portrait photo of Heather Koontz

Heather Sisto Koontz

Principal

Heather Sisto Koontz is a dedicated family attorney based in Offit Kurman's Bethesda, Maryland office. She focuses her practice on a wide range of family law services, including divorce and separation agreements, child custody and support, pre-marital and post-marital agreements, and domestic violence. Heather's approach integrates both an amicable approach with litigation, providing clients with comprehensive legal strategies tailored to their specific needs. Her commitment to providing amicable resolutions allows clients to explore mediation and negotiation, while her litigation skills are reserved for cases that require a more assertive approach. Heather is known for her ability to balance empathy with assertiveness, ensuring that her clients feel supported while their interests are vigorously defended.

Heather's passion for family law is deeply rooted in her personal experiences as the daughter of divorced parents. This background gives her a unique perspective and a profound understanding of the challenges children face during and after divorce proceedings, enabling her to offer empathetic and effective guidance.

Beyond her practice, Heather actively contributes to the legal community. She has presented on emerging issues in the LGBTQ+ community at a D.C. Bar Association event and has hosted the Montgomery County Bar Association's Chambers Chat. Her involvement reflects her dedication to ongoing legal education and her leadership within the profession.

    Education

    • Penn State Dickinson Law (J.D.)
    • Indiana University of Pennsylvania (B.A., summa cum laude)
    • HarvardX
      • Verified Certificate of Achievement in Child Protection

    State Bar Admissions

    • Maryland
    • District of Columbia

    Court Admissions

    • United States District Court for the District of Maryland

    Professional Affiliations

    • Frederick County Bar Association, Member
    • Montgomery County Bar Association, Member
    • Women’s Bar Association, Member
    • Maryland State Bar Association, Member

    Recognitions

    • Named to Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Family Law (2026-2027)
    • Selected to Maryland Rising Stars® for Family Law (2025-2027)
    • Provost Scholar Award, Indiana University of Pennsylvania (2016)

Services

Featured Publications & News

<p>115 Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch Lists</p>

115 Offit Kurman Attorneys Recognized in Best Lawyers in America and Ones to Watch Lists

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  • Biography
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Firm Highlights

  • Events
    AIA Tri-State Conference
    Princeton will serve as the backdrop for three days of connection, learning, and design leadership. From keynotes to tours to the Tri-State Design Awards, this year’s conference is designed to go far beyond education sessions. Kick off the week with pre-conference intensives and individual state component Design Award celebrations, followed by three days of education, inspiration, networking, and design excellence at the 2026 AIA Tri-State Conference—featuring pre-conference intensives, three keynote speakers, 25 education sessions, curated tours, an expo, spec academies, and the AIA Tri-State Design Awards—bringing together architects and design professionals from New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania to connect, learn, and celebrate the best of the profession. G2. Designing Secure Practices: Cybersecurity, Data Privacy, Contractual Provisions, and Insurance Risks for Architects (4:00 PM - 5:30 PM) Architects and design professionals increasingly rely on cloud platforms, BIM software, and digital tools to manage sensitive data, creating cybersecurity and privacy risks. A single incident can trigger liability claims, regulatory obligations, reputational harm, and insurance challenges. Yet many firms underestimate how contracts, insurance, and internal practices intersect during a breach. This program offers legal and insurance perspectives on cyber risk in architecture, examining liability exposure, risky contract provisions, and mitigation strategies. A cyber insurance expert will explain policy responses, coverage gaps, coordination with professional liability, and best practices for aligning insurance with contractual risk and protecting firms from evolving cyber threats. Learning Objectives: Identify key cybersecurity and data privacy risks faced by architecture firms and explain how these risks can impact professional liability and project outcomes. Analyze common contractual provisions to determine which clauses may increase exposure to cyber incidents and propose strategies to mitigate these risks. Evaluate the scope and limitations of cyber insurance policies, including coordination with professional liability coverage, to determine how a policy would respond in a breach scenario. Develop actionable risk management strategies by integrating legal, contractual, and insurance considerations to protect sensitive client and project data.
  • Blog Posts
    Offit Kurman Represents 1Aardvark in Acquisition by CesiumAstro
    Offit Kurman is pleased to announce its representation of 1Aardvark, LLC, a Virginia-based company specializing in mission software, advanced algorithms, and systems engineering solutions supporting national defense programs, in its acquisition by CesiumAstro Inc., a global leader in advanced space communications and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) systems. The transaction was announced on August 18, 2026. The acquisition brings together 1Aardvark's deep expertise in mission-critical software and engineering with CesiumAstro's pioneering capabilities in space communications and ISR technologies. According to CesiumAstro, the transaction enhances its ability to deliver autonomous and resilient space systems for demanding operational environments. Offit Kurman advised 1Aardvark throughout the transaction, providing strategic legal counsel on corporate, transactional, and related matters to support the successful completion of the acquisition. Those participating in the engagement included Ryan Alexander, Gary Brackett, Robin Gilden, Pavan Mehrotra, Jim Arico and Scott Tippett. “This transaction represents a significant milestone for 1Aardvark and our team. We are deeply grateful to Ryan Alexander and the professionals at Offit Kurman for their outstanding guidance and steadfast support throughout the acquisition process,” said Ryan Kenward, President of 1Aardvark.  “Their insight, judgment, and dedication to achieving our objectives played a critical role in bringing this transaction to a successful close. We thank them for being trusted advisors every step of the way.” The acquisition underscores continued investment and consolidation within the aerospace, defense technology, and national security sectors, where software-driven capabilities and resilient space infrastructure remain increasingly important. About 1Aardvark 1Aardvark is a Virginia-based engineering and technology company specializing in mission software, algorithms, and systems engineering solutions supporting national defense missions.