Mark Oakley

Mark W. Oakley is an established litigation attorney concentrating on civil litigation, personal injury, construction law, and criminal and traffic defense. He also advises business clients, negotiates and drafts contracts, and handles a variety of litigation matters at all levels of the state and federal court systems. Mr. Oakley is trained and certified in the collaborative practice of law. Mr. Oakley is a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Law (J.D. 1987), and the University of Maryland, College Park (B.A. 1984). He is a member of the Maryland State Bar Association, the District of Columbia Bar, and the Bar Association of Montgomery County. He is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals of Maryland, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit. Authored the winning brief in the case of 1986 Mercedes v. State of Maryland, a precedent-setting decision limiting the State’s power to forfeit private property.

Criminal Law

Criminal Appeals, Drug Crimes, Expungement, Fraud, Gun Crimes, Internet Crimes, Sex Crimes, Theft, Violent Crimes

DUI & DWI

Family Law

Adoption, Child Custody, Child Support, Father's Rights, Guardianship & Conservatorship, Paternity, Prenups & Marital Agreements, Restraining Orders, Same Sex Family Law

Personal Injury

Animal & Dog Bites, Brain Injury, Car Accidents, Construction Accidents, Motorcycle Accidents, Premises Liability, Truck Accidents, Wrongful Death

Construction Law

Construction Contracts, Construction Defects, Construction Liens, Construction Litigation

Estate Planning

Guardianship & Conservatorship Estate Administration, Health Care Directives, Trusts, Wills

Business Law

Business Contracts, Business Dissolution, Business Finance, Business Formation, Business Litigation, Franchising, Mergers & Acquisitions, Partnership & Shareholder Disputes

• Free Consultation
• Credit Cards Accepted
  Visa, MasterCard, Discover
• Contingent Fees
  I handle personal injury claims on a contingent fee basis, meaning if there is no recovery, you do not owe me a legal fee.

District of Columbia

District of Columbia Bar

Since 1989

Maryland

Since 1988

University of Maryland - Baltimore

J.D. (1987) | Law

1984 - 1987

University of Maryland - College Park

B.A. (1984) | English

1980 - 1984

District of Columbia Bar

Member

1989 - Current

Maryland State Bar Association

Member

1988 - Current

Bar Association of Montgomery County

Member

1988 - Current

Q. I got an email from google saying that my account is subpoena by police department and the states attorney.

May 24, 2023

A: Retain counsel now so you have an attorney lined up to call in the event you are contacted by police or charged. A experienced criminal defense lawyer can act much more quickly and effectively than you can to protect your rights and secure your release on bond in the event of arrest and detention (if it comes to that). Meet to discuss possible criminal charges in private and not on a public forum like this. Do not discuss anything with police without your lawyer present. Once you invoke your right to an attorney after an arrest, all questioning must cease.

Q. charged with FIREARM-UNLAWFUL sale, firearm-reg sale, gun poss. On probation for assault, only 20. What will happen?

May 16, 2023

A: He needs a lawyer. He’s facing not only these new charges, but a violation of probation on the assault case. Both can lead to jail. Firearm cases are treated seriously. But what can or will happen to him cannot be predicted with so little information. Hire an experienced criminal defense attorney or apply for the Public Defender if he has no money. There’s really no other better advice.

Q. Can you have a review of sentence if there were no jury instructions on mental issues of ptsd¶noia&drunk at the time

May 9, 2023

A: There is no special instruction for that, and the general instructions on intent are sufficient. What you are arguing is based on the evidence which I assume was presented at trial and was therefore argued on your behalf by your lawyer as a basis to raise a reasonable doubt as to your ability to form the intent to kill required by the degree of murder charged. The jury is then free to consider whether your state of intoxication and mental illness prevented you from forming the requisite mental state to form the intent to commit murder. However, for mental illness to be a defense, you would need to have raised the defense of insanity.