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Overview

Overview

Geoffrey W. Washington, Esq. joins the firm’s Complex Civil and Commercial Litigation and Business and Commercial Transactions practice groups.  Geof has over 25 years of courtroom experience, including in the areas of business and commercial litigation, shareholder/partner disputes and business separations, estates and trusts litigation, intellectual property/employment covenants litigation, and zoning matters.  He was recently a member at the law firm of Adelberg, Rudow, Dorf & Hendler, LLC.  For a decade, Geof served on the Baltimore City Board of Municipal and Zoning Appeals, serving as Chair for eight years.  Since 2018, when he was appointed by Senate President Bill Ferguson, Geof has served as Chairman of the Board of the South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, where he volunteers his time and efforts.  He was also the President of the Federal Hill Preparatory School Parent-Teacher Organization, Inc. from 2019-2021.

Geof is a member of the Maryland Bar Association, Baltimore City Bar Association, Fourth Circuit Bar, Monumental Bar Association, and Washington, DC Federal Bar.  In 2022, Geof received the Attorney Advocate of the Year Award from the Maryland Small Business Administration.

 

Notable Representations

  • Successfully represented machine distributorship operator in dispute with longtime manufacturing partner regarding claims under the Maryland Fair Distributorship Act  
  • Successfully defended against will caveat in $3 million estate dispute, including reversal of Appellate Court of Maryland decision by the Supreme Court of Maryland
  • Successfully prosecuted trade secret litigation on behalf of international construction company against former employee involving stolen computer files and customer data, culminating in issuance of Ex Parte Seizure Order
  • Successfully negotiated resolutions to zoning disputes on behalf of regional apartment property owner and hotel operator
  • Brought suits on behalf of business owners against business partners in business “divorce” cases culminating in favorable settlements
  • Defended business owner against clawback claim involving Ponzi scheme investor
  • Successful prosecution of $1,000,000 claim regarding business investment dispute, including successful argument before the Appellate Court of Maryland
  • Brought caveat action in $12 million will dispute, culminating in litigation before three different courts and concluding with favorable settlement
  • Successful defense of business owners against $1,000,000 wrongful death and business tort suit brought by family of deceased business partner, culminating in dismissal of claims

Achievements

  • Recognized by Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (2023)
  • Recognized by Maryland Small Business Administration as Attorney Advocate of the Year (2022)
  • Chairman of the Board, South Baltimore Gateway Partnership, an economic development
    authority funded by casino revenue that manages an $11 million community development fund (2017-Present)
  • Former President, Federal Hill Preparatory School Parent-Teacher Organization, Inc. (2019-2021)
  • Maryland Bar Fellow (2018)
  • Baltimore City Bar, Chair of Business Litigation Committee (2017-2018)

Publications & Presentations

  • Non-Compete Agreements for Independent Contractors May Cause Employment Woes, bizmonthly.com (October 2015)
  • The Impact of Online Reviews, Maryland Bar Bulletin (October 2014)
  • P3 in MD: New Day for Public-Private Cooperation, Maryland Bar Bulletin (June 2014)
  • Online reviews: It’s all fun and games until someone gets sued, Baltimore Business Journal (June 14-20, 2013)
  • delete that tweet or you’re fired!, Baltimore SmartCEO (September 2012)
  • Juror Misconduct and the Internet, The Maryland Litigator (September 2011)