David Gardner | Rockville Divorce Lawyer

David Gardner is the principal attorney of the Gardner Law Firm. With over thirty five years of experience, he is committed to the successful resolution of his client’s cases. Since opening the Gardner Law Firm twenty five years ago, he has represented thousands of individuals in a variety of legal matters, and takes pride in ensuring that they obtain the best results possible, whether it is by settling their dispute, or by judicial resolution. Before any settlement is reached, David ensures that his clients know what is likely to occur if their case proceeds to trial, and that they are fully informed of the alternatives to litigation. However, if your case cannot be settled, he is committed to representing you as zealously and vigorously as the law allows. He takes pride in the quality of services offered by his firm, and is personally available to meet his clients any time they have a question or need his advice.

As an active litigator, Mr. Gardner appears in the courts in Maryland and the District of Columbia on a regular basis. He has represented hundreds of clients in contested divorce, family law, criminal, personal injury and civil cases.  He has also resolved hundreds of cases by agreement, thereby reducing the stress and financial impact of their disputes. He understands that the court process can be intimidating and confusing to clients, and does his best to simplify the process while making sure that his clients are fully prepared for trial. With over 30 years of trial experience, Mr. Gardner knows how to be an effective advocate, and has obtained favorable outcomes for thousands of clients.  He is AV rated, the highest rating by Martindale-Hubble, national lawyer rating agency.

In addition to his trial experience, Mr. Gardner also acts as a facilitator for the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, in which role he assists the Court by mediating cases when they are first heard at a scheduling conference. He believes that a settlement is almost always preferable to trial, and is trained in the collaborative divorce process. He has also been appointed by the Circuit Court as a best interest attorney, in which capacity he represents children in contested custody cases.

As a general litigation attorney, Mr. Gardner also represents individuals in other matters that proceed to trial, such as personal injury, community association and criminal cases. This experience has provided him with a broad range of legal knowledge, which he brings to every legal matter he handles. He has also represented clients in appeals to the Maryland Appellate Courts.

Mr. Gardner is also actively involved with his family and in his community. He currently serves on the Ethics Committee and is an active member of the Family Law Section of the Montgomery County Bar Association. He serves on the Montgomery County Commission on Common Ownership Communities (CCOC) as an Professional - Attorney representative, is a member of the Community Association Institute, and has served as President of the Greater Olney Civic Association, and as a member of the Ashton-Sandy Spring Master Plan Committee. He currently lives in Ashton, Maryland, and is the proud father of four children, two of whom are currently attending college. When he is not working, he plays ice hockey on two men’s league hockey teams, is an avid Washington Capitals fan, golfer, and is a member of the National Ski Patrol.

Mr. Gardner was admitted to the Maryland Bar in 1981; the District of Columbia Bar in 1985; the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland in 1985; and the U.S. Supreme Court in 1986. He graduated from the the University of Maine in 1976, and from the American University, Washington College of Law, where he received his J.D. in 1981.