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Gwendolen C. Lesh McLeod

Gwendolen C. Lesh McLeod

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Practice Areas:

  • Family Law
  • Divorce

Biography

Gwendolen C. Lesh McLeod is a graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was admitted to practice law in Maryland in 1989, in Washington D.C. in 1990, and in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in 1992. Upon graduating from law school, Gwen practiced for a short period of time on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. In 1990, she became associated with the law firm of Haspel & Meiselman, Chartered. In 1995, she became a partner of that firm. In July, 2002, she and Linda Haspel founded the law firm of Haspel & McLeod, P.C.

Gwen practices primarily in family law, including divorce, custody, support, property and domestic violence issues. She is also an advocate for children. She is frequently appointed to represent children in cases involving contested custody issues.

She has also been trained and is an experienced family law mediator and practices collaborative law.

Gwen's excellence in representing her clients is well known. She has been named as a Top Family Law Attorney in the Washington, D.C. area by Washingtonian Magazine. She was also named as one of the top five percent of family lawyers in the State of Maryland by Super Lawyers Magazine. She has also selected for the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. She is also rated as Highest AV® Preeminent(TM) Peer and Judiciary Review RatingSM from Martindale-Hubbell®.

Gwen is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Frederick County Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, and the Montgomery County Women's Bar Association. Gwen has been invited to speak at local groups and organizations, including the Montgomery County Women's Commission, about issues involving divorce and family law and domestic violence. She has also presented several seminars about family law related issues to various mental health professionals. She was also a member of the Commission on Child Custody Decision-Making Court Processes Committee and served as Chair to the Frederick County Family Law Bar from 2017 through 2020.

Gwen was born in London, England. She is fluent in Norwegian. She grew up locally in Bethesda, Maryland, lives in Frederick County, Maryland and graduated from St. Mary's College of Maryland in 1985.

Education

  • Duquesne University School of Law, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    • J.D., Doctor of Jurisprudence - 00/1988
  • St. Mary's College of Maryland, St. Mary's City, Maryland
    • B.A.

Bar Admission

  • Maryland, 1989
  • District of Columbia, 1990
  • U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 1992

Representative Cases

  • Hosain v. Malik, 671 A.2d 988, 1996, Md.App., 1996054208
  • Malik v. Malik, 638 A.2d 1184, 1994, Md.App., 1994073410

Honors

  • Recipient, Second Annual Pro Bono Service Award, Montgomery County Bar Association
  • Top Family Law Attorney in the Washington, D.C. area, Washingtonian Magazine
  • One of the top five percent of family lawyers in the State of Maryland, Super Lawyers Magazine
  • Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers
  • Highest AV® Preeminent(TM) Peer Review RatingSM from Martindale-Hubbell®

Past Positions

  • J. Harrison Phillips III, Associate, 1989 to 1990
  • Haspel & Meiselman, Chartered, Associate Attorney (1990 to 1995), Partner (1995)

Languages

  • Norwegian

Professional Associations

  • American Bar Association, Member, 1989
  • Maryland State Bar Association, Member, Family Law Section, 1989
  • District of Columbia Bar Association, Member, 1989
  • Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, Member, 1989
  • Montgomery County Bar Association, Member, 1991
  • National Organization of Social Security Claimant's Representatives, Member, 1991
  • Frederick County Bar Association
  • Maryland State Women’s Bar Association

Current Employment Position

  • Partner

*AV®, AV Preeminent®, Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished and Martindale-Hubbell Notable are certification marks used under license in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies. Martindale-Hubbell® is the facilitator of a peer-review rating process. Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary. Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™ fall into two categories – legal ability and general ethical standards.