Family Law

Scott has advised hundreds of clients in family law matters, including adoptions, custody and visitation disputes, child support, and divorce. Scott has practiced family law in California, Virginia, Maryland, Kansas and Missouri. While a law clerk in Montana, he assisted Judge Buyske in challenging national mandates regarding the modification of child support orders. The challenge was eventually upheld by the Montana Supreme Court and led to a national change in the way state child support enforcement divisions modified child support orders.

Scott has the experience to realize that many family law issues have more to do with emotional than legal issues. The use of the legal system to solve emotional issues is both ineffective and extremely costly. Scott attempts to help clients separate the emotional and legal issues so that the issues are resolved to the benefit of the client and not the attorneys. To this effect, Scott is pursuing certification in collaborative law – a growing trend where certified social workers are made part of the divorce process so that the divorcing couple can reach a fair, final and economical resolution to their marriage and are not burdened by costly and emotionally draining future legal battles.

Civil Litigation

Prior to opening his own firm, Scott represented the United States and corporate clients in complex, multijurisdictional litigation. His experience with massive, bet-the-company litigation gives him the perspective to resolve almost any civil case, as either a plaintiff or defendant.

Sample Cases:

  • Prevented a citizens group from shutting down a Marine airfield in Southern California. (California federal court)
  • Investigated the potential heavy metal poisoning of a young child by a military landfill. (California federal court)
  • Represented an investment bank in over 100 fraud cases involving tax shelters purchased by high net-worth individuals. (New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, California, and Florida state and federal courts)
  • Represented the board of directors of a large utility in a derivative securities litigation case. (South Dakota federal court)
  • Tried a $38 million breach of insurance case to a jury verdict. (Florida state court)
  • Represented a Fortune 100 corporation in a $1.1 billion credit default swap dispute. (Indiana federal court)
  • Froze over $700 million in assets and then settled a $1.4 billion breach of contract action involving two foreign corporations and their American subsidiaries over the failed sale of wind turbines. (Delaware chancery court)
  • Sued spammers for violating anti-spam laws for over $140 million in statutory damages. (Maryland federal court)

Military

  • Court-martials
  • Administrative Separation Boards
  • Officer Article 15’s
  • Record Correction Petitions
  • VA Appeals
  • Security Clearance Disputes
  • Family law issues unique to service members (including dividing military retirements)
  • Military Criminal Issues

Scott is currently a Major in the UCMCR and has served the Corps in a variety of legal and non-legal billets. He has extensive experience in prosecuting and defending service members at court-martials, NJPs, and administrative separation boards. Along with representing hundreds of service members in court-martials and adsep boards, Scott has the ability to negotiate directly with your convening authority. Scott served on the staff of several flag officers, including as an aide to a four-star general, an assistant and deputy SJA to several two and one-star generals, and as a special staff officer to a one-star general. His diligence led to one of the only clemency meetings ever allowed by former Commandant James Conway (which result in 2-years being removed from his client’s 5-year sentence). Scott will make sure your case is personally reviewed by the ultimate decision maker --- not a prosecutor looking out for his or her own career. Scott’s previous law firm also handled extremely high-profile white collar defense cases, including CEO’s, CFO’s and Cabinet Secretaries. These defendants paid millions of dollars for attorneys of Scott’s caliber. Scott is a proven litigator with experience handling complex and high profile cases. He will ensure that you receive the defense you deserve.

Military Family Law

Scott has also represented hundreds of service members or their dependents in family law disputes. He understands the rules for dividing military retirements and the various complexities of the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (the revised Soldier’s and Sailor’s Civil Relief Act). If you have a legal issue that could implicate your military rights or benefits, you need a lawyer versed in military issues.