Outside the Office

As might be expected for a published author, David reads a lot, mostly fiction.  "Classics and lighter stuff."  He enjoys long walks in the woods with his dogs, volunteers as the announcer for Sherwood High School’s girls’ sports teams, is a youth basketball coach and gets on his motorcycle whenever possible.  "Being on the bike is peaceful…keeps you focused, but free, all at the same time.”

Experience

Recent assignments

• "While I'm willing to litigate if that's in the best interest of my client, it's important to acknowledge the risks of going to trial and getting in front of a judge."  According to David, this was the message to a client of his, a woman facing divorce and frustrated by her high-earning spouse's refusal to agree to pay her adequate alimony after a 20-plus year marriage.  "Although the couple had agreed on splitting their assets, it was hard to gauge a fair alimony award.  There's no formula in Maryland, and my client was well-educated and had potential to earn, even though she was then a stay-at-home mother of two children."  With the help of a mediator and the involvement of financial planners and a forensic accountant, David helped the parties agree to settle on the question of alimony.
• David's client in this case was the mother of two young children, one of which had special needs, and the conflict was over custody.  "She had a style of parenting that was very different than her ex-husband's," as David describes the root of the problem.  "Both parents worked full time outside the home, and the kids felt the emotional impact of living in two households where the parents seemed so entrenched in their ways."  Things appeared to be destined to go to trial, when the younger child started acting out.  "Judges will do their best, but it takes a lot of time and opportunities for a judge to discern adjudicate, leading to more difficulties and anxiety for the parents and kids.  This case was not built for a judge."  David was able to convince his client that negotiation, mediation and settlement was the right way to go, and so they engaged a former judge who understands the issues.  In addition the husband was represented by an experienced, family law lawyer.  After several mediation sessions, the ex-spouses reached an amicable arrangement that put the interests of the kids first.

Professional Affiliations

• Montgomery County Inns of Court
• American Bar Association
• Prince George's County Bar Association
• Montgomery County Bar Association
• District of Columbia Bar Association
• Maryland State Bar Association

Speeches & Articles

•  David Bulitt co-authors “The Less You Do the Less You Do” for the Baltimore Sun’s Guest Commentary section, 2022.
• "Divorce and the special-needs child", The Daily Record, Maryland; Family Law Update, December, 2014
• “Alternative Dispute Resolution and Keeping the Client's Life Private,” Laws.com, 2013
• Mediation Techniques, Montgomery County Bar Association CLE panelist, 2013
• "The Jolie-Pitt Breakup: Hollywood Power Gives Way to High Profile Divorce,"  Inside Counsel, 2016
• "Commentary: Obergefell’s far-reaching impact on family law issues involving same-sex couples," The Daily Record, 2016
• "Keep track of child-related costs without talking to your ex? There’s an app for that," The Daily Record, 2016

Awards & Honors

• Washingtonian magazine, One of D.C. Area’s Best Divorce Lawyers, 2000–present
• Washingtonian magazine, One of D.C. Area’s Top Lawyers, 2004–2012
• Best Lawyers in America, 2008–2019
• Maryland and D.C. SuperLawyers, 2006–Present
• Bethesda magazine, Bethesda’s Best Divorce Lawyers, 2013 and 2017 
• An autographed photo of Russell Crowe in the movie “Gladiator” sits on David Bulitt’s credenza.  It was a gift from a grateful client who saw David as her own personal gladiator ­ a tough and tireless advocate who fought hard to protect her rights and interests. For David, the photo is a reminder of the type of service he strives to provide to each of his clients.