PRACTICE FOCUS
Catherine H. (“Kate”) McQueen is a Principal attorney in the Family Law Practice Group. She is licensed to practice law in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia. Kate focuses her practice on the many legal issues that impact families, including prenuptial and postnuptial agreements and all the issues arising out of a divorce or separation, such as custody, child support and other financial, property and support issues. She also has extensive experience in guardianship and conservatorship matters for children and adults and disputes among family members regarding capacity and fiduciary issues arising out of powers of attorney, trusts, wills, and other estate issues.
Kate assists clients in evaluating whether guardianship is appropriate and petitioning for guardianship or conservatorship, serving as court-appointed counsel for alleged disabled persons, and serving as court-appointed guardian for individuals when their family members or friends are unwilling or unable to do so. Kate also helps families when capacity issues and family law issues converge, such as when a family member is going through a divorce but lacks the capacity to advocate for his or her own interests. This can present complicated issues that require the assistance of an attorney experienced both with family law and guardianship issues.
When clients come to Kate, they are often facing serious and complex issues that can seem insurmountable. Kate works with the clients to design a step-by-step plan that is manageable for the client, often bringing in colleagues in other legal practice areas within the firm, such as estates or corporate law, or other professions outside the firm, such as mental health or financial professionals, to create a team-based approach to support the client from start to finish.
Clients with whom Kate has worked describe her as a compassionate and responsive problem solver who calmly guides clients through the often difficult and emotionally fraught path of family disputes. She has a family of her own and understands the value of a reasoned, practical, “big-picture” approach that achieves results without generating additional tensions or costs. Sometimes litigation is unavoidable, and when necessary, she draws on her extensive litigation experience to advocate for clients in court. Most times, though, a creative resolution can be found that allows clients to control the outcome for their family and preserve family resources for the future, rather than expending family resources on litigation.
Over the course of her more than twenty (20) years in practice, Kate has built a strong track record of steering clients away from the toxic hostilities that can arise from family law disputes and focusing on the future for their family, helping clients foster positive family relationships moving forward. She also offers her services at competitive rates compared to other attorneys who possess her same level of experience.
Prior to joining Offit Kurman, Kate was an associate at a respected Bethesda firm where she practiced Civil Litigation, Family Law, and Construction Litigation.
RECOGNITIONS
- Top Divorce Lawyers List, Washingtonian Magazine, 2019
- Best Lawyers in America, Family Law, 2018 - 2024
- Super Lawyer, Maryland and Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers, 2015-present
- Top 50 Women, Maryland Super Lawyers, 2018-2023
- Top 100, Maryland Super Lawyers, 2019-2023
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Additional Speaking Engagements
- ARC of Northern Virginia, Divorce and Children with Disabilities. March 2021
- Bethesda-Chevy Chase PTSA, Yikes! Your Child is Turning 18 and There's a Lot You and They Need to Know, March 2021
PUBLICATIONS
“No family legal issue is too difficult to solve. My goal is to help my clients feel calm and confident in the face of any dispute—and to develop practical solutions for families’ long-term futures. My work is only done when all the pieces have fallen into place.”
— Kate McQueen
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