Gwendolen C. Lesh McLeod is a graduate of the Duquesne University School of Law in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She was admitted to practice law in Maryland in 1989, in Washington D.C. in 1990, and in the United States District Court for the District of Maryland in 1992. Upon graduating from law school, Gwen practiced for a short period of time on the Eastern Shore in Maryland. In 1990, she became associated with the law firm of Haspel & Meiselman, Chartered. In 1995, she became a partner of that firm. In July, 2002, she and Linda Haspel founded the law firm of Haspel & McLeod, P.C.

Gwen practices primarily in family law, including divorce, custody, support, property and domestic violence issues. She is also an advocate for children. She is frequently appointed to represent children in cases involving contested custody issues.

She has also been trained and is an experienced family law mediator and practices collaborative law.

Gwen’s excellence in representing her clients is well known.  She has been named as a Top Family Law Attorney in the Washington, D.C. area by Washingtonian Magazine. She was also named as one of the top five percent of family lawyers in the State of Maryland by Super Lawyers Magazine.  She has also selected for the Bar Register of Preeminent Women Lawyers. She is also rated as Highest AV® Preeminent(TM) Peer and Judiciary Review RatingSM from Martindale-Hubbell®.

Gwen is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the Frederick County Bar Association, the Montgomery County Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar Association, the Maryland Trial Lawyers Association, and the Montgomery County Women’s Bar Association.  Gwen has been invited to speak at local groups and organizations, including the Montgomery County Women’s Commission, about issues involving divorce and family law and domestic violence.  She has also presented several seminars about family law related issues to various mental health professionals.  She was also a member of the Commission on Child Custody Decision-Making Court Processes Committee.

Gwen was born in London, England. She is fluent in Norwegian. She grew up locally in Bethesda, Maryland, lives in Frederick County, Maryland and graduated from St. Mary’s College of Maryland in 1985.

Notable experience

  • Haspel & Meiselman, Chartered, associate attorney (1990 to 1995), partner (1995)
  • Haspel & McLeod, P.C., co-founder and partner

Professional affiliations and community service

  • Montgomery County Bar Association
  • Montgomery County Women’s Commission, speaker about divorce, family law, domestic violence and Social Security disability law
  • Frederick County Bar Association
  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • Maryland Trial Lawyers Association
  • Maryland State Women’s Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association