Joseph (Yusuf) Saei
Associate

Yusuf handles all stages of complex criminal and civil proceedings in state and federal courts nationwide, from pre-trial through appeal. He is often called on to draft critical motions, which benefit from his strong written advocacy skills, extensive procedural knowledge, and ability to clarify complicated factual scenarios. The legal theories and litigation strategies he develops steer each case toward a swift, efficient resolution. Yusuf also has experience appearing in court, taking and defending depositions, and juggling complicated pre-trial workflows and schedules. At the appellate level, he has researched and drafted opening and reply briefs and cert petitions.

Clients value Yusuf’s strategic forethought and insight into the inner workings of the judiciary—the product of two federal clerkships, one in the Ninth Circuit and one in the Central District of California. From the inception of the case, he lays the foundations for success by carefully developing the record, identifying dispositive questions, and preserving issues for appeal. Thanks to his integrated and disciplined approach, Yusuf’s clients trust him to champion their interests throughout the entire lifecycle of a case.

Civic engagement is a cornerstone of Yusuf’s professional philosophy. Before law school, he served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Morocco, where he extended his service beyond the requisite two years. At Yale Law, he was a member of the Lowenstein International Human Rights Clinic and the Worker and Immigrant Rights Advocacy Clinic. Following graduation, he was awarded an Arthur Liman Public Interest Law Fellowship from Yale Law School, which funded his work advancing the rights of immigrants, detainees, and prisoners in Washington, D.C.

Prior to joining the firm, Yusuf was an associate in the Los Angeles office of King & Spalding LLP.

Yusuf is proficient in French, Moroccan Arabic, and Modern Standard Arabic.