Timothy R. Clinton

PARTNER

Washington, DC
(202) 919-9491 (phone)
tim@clintonpeed.com

Tim Clinton is a former big-firm litigator, entrepreneur, and company general counsel. He combines his legal and business experience to help his clients navigate some of their most challenging legal issues. Tim's clients have included technology companies, government contractors, real-estate developers, and other businesses, as well as nonprofits, schools, and individuals. And his practice covers a broad range of litigation contexts, including civil, administrative, criminal, and appeals. 

Tim started his career at Covington & Burling, where he handled complex commercial and criminal litigation, including insurance coverage, government investigations, business fraud, employment discrimination, civil rights, and negligence and personal injury. He then served as General Counsel for Ball Street Ventures, a company founded by former NBA players; there, he oversaw and directed outside counsel’s work on litigation, corporate governance, and other legal issues, including matters relating to the founders' interests in D.C. United and their bid to acquire the Memphis Grizzlies. 

Representative Litigation / Dispute Matters*:

• Obtained tens of millions of dollars in judgments and settlements on behalf of plaintiffs.

• Secured jury verdict worth up to $2.7 million for the family of an attorney who represented the individuals taken and held hostage from the U.S. embassy in Tehran, Iran from November 1979 through January 1981.

• Represented widow in wrongful death case involving allegations of alcohol over-service that caused the decedent to collapse, spend several months in the hospital, and eventually pass away. Won rare plaintiff-side summary judgment motion finding defendant negligent as a matter of law, and settled the case after that.

• Served as lead counsel in litigation and arbitration over dissolution of law firm. Defeated two separate petitions for involuntary bankruptcy, obtained stays of two state cases in favor of arbitration, and successfully defended allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, and corporate waste.

• Successfully resolved intra-company dispute resulting from board of directors’ deadlock, in multiple cases involving allegations of fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, corporate waste, excessive compensation, and usurpation of corporate opportunities.

• Represented memorabilia collectors in consumer-fraud lawsuit against New York Giants, Quarterback Eli Manning, and several other Giants employees for allegedly distributing counterfeit memorabilia.

• Defended Michelin-starred restaurant against claims relating to wage and hour law violations.

• Represented plaintiffs in consumer fraud and contract lawsuit involving issue of post-contracting fraud inducing the plaintiffs to perform rather than breach.

• Successfully defended Somali government official in three-week federal jury trial against federal charges of piracy on the high seas.

• Trial counsel defending several-week federal criminal trial of Libyan national charged in connection with 2012 Benghazi attacks.

• Prevailed in commercial lease dispute on behalf of prominent D.C. live music venue regarding the enforceability of a fair-market option clause.

Representative Transactional / Advisory Matters*:

• Provided outside general counsel advice to non-profit organizations, including application for 501(c)(3) status and advice regarding fundraising, marketing, employment, and other compliance issues.

• Served as lead counsel to technology company developing novel structure for non-profit commercial co-venture agreements.

• Regularly represented District of Columbia hospitality venues in matters involving real estate, employment, general legal, and ABRA-compliance matters.

• Represented lead investor in connection with prominent historic mixed-use real estate development project.

• Investigated wage-and-hour violations by restaurant and advised them on mitigating risk and preventing future violations.

• Drafted and updated employee handbook for prominent brand and marketing firm.

• Negotiated several executive compensation contracts/packages on behalf of companies and executives.

• Provided advice and negotiation in connection with fundraising/private placements, joint venture agreements, entity founding documents, commercial brokerage agreements, and commercial leases.**

* Some listed matters were handled while the firm was in a general partnership called Clinton Brook & Peed.

** While serving as general counsel, prior to founding the firm.

Available Opinions*

• Killian v. Georgetown Day Sch., No. CIV.A. 05-1925(EGS), 2007 WL 1541391 (D.D.C. May 24, 2007) (at previous firm) (prevailed on summary judgment in employment discrimination case)

• Brown v. Miller, 519 F.3d 231 (5th Cir. 2008) (filed briefs while at previous firm; departed before opinion issued) (seminal opinion regarding qualified immunity)

• Minnacca, Inc. v. Singh, No. 3:09-CV-389-RJC-DCK, 2009 WL 6635208 (W.D.N.C. Nov. 10, 2009), report and recommendation adopted sub nom. Minacca, Inc. v. Singh, No. 3:09CV389-RJC-DCK, 2010 WL 2650877 (W.D.N.C. July 1, 2010) (favorable ruling re arbitrability of trademark-related dispute)

• Griffin v. Chicago Title Ins. Co., No. CIV.A AW-09-1759, 2010 WL 1141205 (D. Md. Mar. 19, 2010) (favorable ruling on insurance company duty to defend)

• United States v. Ali (first universal jurisdiction high-seas piracy prosecution in more than 200 years):

  • United States v. Ali, 793 F. Supp. 2d 386 (D.D.C. 2011)

  • United States v. Ali, 459 F. App'x 2 (D.C. Cir. 2012)

  • United States v. Ali, 473 F. App'x 6 (D.C. Cir. 2012)

  • United States v. Ali, 870 F. Supp. 2d 10 (D.D.C. 2012)

  • United States v. Ali, 885 F. Supp. 2d 17 (D.D.C.), opinion vacated in part, 885 F. Supp. 2d 55 (D.D.C. 2012), rev'd in part, 718 F.3d 929 (D.C. Cir. 2013), and aff'd in part, 718 F.3d 929 (D.C. Cir. 2013)

  • United States v. Ali, 885 F. Supp. 2d 55 (D.D.C. 2012), rev'd in part, 718 F.3d 929 (D.C. Cir. 2013)

  • United States v. Ali, 965 F. Supp. 2d 139 (D.D.C.), rev'd, 534 F. App'x 1 (D.C. Cir. 2013)

  • United States v. Ali, 982 F. Supp. 2d 85 (D.D.C. 2013)

  • United States v. Ali, 534 F. App'x 1 (D.C. Cir. 2013)

  • United States v. Ali, 718 F.3d 929 (D.C. Cir. 2013)

• Xereas v. Heiss, 933 F. Supp. 2d 1 (D.D.C. 2013) (successful motion to dismiss on behalf of IT professional)

• Best v. Tossou, No. PWG-15-2515, 2016 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 76935 (D. Md. June 14, 2016)

• Caruth v. Clark, No. 1:16-CV-149, 2017 WL 1363314 (E.D. Va. Apr. 12, 2017) (favorable ruling on behalf of plaintiff in dental malpractice case)

• Ray v. Chafetz and related case In re Beltway Law Grp., LLP (favorable rulings on behalf of principal lawyer in series of partnership disputes)

  • In re Beltway Law Grp., LLP, 514 B.R. 341 (Bankr. D.D.C. 2014)

  • In re Beltway Law Grp., LLP, No. 14-00380, 2015 WL 4456217 (Bankr. D.D.C. July 20, 2015)

  • In re Beltway Law Grp., LLP, No. 14-00380, 2017 WL 394343 (Bankr. D.D.C. Jan. 27, 2017)

  • Ray v. Chafetz, 236 F. Supp. 3d 66 (D.D.C. 2017)

  • In re Beltway Law Grp., LLP, No. 14-00380, 2017 WL 5035077 (Bankr. D.D.C. Nov. 1, 2017)

• Courtade v. United States, 243 F. Supp. 3d 699 (E.D. Va. 2017)

• Fessler v. Int'l Bus. Machines Corp., No. 1:18-CV-798, 2018 WL 6220209 (E.D. Va. Nov. 28, 2018), vacated and remanded, 959 F.3d 146 (4th Cir. 2020) (successful appeal on behalf of plaintiff in unpaid commissions matter)

• Jackson v. Starbucks Corp. (representation of civil rights plaintiff)

  • Jackson v. Starbucks Corp., Civil Action No. 19-1487, 2020 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 118745, 2020 WL 3791873 (D.D.C. July 7, 2020) (denying motion to dismiss by Starbucks)

  • Jackson v. Starbucks Corp., Civil Action No. 19-1487, 2021 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 68207, 2021 WL 1317883 (D.D.C. Apr. 8, 2020) (partially denying motion to dismiss by store supervisor)

  • Jackson v. Starbucks Corp., Civil Action No. 19-1487, 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 54561 (D.D.C. Mar. 25, 2022) (primarily denying Starbucks motion for summary judgment)

• Marcus v. Dennis, Civil Action No. 1:21-cv-01085 (RDA/TCB), 2022 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 87149 (E.D. Va. May 13, 2022) (surviving motion to dismiss in breach of contract and Virginia Consumer Protection Act claims, leading to settlement)

• U St. Music Hall, LLC v. JRC Standard Props., LLC, 285 A.3d 1250, 1252 (D.C. 2022) (prevailing in appeal over interpretation of a commercial lease)

• Haney v. Genworth Life Ins. Co., Civil Action No. 3:22cv55, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 6624, at *26 (E.D. Va. Jan. 12, 2023) (Court approved lodestar fee of $600 per hour times 3x multiplier for representation of objectors to class action settlement) (noting counsel “have shown that they all have ‘significant experience in complex commercial litigation’”)

• McKoy v. Lankford, 2023 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 148810 (E.D. Va. Aug. 23, 2023) (awarding $136,500 in attorneys’ fees at $600 per hour after two-day trial victory worth $566,157 plus up to $2.13 million in future damages)

* Some listed matters were handled while the firm was in a general partnership called Clinton Brook & Peed, or when Mr. Clinton was at a prior firm. State trial court decisions (e.g., in D.C., Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey) generally are not available on legal research platforms.