Joseph Gibson

Joseph is the founder and Managing Director of Fortis Employment Law. A premier Maryland employment litigator, Joseph was recognized by the Daily Record in its 2024 Power List as being among the state’s “most influential and respected” practitioners in the employment sector. Throughout his career, he has recovered millions for Maryland workers through strategic negotiation and high-stakes litigation in state and federal courts.

Joseph’s commitment to employee rights began in the nonprofit sector. He is the Executive Director Emeritus of Employment Law Center of Maryland, the state’s first nonprofit law firm dedicated to providing affordable employment representation to workers. This background gives him a unique perspective on Maryland’s workplace protections and a deep institutional understanding of the agencies that oversee them, including the EEOC and the Maryland Commission on Civil Rights.

Joseph earned his Juris Doctor, cum laude, from American University Washington College of Law, after completing his undergraduate studies at The George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs. Before entering private practice, he served as a Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Harry C. Storm in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County, gaining firsthand insight into how Maryland judges evaluate employment disputes. He also honed his skills as a Litigation Law Clerk at one of the nation’s top employment firms, working on complex whistleblower, retaliation, and civil fraud cases.

Beyond the courtroom, Joseph is an active leader in the legal community. He was appointed to the national Ethics & Sanctions Committee of the National Employment Lawyers Association (NELA) and serves on the Maryland State Bar Association’s Lawyer Assistance Program Volunteer Committee.