PAOLO A. GNOCCHI

Law Office of Paolo Gnocchi, llc

8630 Fenton St Suite 320, Silver Spring, MD 20910

Phone: (301) 587-5555 Fax: 301-588-8848

paolognocchi@gmail.com

Paolo was born San Juan, Puerto Rico. He has been a resident of the Washington, DC metropolitan area since childhood. Paolo Returned to Puerto Rico to attend college, and graduated magna cum laude from the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in his native San Juan. Paolo obtained his law degree from the Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law, in Washington, D.C. While studying law, Paolo had a particular focus on honing his skills in the courtroom. Paolo was successful in several moot court competitions and was appointed Chancellor of Catholic’s Jessup Cup International Moot Court Competition Team. Paolo also interned for the United State’s Department of Justice and a criminal/immigration defense firm during his time at law school.

Paolo soon put his courtroom skills to the test, when he was hired as an associate attorney in the personal injury division of a prestigious Rockville firm. Paolo left that position to become an Assistant State’s Attorney in Baltimore City, Maryland. While at the State’s Attorney’s Office, Paolo successfully prosecuted numerous cases, ranging from DWIs to drug and firearms offenses.

Paolo has been in private practice focusing primarily on criminal defense and serious personal injury cases since leaving the State’s Attorney’s Office in 2005. Paolo has tried and won hundreds of criminal cases, ranging from traffic offenses to Rape and First-Degree Murder. Paolo focuses his civil practice on serious personal injury cases. He has recovered hundreds of thousands of Dollars for his wrongfully injured clients. Paolo is often referred cases for litigation by other lawyers, thanks to his tenacity and skill in the courtroom. Thanks to his excellent reputation and standing in the legal community, Governor Martin O’Malley appointed Paolo to the Maryland Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission, where he served from 2009 to 2014. Paolo is fluent in Spanish and conversant in Italian.

• Maryland State Bar
• Maryland Federal Bar
• District of Columbia District Bar
• District of Columbia Federal Bar
• New Jersey State Bar
• New Jersey Federal Bars
• Maryland State Bar Association
• Montgomery and Prince George’s County Bar Associations
• Maryland Hispanic Bar Association
• Maryland Criminal Defense Attorney’s Association (MCDAA)
• National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys (NACDL)
• Maryland Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission (2009-2015)

                                                                   EDUCATION

The Catholic University of America, Washington, DC

Columbus School of Law, J.D. May 2002, Class Rank: Top 30%

• CommLaw Conspectus: Journal of Communications Law and Policy
• Columbus Community Legal Services, Families and the Law Clinic, 2002 – 2003
• Chancellor, Jessup Cup International Moot Court Competition Team, 2003

Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico

B.A. in Comparative Law and Government, Magna cum Laude, May 1999, Class Rank: Top 10%

                                                             EXPERIENCE

Law Office of Paolo Gnocchi, llc, Silver Spring, Maryland

Solo Practitioner, November 2009 – Present

Represent clients before the Maryland and District of Columbia local and federal courts in major criminal and personal injury cases. Serve as a first-tier panel attorney for the Office of the Public Defender in Montgomery and Prince George’s counties. Pursue Coram Nobis and Post Conviction Relief for clients facing deportation.

Ivan M. Waldman & Associates, P.C., Hyattsville, Maryland

Associate Attorney, June 2004 – November 2009

Represented clients in criminal, serious traffic, personal injury and immigration cases before the District, Circuit and federal courts of Maryland and the District of Columbia. Solely responsible for litigation of matters ranging from Murder to Automobile Negligence cases. Responsible for all aspects of immigration and criminal practice. Drafted and argued criminal and civil appeals before state and federal courts.

Office of the State’s Attorney for Baltimore City, Maryland

Assistant State’s Attorney, November 2003 – June 2004

Prosecuted District Court criminal matters ranging from DUI to felony theft, narcotics and sexual offense cases. Managed busy inner-city docket. Received specialized training in auto theft, fraudulent check and handgun case preparation and prosecution.

Stein, Sperling, Bennett, De Jong, Driscoll & Greenfeig, P.C., Rockville, Maryland

Associate Attorney, May 2002 – July 2003

Drafted pleadings and discovery in general litigation and personal injury cases in Maryland and the District of Columbia. Drafted appeals before state and federal courts. Attended court proceedings and depositions. Assisted client with pro se employment litigation before Maryland Federal District Court.

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of International Affairs, Washington, DC

Legal Intern, June 2001

Evaluated Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and letters rogatory requests from Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. Drafted response letters to foreign requests for evidence in Spanish and Portuguese.

                                                                         LANGUAGES

Native Spanish-speaker born in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Basic Italian.