Paul Sweeney, Managing Member

Paul Sweeney is the managing member at YVS Law and has over 30 years of experience in complex Chapter 11 bankruptcy and commercial litigation.  His experience includes an emphasis on bankruptcy reorganization, bankruptcy litigation, business litigation, out of court restructurings and workouts, receiverships and related insolvency litigation in state and federal courts in Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Mr. Sweeney has served as a bankruptcy trustee for the Office of the U.S. Trustee in the Greenbelt and Baltimore Divisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland.  He is admitted to practice in all trial courts in the state and federal courts of Maryland, the District of Columbia and the Commonwealth of Virginia.  Mr. Sweeney is a past president of the Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association and a past member of the Board of Directors.  He is a frequent lecturer on bankruptcy law and related litigation.

Mr. Sweeney is recognized as preeminent in his field by Martindale-Hubbell, and has been recognized as one of the Best Lawyers in America by Best Lawyers and a Super Lawyer in the area of bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights.

Paul M. Sweeney

Rated by Super Lawyers

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Paul M. Sweeney

Rated by Super Lawyers

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University of Maryland School of Law, 1989

  • J.D.

University of Maryland, 1986

  • B.A.
  • Linowes and Blocher LLP, Partner, 1999 – 2009
  • Linowes and Blocher LLP, Associate, 1991 – 1998
  • U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, Greenbelt Division, Panel Trustee, Chapter 7, 1998 – 2002
  • Hon. Paul Mannes, Chief Judge, U.S. Bankruptcy Court, District of Maryland, Law Clerk, 1990 – 1991
  • Hon. Donald Gilmore, Circuit Court, Carroll County, MD, Law Clerk, 1989 – 1990

Speaker, “Serving the Insolvent or Bankrupt Client and Getting Paid”, National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts

Ad Hoc Instructor, Creditors Rights, University of Maryland School of Law

Guest Lecturer, Business Law, Johns Hopkins University

Guest Lecturer, Litigation, Villa Julie College

Speaker, "Bankruptcy Case Study," Community Associations Institute Annual Law Seminar

Speaker, "IP Issues and Sales," Walter Chandler American Inn of Court

Speaker, "Alternatives to Bankruptcy," The Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland, 2011 Twenty-Third Annual CLE Program and Fifteenth Annual Spring Break Weekend

Speaker, "Top Ten Evidentiary Objections," The Bankruptcy Bar Association for the District of Maryland, 2008 Twentieth Annual CLE Program and Twelfth Annual Spring Break Weekend

In re: FPMI Solutions, Inc.

Counsel to Virginia government contractor, as Chapter 11 debtor, in successful sale of assets and assignment of government contracts, including payment of owed back-wages to employees.

In re: Council of Unit Owners of the 100 Harborview Drive Condominium

Counsel to condominium association in confirmed Chapter 11 plan of reorganization over competing plan filed by senior secured lender.

In re: Steven F. Madeoy – Chapter 7 Bankruptcy

Represent Chapter 7 trustee by handling all aspects of case, including litigating multiple adversary proceedings and liquidating entities, real properties and other assets of the estate.

Friedman and Stackman, Co-Trustees of The Michael J. Friedman Family Trust and as Personal Representatives of the Estate of Rhona Friedman v. Roger Schlossberg

Represented Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustee/equity security holder debtor in Chapter 11 bankruptcy case of individual debtor’s bankrupt limited liability company by successfully negotiating settlement of equitable subordination adversary proceeding by equitably subordinating hundreds of thousands of dollars less than sought and negotiating $2,600,000 reduction in claim sought against individual debtor.

Maryland, 1989

District of Columbia, 1991

Virginia, 1992

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, 1991

U.S. District Court District of Maryland, 1990

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Maryland, 1990

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1992

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, 1992

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District Virginia, 2006

U.S. District Court of the District of Columbia, 1992

U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Columbia, 1992

Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association, President 2006-2007

American Bankruptcy Institute, Member

Maryland State Bar Association, Member

Virginia State Bar Association, Member

District of Columbia Bar Association, Member

Walter Chandler American Inn of Court

St. Thomas More Society

Anne Arundel Bar Association

Howard County Bar Association

Top 100 Maryland Attorneys by Super Lawyers

Maryland Super Lawyers, Bankruptcy & Creditor/Debtor Rights, 2007 - 2020

Best Lawyers in America, Best Lawyers, 2009 - 2020

Top Attorneys in Maryland, Baltimore Magazine, 2011, 2015, and 2021

AV Preeminent Attorney, Martindale-Hubbell Top Rated Lawyers, 1998-Present

Top Attorneys in Maryland, 2009, 2011-2014, 2016

Top Rated Lawyer in DC-Baltimore, Martindale-Hubble, 2014-2015

Leading Lawyers in Anne Arundel County, What’s Up Annapolis?, 2014-2015

American’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 1%, The American Registry, 2014-2015

Best Maryland Attorneys, June 2013

Best Attorneys in Maryland, October 2012

American’s Most Honored Professionals – Top 5%, The American Registry, 2011-2012

Top Lawyers Corporate Counsel, 2011-2012

AV Preeminent Lawyers.com, Legal Ability & Ethical Standards 2010-2011

Baltimore & Washington DC’s Top Attorneys 2011, The Washington Post, October 2010

Top Lawyers, Bankruptcy and Creditor-Debtor Rights Law, Corporate Counsel, January 2009

Top Attorneys in The DC Metro Area, DC Magazine, March 2009