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Michelle C. Thomas
Founder
Michelle C. Thomas, Esq. is a veteran trial lawyer and the founder of M.C. Thomas & Associates, PC, a premier divorce and family law firm serving Washington, D.C., Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland. Michelle has been repeatedly recognized as a Top Rated Family Lawyer in Washington D.C. by SuperLawyers, and recently named a Top Attorney in Divorce by Bethesda Magazine.
Michelle has spent her career handling complex divorce litigation, high net worth divorce and contested custody cases. Among the property issues Michelle handles are the distribution of stock, stock options and restricted stock units, securities, deferred compensation, business valuations, asset protection, real estate holdings, private, governmental and military retirement benefits, professional goodwill for athletes and business owners, hidden assets and more. The firm works with business valuation experts, asset investigators, forensic accountants, tax advisors and other financial professionals to develop and incorporate comprehensive financial strategies into settlement negotiations and at trial. Michelle is keenly aware that families often benefit from resolving matters outside of court, and strives to settle cases on the most favorable terms; and at the same time remains prepared to go to trial as necessary to achieve the best result possible.
Michelle has been seen in local and national media, including the Washington Times, Washington Examiner, ESSENCE magazine, the Michael Baisden Show, Fox 5 news, News One Now with Roland Martin (WOL/Radio One), and a frequent contributor to call-ins on The Audrey Chapman Show (WHUR), The Daily Drum Show (WHUR), and Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell (WOL/Radio One) where she provides insight on a wide-range of divorce and family law topics.
As a leader in the legal community, Michelle has addressed her colleagues on topics from trial advocacy to family law and business, and has been a featured speaker before such groups as the National Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar, the Women’s Bar Association of DC, the Washington Bar Association, the Greater Washington Area Chapter Bar Association, and Montgomery County Commission for Women. She has also been a guest lecturer at The George Washington University Law School, Howard University and Morgan State University.
Today, Michelle is an active leader in her profession. She has been elected to the D.C. Bar Board of Governors, appointed chair of the Practice Management Service Committee of the D.C. Bar, and elected president of the National Bar Association's Division for Young Lawyers. She served on the Nominations Committee of the D.C. Bar and the Board of the Women’s Bar Association of D.C. Foundation, as well as President of GWAC, the National Bar Association's Women Lawyer's Division's D.C. Chapter.
As a result of her contributions to the legal community and reputation and work as a skilled trial divorce lawyer, Michelle has received several awards and recognitions, including being named the Young Lawyer of the Year by the Bar Association of D.C., a Top 40 Under 40 Lawyer by the National Bar Association, a Top 100 Lawyer by the National Black Lawyers, a 10 Best Client Satisfaction Family Lawyer in Maryland by the American Institute of Family Law Attorneys, and repeatedly named a SuperLawyers Rising Star in Washington, DC in the area of Family Law.
Michelle graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and The George Washington University Law School. For current information on divorce and family law, follow the firm @divorcelawfirm.
J.D., The George Washington University Law School
B.A., The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA, Political Science
Certification, Collaborative Law
Maryland
Virginia
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
Superlawyers, Maryland, Family Law (2022)
Superlawyers, Washington, D.C. Family Law (2019)
Top Divorce Attorney Bethesda Magazine (2019)
2018 Trailblazer Award, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyer's Division Bar Association (December, 2018)
American Jurist Institute's 2017 Top 10 Attorneys
SuperLawyers Washington, D.C. Family Law Rising Star (2015, 2016)
Top 100 Lawyer, National Black Lawyers (2015, 2017 and 2018)
10 Best Family Lawyers Client Satisfaction Recognition for Maryland, American Institute of Family Law Attorneys (2015-2020)
Young Lawyer of the Year, Bar Association of the District of Columbia
Top 40 Lawyers Under 40, National Bar Association
Division of the Year, President, National Bar Association-Young Lawyers' Division
Meritorious Award, National Bar Association
President’s Award, National Bar Association
Outstanding Affiliate Chapter of the Year, President, Greater Washington Area Affiliate Chapter of the National Bar Association
"Co-Parenting Under Pressure: Strategies to Help You Co-Parent Effectively Amidst Protests and the Pandemic" A Community Webinar Sponsored by M.C. Thomas & Associates, PC (June, 2020)
“Divorce without Devastation: A Divorce Overview”, Montgomery County Commission for Women, Family Law Speaker (February, 2020)
“A Day in the Life of a Divorce Lawyer,” D.C. Bar, PMAS (December, 2019)
“Effective Representation In and Outside of Court: A Primer on Dispute Resolution,” National Bar Association, Mid-Year Conference (March, 2019)
“Show Me the Money! How to Convince the Court to Impute Income for the Calculation of Alimony and Child Support,” American Bar Association, Family Law Fall Conference (October, 2018)
“Navigating Complex Family Law Matters Successfully,” Reid Temple AME Church, (September, 2018)
“Separation and Divorce: What do I need to know?,” Montgomery County, Maryland Commission for Women, Family Law Series (May, 2018)
"Same-sex Families and the Law", National Bar Association, July 2013
“Media & the Law: How to Master the Media and Win Your Case", National Bar Association, (February, 2013)
“Oral Advocacy Workshop: Giving Your Best Presentation, From the Boardroom to the Courtroom,” National Bar Association, (January 2012)
The Business of Law, D.C. Bar, (November 2011)
Drafting of Legal Contracts, The George Washington University Law School, (October, 2011)
“Networking 101,” Women’s Bar Association, (September, 2011)
“Demystifying Social Media”, D.C. Bar, (April, 2011)
“Client Intake and Counseling: Avoiding Pitfalls with Problem Clients”, National Bar Association, (March 2011)
Hearing Committee, D.C. Bar Board of Professional Responsibility (2016-2022) (appointed)
Board of Governors Member, D.C. Bar (2013-2016) (elected)
Board of Governors Member, National Bar Association (2012-2013) (elected)
Chair, D.C. Bar Practice Management Service Committee (2012-2013) (appointed)
Member, Nominations Committee, D.C. Bar (2012) (appointed)
President, National Bar Association-Division for Young Lawyers (2012-2013) (elected)
Officer, Women’s Bar Association of D.C. Foundation (2009-2010) (appointed)
Board of Directors, Women’s Bar Association of D.C. Foundation (2008-2011) (appointed)
Board Member, D.C. Bar Practice Management Service Committee (2008-2012) (appointed)
Board Member, National Bar Association-Division for Young Lawyers (2010-2012)
Board Member, George Washington University Law School Black Alumni Association (2010-2012)
President, Greater Washington Area Chapter, Women Lawyers' Division (2007-2008) (elected)
Member, Family Law Section, Virginia State Bar
Member, Family Law Section, D.C. Bar
Member, Juvenile & Family Law Section, Maryland State Bar Association
Live with Michael Ayala, Court TV, Legal Analyst/Guest Contributor (Multiple Appearances)
Morning Show with Ted Rowlands, Court TV, Legal Analyst/Guest Contributor, (Multiple Appearances)
Judge Ashley, Court TV, Guest Contributor (2021)
BBC World News, BBC, Legal Analyst (Multiple Appearances)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, “Prenups, Postnups and Celebrity Divorce” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2021)
The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher "National 'Divorce' Month: What Happened To Black Love?" (WHUR 96.3FM) (January, 2021)
"Number of divorce cases in DC area surge amid coronavirus pandemic", WTOP News, October, 2020
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, “Love, Marriage, Divorce and Everything In Between!” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2020)
The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher "Should You Get A Prenup Before You Get Married?" (WHUR 96.3FM) (June, 2019)
The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher, "Prenuptial Agreements: Necessary or Not? " (Sirius XM 141/WHUR 96.3FM) (June, 2019)
The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher, "Love, Marriage, Divorce & Getting Through the Holidays without Breaking Up!" (WHUR 96.3FM) (October, 2018)
The Daily Drum with Harold Fisher, “Divorce Mistakes: Mistakes you don’t want to make as you’re heading toward divorce.” (WHUR 96.3FM) (February, 2018)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, “Love and Law” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2018)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, “Love Affairs, Adultery & Divorce” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2017)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, “Talking Prenups, Postnups, Alimony and Mary J. Blige’s Celebrity Divorce with Michelle C. Thomas” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (October, 2016)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, "When Online Dating Leads to Love, Marriage...and Divorce: Legal Tips on How to Navigate Online Infidelity & Divorce” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2016)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, "Divorce 101: Divorce From Start to Finish" (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (January, 2016)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, "So You Think You’re in Love, But Are You Ready for the Twists and Turns?" (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2015)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, “Before You Do: Divorce & Prenuptial Agreements” (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (September, 2014)
The Daily Drum, "What Happens When Your Child Hauls You Into Court" (WHUR 96.3FM & HUR Voices Sirius XM) (March, 2014)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, "Cohabitation and Common Law Marriage" (WOL 1450AM/Radio One) (February, 2014)
Law Talk with Ethel Mitchell, "Affairs of the Heart: Prenuptial Agreements" (WOL 1450AM /Radio One) (February, 2014)
He Said, She Said, "Custody Battle: How to Deal With This Issue" (HUR Voices Sirius XM) (October, 2013)
The Daily Drum, "Insight on the Custody Battle" (WHUR 96.3FM & HUR Voices Sirius XM) (October, 2013)
The Daily Drum, "Divorce Drama" (WHUR 96.3FM & HUR Voices Sirius XM) (September, 2013)
The Michael Baisden Show, "Impact of Divorce on Children" (WHUR 96.3FM) (May, 2013)
The Audrey Chapman Show, "Unique Issues Facing Same-Sex Couples in the Law" (HUR Voices Sirius XM) (March, 2012)
The Audrey Chapman Show, "One Hour Interview with Michelle C. Thomas Answering Caller Questions on the Dos and Don’ts of Divorce” (WHUR 96.3 FM) (August, 2011)
ESSENCE, Finances and How Single Parents can Plan for and Protect Their Children’s Futures
ESSENCE, Little Green Lies: How Financial Fibs Can Destroy Trust
ESSENCE, Best Advice: Expert Tips on Guardianship, Tuition and Saving
Washington Examiner, "No, You Take The House!"
Washington Examiner, "Washington Lawyers Bank on Divorce for Gay Couples"
Washington Times, "Can’t Afford Divorce in Hard Times”
Fox 5 News Television, How Couples May Manage the Division of Assets During Tough Economic Times
Volunteer, D.C. Bar Advice & Referral Clinic
Volunteer, So Others Might Eat
Chair, Law Ministry, Reid Temple A.M.E. Church
Member, The Links, Incorporated
Active Member, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated
Volunteer, Shepherd's Table