Carlos Lastra
Principal, Paley Rothman
As Co-Chair of Paley Rothman’s Family Law practice and a member of its Litigation practice group, Carlos Lastra provides clients with diligent, thoughtful and effective representation, addressing both their immediate concerns and securing long-term solutions, in arguably the toughest times imaginable. Applying skills honed over a quarter of a century of recurrent civil and criminal trials before judges and juries in federal and state courtrooms in multiple jurisdictions, Carlos employs his rich trial experience to create a strategy custom-made to meet the client’s objectives, anticipate the opposing party’s tactics, and ultimately achieve his client’s goals.
Over the last 26 years, Carlos Lastra has represented individuals and small businesses, in a wide diversity of cases ranging from criminal conspiracy, fraud, R.I.C.O., and white collar criminal cases, to contract claims, shareholder’s derivative actions, construction disputes, professional malpractice defense, and other commercial litigation cases, as well as family law matters. As a result, Carlos is a highly accomplished trial lawyer who has been honored throughout his career with numerous awards and distinctions, including Legal Elite - Washington’s Top Attorneys, Smart CEO Magazine, top “Divorce Attorney” by Washingtonian and Bethesda Magazine, as well as Family Law Practitioner of the Year. His intricate knowledge of complex domestic-relations cases and his ability to anticipate the opposition to develop effective case strategies, has earned him an AV Preeminent® Peer Review Rating, the highest rating possible from clients, peers and judges, by Martindale Hubbell.
Carlos Lastra has represented clients in all aspects of family law - from complex high net worth divorces, with closely held businesses and property spanning multiple jurisdictions including foreign countries, to highly sensitive divorces including hidden assets, and cases involving the acquirement of digital computer forensic.
- University of Miami School of Law
- J.D. (1992)
- University of Miami
- B.A. (1989)
- Principal
- Paley Rothman
- Current
- Maryland Super Lawyers (2011-2018)
- Maryland Super Lawyers (2011-2018)
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers (2011-2018)
- Washington D.C. Super Lawyers
- “Top Divorce Attorney,”
- Washingtonian Magazine
- “Top Divorce Lawyers,”
- Bethesda Magazine (2013, 2017)
- “Family Law Practitioner of the Year,”
- Montgomery County Bar Association
- Maryland State Bar
- Member
- Current
- Montgomery County Bar Foundation
- Bar Leaders (2006)
- Current
- Bar Association of Montgomery County
- Chair, Program Committee, Family Law Section (2005)
- Current
- Montgomery County American Inn of Court
- Current
- Activities: Barrister (2005)
- Hispanic Bar Association for the District of Columbia
- Member
- Current
- District of Columbia
- District of Columbia Bar
- Florida
- Maryland
- U.S. District Courts for the Southern District and Middle District of Florida
- U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals
- Family Law
- Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law
- Litigation: Business
- Litigation: Individual
- English: Spoken, Written
- Spanish: Spoken, Written