Matthew J. Youssef is a seasoned litigator and strategic advisor to business professionals facing the most challenging problems of their career. In addition to helping people start new business ventures or sell their existing enterprise, he has extensive experience helping businesses navigate unexpected legal problems ranging from contractual disputes, infringement of intellectual property, allegations of wrongdoing, and personnel issues.
Business & Corporate Law / Commercial Litigation
Building on broad and deep litigation experience throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, Matthew provides advice on how to avoid litigation. The best legal disputes are those avoided by foresight and careful planning. Matthew helps clients implement responsible corporate governance and establish policies and procedures that protect their business from the most challenging problems.
When litigation is the only option left, Matthew channels a decade of diverse litigation experience to defend his clients aggressively.
Day to day, Matthew helps prospective business owners and entrepreneurs form and grow their businesses through the negotiation of commercial leases, equity agreements, and the drafting of service contracts or reviewing insurance policies.
In the world of government contracting, Matthew has helped businesses both large and small navigate the procurement process, resolving bid protests, and appeals. Matthew will frequently assist clients with Minority Business Enterprise (MBE), Disadvantaged Business Enterprise (DBE) or Small Business Enterprise (SBE) certifications.
Intellectual Property
In addition to general business corporate work, Matthew works with creative individuals, the food service industry, and online retailers to protect their brand and intellectual property rights which can be the lifeblood of an emerging business.
This can include guidance on what is protected and how to protect against infringement or the disclosure of confidential information, such as a client list. Matthew also helps businesses and artists register and obtain a formal trademark for company names, product names, and design elements. Depending on the work created, copyright protection can also apply to a wide range of products of creative industries and materials used.
Over the years, Matthew has worked extensively with clients to protect their intellectual property by providing guidance on registering trademarks with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and guarding against unfair competition and trademark infringement. Matthew has represented clients in state and federal courts and before the USPTO in trademark litigation including successfully litigating a common law infringement action that resulted in the enforcement of an unregistered trademark that prevented a restaurant with a similar name operating near another established restaurant with that name. Prior to law school, Matthew volunteered as a residential counselor with Boys Hope Girls Hope of Baltimore, where he served as an AmeriCorp Volunteer. He helped found Boys Hope Girls Hope’s Young Professional Committee and briefly served on the Advisory Board for Harlem Park Elementary Middle School located in the Sandtown-Winchester neighborhood of Baltimore. He is also active with the University of Scranton Alumni Association. Matthew is also a proud supporter of the Human Rights Campaign and The Trevor Project.
