Joseph M. Selba

Joe currently serves as the firm's administrative partner and is experienced in bankruptcy proceedings, as well as commercial litigation.  In his bankruptcy/restructuring practice, he represents debtors, creditors, and trustees in insolvency proceedings, workouts, liquidations, financial restructurings, and bankruptcy litigation.  He also regularly represents businesses and individuals in contract cases in the Maryland and federal courts.

Experience

Joe’s experience includes:

• Representation of corporate debtors in Subchapter V bankruptcy proceedings through certification of plans of reorganization;

• Representing an equipment leasing company through numerous reorganization proceedings of large health care systems throughout the country;

• Receivership proceedings in Maryland State Courts for the sale of real estate;

• Successful prosecution through trial verdict and appeal on subcontractor's multi-million dollar mechanic's lien and breach of contract claims against a national construction management company;

• Recovery of punitive award and other compensatory damages on claims for violation of bankruptcy stay protections, and preventing buy-out of individual debtor's business interests;

• Representing a national building product supplier through the liquidation of one of its customers, resulting in substantial recovery on claims for reclamation of goods, administrative priorities, payment surety bonds, and breach of contract;

• Serving as special counsel to Chapter 7 bankruptcy trustees in orchestrating court-approved auction sales of commercial and residential real estate;

• Defending an individual debtor in an adversary proceeding contesting discharge of a multi-million dollar fraud claim, which resulted in a reported trial verdict for his client;

• Workout and restructuring of a non-profit organization in lieu of real estate foreclosure and insolvency proceedings;

• Representing an individual to discharge of his debts under a Chapter 11 bankruptcy plan, resolving more than a million dollars in unsecured debt for pennies on the dollar;

• Handling collection actions, foreclosures, replevins, and bankruptcy representation for local and national financial institutions; and

• Litigating stay relief motions, lien avoidance actions, claim objections, and preferential and avoidable transfer claims in bankruptcy proceedings.

He is admitted to practice in Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Leadership and Community Involvement

Joe currently serves as the firm's administrative partner.

In 2022, Joe was elected president of the Maryland Bankruptcy Bar Association.  Prior to that, he was the secretary of the board of directors and has served as an officer since 2016.  He is also a council member of the Consumer Bankruptcy Section of the Maryland State Bar Association.

In 2022, Chambers and Partners recognized Joe in its annual edition of Chambers USA for his work in bankruptcy and restructuring law, including Chapter 11 proceedings.  One of its sources was quoted as saying, "Joe is a great partner to work with. He responds timely with practical, efficient guidance."

Since 2021, Maryland Super Lawyers named him to its list for his bankruptcy practice.

He regularly volunteers with the Maryland Volunteer Lawyers Service and the Pro Bono Resource Center’s tax sale prevention clinic.

Joe is a board member of the Mt. St. Joseph Alumni Association and the Curtis Bay Athletic Association, a non-profit organization.  He coaches youth teams, including the Buccaneers youth wrestling program.  Joe and his growing family are active in his church.

Before obtaining his law degree from University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law, Joe earned his undergraduate degree from Johns Hopkins University where he was a four-year starter on the wrestling team and received NCAA Division III Scholar All American honors.