WENDY H.
SCHWARTZ
AND ASSOCIATES,
PLLC
Wendy H. Schwartz
Partner
Wendy H. Schwartz is the founding partner of Wendy H. Schwartz and
Associates, PLLC. She has been a trial attorney for seventeen years and has
settled and litigated family law cases in the District of Columbia, Virginia
and Maryland involving high conflict custody cases and complex equitable
distribution cases. Because of her background and education, she has
particular expertise in addressing psychological issues, addictions and
learning disabilities in the context of custody disputes and divorce.
Wendy is one of the leading family law practitioners in the Washington, D.C.
metropolitan area. She has been recognized as one of the region's "Top
Divorce and Family Law Lawyers" by Washingtonian magazine. Prior to opening
her own firm in 2004, Wendy was the managing partner of The Lewis Law Firm.
She began her legal career as a law clerk to the Honorable Cheryl M. Long in
the Superior Court of the
District Columbia. During her tenure with Judge Long, the Family Division in
the Superior Court went to a calendar system for the first time, and Judge
Long was one of the first judges assigned to one of three domestic relations
dockets.
Wendy is highly valued by clients for being a strong and effective advocate,
whether through mediation, negotiation, or litigation. Wendy brings
creativity and a close personal engagement to her work. Her practice areas
include: divorce, alimony, child custody, child support, property
distribution, prenuptial agreements and negotiating and drafting settlement
agreements. She is recognized as a fierce advocate for children, and
judges have requested that she serve as a guardian ad litem in contentious
custody cases.
Wendy has taught continuing legal education courses on high conflict custody
cases, including the appropriate use of parent coordinators and custody
evaluations. She has also lectured on the impact of addictions in divorce
and custody cases.
Wendy is an experienced mediator and certified collaborative law
practitioner. She serves as a neutral case evaluator in family law cases in
Fairfax County Circuit Court. She has also been appointed as an alternative
dispute resolution (ADR) facilitator in family law cases in the Superior
Court of the District of Columbia. Wendy volunteers at the Superior Court of
the District of Columbia in the Self-Help Center and as an attorney
negotiator, where she assists with settling cases.
She is a member of the Virginia State Bar (Member, Family Law Section);
Virginia Bar Association; Virginia Trial Lawyers Association; Fairfax County
Bar Association (Board Member, Family Law Section); District of Columbia Bar
(Lawyers Counseling Committee, Family Law Section, Domestic Relations
Paternity and Support Working Group); Maryland State Bar (Member, Family Law
Section); American Bar Association (Member, Family Law Section); and the
Association of Family and Conciliation Courts.
Wendy not only brings her legal skills to every client she represents but
also life experience. Prior to starting her legal career, she worked in
advertising, employee training, consulting for women’s homeless shelters,
and government service at the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics. She also worked at the Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of
Prisons while in law school.
Wendy attended Mercy College of Detroit (B.A., cum laude, 1978) and the
American University, Washington College of Law (J.D., 1990). Wendy was
admitted to the Maryland bar in 1990; the District of Columbia bar in 1992
and the Virginia and U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia bars
in 1993.
Email:
Wendy H.
Schwartz
Phone: (202)
243-7800
Email:
wschwartz@schwartzlawpllc.com
