Since he began volunteering for the Pro Bono Project in 2006, Yousef Hamadeh has helped over a dozen clients access the justice system to protect their basic rights and, in many cases, improve their financial security.
Hamadeh demonstrates the highest level of respect and compassion for his pro bono clients, taking the time to understand and allay their fears about the legal system.
One grateful client explains, “Mr. Hamadeh really cared about me and my case. I could tell that he was concerned about what had happened to me and about the way I had been treated. He stood up for me and made sure that no one took advantage of me. It was like having a guardian angel.”
Hamadeh sees pro bono service as an opportunity to give back to the community, while at the same time improving the public’s image of lawyers.
“Most of the pro bono clients I have represented had never been involved in the judicial process or had an attorney. As a result, they are often fearful of lawyers and distrustful of the process. When you show them that they have somebody on their side and educate them on their rights, you are able to dispel a lot of those fears and give them confidence that their situations can improve. And in the process, you are able to change for the better a lot of their preconceived notions about the law and lawyers,” Hamadeh explains.
Hamadeh first became involved in pro bono service when he went to work for Chambliss Bahner & Stophel, PC in 2006.
He explains, “Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, PC has always placed a high emphasis on its attorneys volunteering their service for the community. I was strongly encouraged to devote a portion of my practice to pro bono work.”
“It is an honor to work with colleagues like Yousef who lead by example,” President and Managing Partner Dana Perry, says, “He maintains an active litigation practice, yet he devotes a significant portion of his time to those who are less fortunate.”
Hamadeh grew up in Memphis Tenn., and attended law school at the University of Mississippi. He moved to Chattanooga in 2006 where he instantly felt at home. Hamadeh says he feels “very fortunate to be practicing in such a vibrant legal community with a substantial number of high caliber attorneys.”
Hamadeh’s practice consists of a wide array of litigation ranging from commercial disputes to intellectual property to advertizing and media law with a significant portion of his practice focused on product liability defense.