“One of the most important roles I serve is as my client’s risk manager. This means identifying the risks inherent in their cases and determining how best to mitigate those risks, while being realistic about potential outcomes.”
Christopher Castellano is a Principal at Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA who represents clients in divorce, custody, support, marital-property, and other family-law matters throughout Montgomery County and Maryland. His practice includes complex and high-conflict cases involving significant assets, business interests, retirement benefits, relocation, and difficult parenting disputes.
Christopher approaches family-law representation as both an advocate and a risk manager. He helps clients identify the legal, financial, and practical risks in their cases, understand realistic potential outcomes, and evaluate whether negotiation, litigation, or another strategy best serves their priorities.
Clients often seek Christopher’s assistance when a case involves substantial financial consequences, complicated assets, retirement or military benefits, high-conflict custody issues, or a dispute that may require litigation. He also advises clients on prenuptial and postnuptial agreements, separation agreements, modifications, and enforcement matters.
Before joining Joseph Greenwald & Laake, PA in 2019, Christopher practiced family law in Rockville, Maryland with a boutique firm. His experience ranges from negotiated divorces and agreements to contested matters involving significant marital assets and complex retirement issues.
Christopher regularly writes and speaks about developing family-law issues, including retirement security in gray divorce, Maryland child-support law, cryptocurrency and hidden assets, shared custody, and effective co-parenting. His commentary has appeared in or been featured by Kiplinger, Law.com, The Block, Authority Magazine, and Washington Parent.
Outside the office, Christopher enjoys hiking, sailing, traveling, and spending time with his family.
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- University of Baltimore School of Law, JD, 2011
- University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), BA, 2008
- Before joining Joseph, Greenwald & Laake in 2019, Christopher practiced family law since 2013 in Rockville, Maryland and has significant experience assisting a wide array of clientele with their domestic matters, ranging from uncontested divorces to complex significant asset disputes and military retirement disputes.
- Family Law Power List, The Daily Record, 2025
- Top Attorneys in Maryland Rising Stars 2024
- Super Lawyers®
- Maryland Rising Star, 2019–2026
- DC Rising Star, 2019–2023
- Best Lawyer’s One to Watch, 2023-2024
- Maryland Bar Association
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- Sixx Cool Moms Approved
- “I’m a Divorce Lawyer: A Rushed Gray Divorce Can Quietly Destroy Your Retirement — Slow Down and Focus on These Details,” Kiplinger
- “Maryland Child Support Law in 2026: A Guidelines System Adapts to Blended Families,” Law.com
- “Crypto in divorce: lawyer outlines common red flags spouse may be hiding assets as disputes grow,” The Block’s website
- “Peaceful Parenting: Christopher Castellano of Joseph Greenwald Laake on 5 Essential Tips for Successfully Sharing Custody,” Authority Magazine
- “Navigating the Holidays as a Separated or Newly Divorced Parent: A Survivor Guide,” Washington Parent, 2023
