Paul Sweeney is the Managing Member of YVS Law, LLC and has over 35 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, as a Super Lawyer in the area of bankruptcy and creditor/debtor rights, and as one of America’s Top 100 Bet-The-Company Litigators.
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 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