Association of Montgomery County (Treasurer 2014-2016, Board Member at Large 2016-2018); Maryland State Bar Association, Inc. (Member, Sections on: Family Law; Juvenile Law); DC Bar (Member, Family Law Section); Former Barrister Member, Montgomery County Inn of Court.