Geoffrey Scott Platnick

When it comes to achieving a positive outcome for his clients, Geoffrey Platnick is passionate. Often meeting him under emotionally devastating circumstances, clients rely on Geoff to assess their specific family circumstances and goals, and then formulate and execute a strategy to achieve a desirable outcome for them and their families.  His experience and training provides him an insightful perspective into the field of family law and its complex needs.  He presents clients with strategic, thoughtful and zealous representation, providing solutions for both their immediate and long-term concerns.  Geoff is particularly adept at crafting settlement agreements that ultimately serve the client and the best interest of minor children involved in these family disputes.

A highly accomplished trial lawyer and Managing Shareholder the prominent family law firm of Strickler, Platnick & Hatfield in Potomac, Maryland, Geoff’s areas of practice include all aspects of complex family law matters, including divorce and litigation, complex custody litigation, child support and alimony issues, property distribution and business valuations, settlement agreements, custody agreements, pre-nuptial agreements, post-nuptial agreements, grandparent visitation issues, contempt/enforcement actions, modification actions, domestic violence matters, as well as legal issues faced by same-sex couples.  He regularly litigates before Family Division magistrates and judges of the Circuit Court of Maryland (statewide) and the Superior Court of the District of Columbia in contested and uncontested divorce, custody, property division, and financial support matters, all with the singular focus of preserving his client’s ability to maintain quality familial relationships and fiscal well-being.

Geoff frequents the Maryland appellate courts and is often appointed by the trial courts to represent the needs of children as a trained and experienced Best Interest Attorney.  A Best Interest Attorney is an attorney that makes independent assessments of what is in the child’s best interest and advocates for these assessments in court.  The court maintains a select list of attorneys that may be appointed in this capacity and Geoff is a regular appointee from that list.

Geoff’s intricate knowledge of complex domestic-related matters and his ability to develop effective case strategies has earned him an “AV” rating from Martindale Hubbell, the highest rating possible from clients, peers and judges.  He has been honored throughout his career with numerous awards, including top “Divorce Attorney” by Bethesda Magazine.  In 2010, he received the “Section Chair of the Year” award from the Bar Association of Montgomery County.  He has also been recognized by Super Lawyers magazine as among the Rising Star attorneys in Maryland for the past several years.  Additionally, Geoff is a leader in the Bar Association of Montgomery County’s Family Law Section, having served as chair of the group, and chair of the Association’s Continuing Legal Education Committee for two years.  Currently, he holds the title of Barrister in the Montgomery County Maryland American Inn of Court, a legal organization that fosters excellence in professionalism, ethics, civility and legal skills.

His experience in the courtroom enhances Geoff's innate ability to negotiate or mediate solutions for his clients outside of the courtroom.  He is trained and certified in Collaborative Law 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.  Geoff has also been trained and certified as a mediator through the Maryland Institute for Continuing Professional Education of Lawyers and regularly represents clients during the mediation process and frequently serves the role of mediator.

Geoff strives to give back to the legal community by affiliating himself with prominent legal organizations.  He is an active member of the American Bar Association, the Maryland Collaborative Law Association, the Montgomery County Collaborative Law Association, the Maryland State Bar Association and the Bar Association of Montgomery County.  In 2012, he was named a Montgomery County Bar Foundation Leader and has remained one ever since.  In the local community, Geoff is a Board of Trustees member and General Counsel for The Treatment and Learning Center, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives, and expanding possibilities, for individuals with special needs.

Prior to starting his own law firm, Geoff was an Equity Shareholder for the prominent firm of Shulman Rogers for a dozen years.  Previously, he was a former Assistant Attorney General for the District of Columbia, where he worked in the area of child support establishment and enforcement.

Geoff is a graduate of the University at Buffalo Law School, State University of New York.  He is licensed to practice law in the State of Maryland, the United States District Court of Maryland and the District of Columbia.