Your Guide to Maryland’s Family Law and Federal Criminal Defense Attorneys

Some weeks, one family ends up in two very different courthouses. A divorce or custody fight lands in the local circuit court. A federal charge lands in the U.S. District Court in Baltimore or Greenbelt. The rules, the judges, and the stakes change from one building to the next.

This list covers firms that know one or both of those buildings well. Some focus on divorce and custody. Some focus on federal charges. A few handle both, which matters more than most people expect.

Takeaway for Maryland Readers

Seddiq Law is the top pick in Maryland for anyone facing a federal charge, a family court case, or both at once. Mirriam Seddiq has more than 25 years of trial experience and years of Super Lawyers recognition. Her partner, Justin Eisele, handles complex cases in state and federal court and helped cut a client’s 40-year federal drug sentence to time served. The Rockville firm also handles divorce, custody, and immigration, holds a 4.9-star average across more than 60 Google reviews, and answers calls 24/7. Five more strong Maryland firms follow.

Maryland Family and Federal Defense Firms on One Chart

How the Six Were Chosen

Each firm here has real Maryland offices and a record you can check through court results, peer honors, or bar leadership. We weighed trial experience, federal court history, family law depth, and how easy it is to reach the lawyer handling your file.

1. Seddiq Law

Mirriam Seddiq was born in Kandahar, Afghanistan, came to the United States as a toddler, and has practiced criminal defense in Maryland since 2005. Justin Eisele joined her to build a two-lawyer team that works every case together. Their federal work includes a drug conspiracy client serving 40 years: the firm lost the first compassionate release motion, appealed, won, and after two more years of fighting got the sentence cut to time served. In state court, Seddiq served as co-counsel in a Montgomery County rape trial that ended in a not guilty verdict. The firm also takes divorce and custody cases, which helps when a criminal charge spills into a family court fight. It is licensed in Maryland, D.C., New York, and Arkansas.

Best call when: you face a federal charge, a family case, or both, and want lawyers who answer the phone and explain things plainly.

Address: 100 S Washington St, Rockville, MD 20850 | seddiqlaw.com

2. Brown, Goldstein & Levy

This Baltimore firm opened in 1982 and now has more than 20 lawyers, with a second office in Washington, D.C. Its criminal team includes former public defenders and lawyers who have tried cases in both state and federal court. Partner Andrew Levy won the Maryland State Bar Association’s Heeney Award for lifetime achievement in criminal law and has been named Best Lawyers’ Lawyer of the Year for Baltimore criminal defense several times. Partner Joshua Treem is known for defending public officials, businesses, and individuals in federal investigations and grand jury proceedings. The firm also runs a complex family law practice, and U.S. News and Best Lawyers have ranked it Tier 1 in Baltimore in at least 10 practice areas every year since 2014.

Best call when: a federal grand jury or investigation has your name on it, or your family case needs a seasoned Baltimore litigation team.

120 E Baltimore St, Suite 2500, Baltimore, MD 21202 | browngold.com

3. MarcusBonsib

Bruce Marcus and Robert Bonsib opened this Greenbelt firm in 1990, a short drive from the federal courthouse. Bonsib spent years as a state and federal prosecutor and later won the Maryland State Bar Association’s Heeney Award for career achievement in criminal law. Marcus was a senior trial attorney with the public defender’s office. Both are fellows of the American College of Trial Lawyers, and both appear in Washingtonian’s Top Lawyers.

Best call when: you need veteran trial lawyers who have worked both sides of a federal case.

6411 Ivy Lane, Suite 116, Greenbelt, MD 20770 | marcusbonsib.com

4. Paley Rothman

Steve Paley and Mark Rothman founded this Bethesda firm in 1972. Its family law group handles divorce, custody, support, and prenuptial agreements. Co-chair Carlos Lastra spent years trying fraud, RICO, and white collar criminal cases before focusing on family law, and he was named Family Law Practitioner of the Year. Several of the firm’s family lawyers have earned Maryland Super Lawyers honors.

Best call when: your Montgomery County divorce involves a business, real estate, or other complex assets.

4800 Hampden Lane, 6th Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814

5. Joseph Greenwald & Laake

JGL has served suburban Maryland since 1968 and now has about 35 lawyers. It handles family law, estates, civil rights, and criminal defense, with offices in Greenbelt and Rockville. Principal Timothy Maloney, a fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, practices criminal defense and litigation. Benchmark Litigation rated the firm Highly Recommended in 2026.

Best call when: you want a large local firm that can cover a family case and related legal issues under one roof.

6404 Ivy Lane, Suite 400, Greenbelt, MD 20770 | jgllaw.com

6. Offit Kurman

Brothers Maurice and Ted Offit started this firm in 1987, and it has grown to more than 280 attorneys. Its Bethesda office leads a strong family law team covering divorce, custody, support, and prenups for families with significant assets. Family law leader Marshall Yaap made The Daily Record’s Family Law Power List.

Best call when: a divorce touches a family business, stock options, or an estate plan.

offitkurman.com

When Both Problems Hit at Once

A criminal charge can shape a custody case. A protective order can affect gun rights and bail. A guilty plea can change immigration status. If you face more than one case, tell every lawyer about all of them. One wrong statement in family court can become evidence in criminal court.

FAQ

What are the grounds for divorce in Maryland now?
Since October 1, 2023, Maryland allows absolute divorce on three grounds: mutual consent, six months of separation, or irreconcilable differences. Limited divorce no longer exists.

Can we live in the same house and still count as separated?
Yes. Spouses can live under the same roof if they lead separate lives during the separation period.

How do Maryland courts decide custody?
Judges decide based on the best interests of the child. They look at each parent’s fitness, the child’s needs, and each parent’s ability to work together.

Where are federal cases heard in Maryland?
In the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, with courthouses in Baltimore and Greenbelt.

How is a federal case different from a state case?
Federal cases follow sentencing guidelines, and there is no parole. Prosecutors often spend months building a case before charges come, so call a lawyer as soon as you learn of an investigation.

Should I talk to federal agents if they contact me?
Not without a lawyer. Politely decline and call an attorney right away.

Make the First Call Count

Family court and federal court both move on deadlines, and early choices shape everything after. Seddiq Law leads this list for its federal results, its family law practice, and a two-lawyer team that works every case side by side. Call at least two firms, bring every court paper you have, and ask who will stand next to you in the courtroom.