JESSICA MARKHAM

Jessica Markham practices all aspects of family law in Maryland and Washington, D.C. She has trial experience in multiple local Maryland counties and in 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 trained as a Guardianship Mediator through the Maryland Judiciary. 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 has also received extensive training in Business Valuation methods through the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts.

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.” It is the only comprehensive resource of its kind.

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 both the Montgomery County Circuit Court Child Custody/Access Mediation Program and the Termination of Parental Rights/Child in Need of Assistance Mediation programs, 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, 2020, 2021, and 2024 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, 2020 and 2021.  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 was 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 is also a Fellow of the Maryland State Bar Foundation. Selection as a Fellow is recognition of those who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the welfare of their communities, the administration of justice, and the traditions of the objectives of the Bar of Maryland.

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" (2011-2020) and “Super Lawyer” (2022) by Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine and a "Rising Star"(2013-2020) and “Super Lawyer” (2022) by Washington DC SuperLawyers Magazine. 

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.

In May 2022, Ms. Markham won the 1st Place 2021 Maryland Delaware District of Columbia Press Association Award for Online Blog Commentary (Division C) for her contributions to the “Generation J.D.” Blog of the Maryland Daily Record Newspaper.

In addition to her numerous professional affiliations, Ms. Markham was on the Board of Directors and acted as Secretary for the New Orchestra of Washington.  Ms. Markham is also an active member of Westmoreland Congregational Church in Bethesda, for which she has served on the Board of Trustees/Governance Council and Finance Committee and as AmeriCorps Program Director of the Westmoreland Volunteer Corps Board.  In the past, Ms. Markham has been active in the Shakespeare Theatre Company's Bard Association and Mock Trial Committee assisting to plan and produce the theater company's yearly Supreme Court Mock Trial.  Ms Markham previously served on the Ambassador Council of American Humane, the nation’s oldest animal welfare charity.

Honors & Awards:

• "The Best Lawyers in America"©, Family Law, Washington, D.C. Area (2018-2025)

• Best Attorney, DC Modern Luxury (2024)

• Daily Record Power List Leader in Family Law (2022)

• Leading Woman, The Daily Record (2016)

• Top Attorney, Divorce, Bethesda Magazine (2019, 2021, 2023)

• Top Attorney, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Bethesda Magazine (2019, 2023)

• Top Divorce Lawyer, Washingtonian Magazine (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)

• Top Vote Getter, Family Law Attorney, Bethesda Magazine Reader’s Poll (2020)

• Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating of AV Preeminent (2013)

• Fellow, Maryland Bar Foundation

• Fellow, American Bar Foundation

• Rising Star, Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine (2011-2020)

• Super Lawyer, Maryland SuperLawyers Magazine (2022-2025)

• Rising Star, Washington DC SuperLawyers Magazine (2013-2020)

• Super Lawyer, DC SuperLawyers Magazine (2022-2023) 

• Bar Leader, Bar Foundation of Montgomery County (2022)

Law School: University of Miami School of Law, J.D., 2005

Undergraduate: University of Maryland (B.A., English, 2002; B.S., Government/Politics 2002)

Speaking Engagements/CLEs:  Personal Branding (HNBA 2024 Latina Leadership Academy, September 2024); When a Parent Moves Away: Relocation in Custody Cases With or Without Consent (AFCC Maryland Chapter, 9th Annual Educational Conference, October 2023); Moving Past Impasse in Custody Mediation (Maryland State Bar Conference, June 2023); Representing Employees and Spouses of Intergovernmental Organizations (Montgomery County Bar Association, March 2023); Retirement 101 and QDRO Tips/Tricks (DC Bar, 2023); Monetary Awards (Montgomery County Bar Association, 2022); Representing Federal Employees and Their Spouses (Maryland State Bar Conference, June 2021); Law Firm Tech Tips 2.0 (Law Day, April 2021); 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).

Board Positions: American Humane (Philanthropy Committee) and National Ambassador Council, New Orchestra of Washington (Board of Directors); Shakespeare Theatre Bard Association and Mock Trial Committee (2010-2015); Board of Directors of the Montgomery County Bar Foundation (2020-2021); Montgomery County Bar Foundation Endowment Committee (2020-2021); Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, Board of Trustees (2011-2012), Governance Council (2013), Budget Committee (2012-2013), Westmoreland Volunteer Corps AmeriCorps Program Director (2010-2012); Maryland Program for Mediator Excellence, Member; Montgomery County Maryland Bar Foundation (Member, Golf and Tennis Charity Classic Committee; Chair, Silent Auction Committee).

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.

Languages: Spanish