Joseph Bias

Joseph is a member of the firm’s Class Action Working Group, and has experience representing clients in consumer class actions and mortgage servicing class actions. He also litigates complex commercial, real estate, bankruptcy, mass tort, and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) claims.

From 2007 through 2010, Joseph was an attorney advisor in the Office of Administrative Litigation at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). There, Joseph drafted several decisions resolving complex litigation over a variety of procedural and substantive issues, including discovery production, summary dismissal, cost allocation, contract interpretation, and market power assessment and mitigation. He also worked on alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings.

While working at the FERC, Joseph was also an associate at a Washington, DC, civil and criminal defense firm, where he assisted at trial during felony prosecutions before the Superior Court of the District of Columbia and the US District Court for the District of Columbia. 

Joseph has an active pro bono practice. He has represented clients in an elder abuse suit that led to a favorable settlement and successfully defended clients threatened with eviction.

As a student at Georgetown University Law Center, Joseph was a senior staff member of the Georgetown Journal of Law and Public Policy. He also served as a judicial intern for Judge Ricardo M. Urbina of the US District Court for the District of Columbia.

• Successfully defended a national banking association from commercial real estate claims, securing a dismissal that was later upheld on appeal.
• Represented a multinational shipper in a complex commercial litigation regarding product theft that ultimately resulted in a favorable settlement for the client.
• Represented an energy company in a contractual dispute regarding contribution for a settlement of an underlying labor dispute that was ultimately resolved through a creative business solution and agreement between the parties, saving litigation costs and furthering both parties' financial interests.
• Represented a national banking association in several class actions related to mortgage servicing practices.
• Defended a nationwide tax preparation firm in several consumer class actions combined into a complex MDL proceeding.
• Represented several nationwide retailers in consumer class actions related to privacy claims stemming from information gathered at the point of sale, securing a favorable global settlement and a dismissal that was upheld on appeal.
• Advised a national banking association on several aspects of home lending mortgage servicing, including compliance with OCC and DOJ regulations.