Matthew A. von Fricken began the practice of law in the Washington DC area in 2011. Mr. von Fricken specializes in criminal defense, business development, agricultural law, and hemp/cannabis laws. In 2015, he achieved regional recognition for his role in legalizing cannabis possession and cultivation in the nation’s Capitol through Initiative 71 (i.e., I-71).
Currently, Mr. von Fricken practices before the United States 4th Circuit, Eastern District of Virginia, the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and Washington D.C. Superior Court.
Mr. von Fricken received his Juris Doctor in 2010 from Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law in Washington D.C., where he enjoyed applying principles of game theory to complex divorce litigation practices in directed research. While in law school, Mr. von Fricken worked nights as an educator for children with disabilities, afternoons and evenings as a paralegal, and later as an associate attorney for Schmergel & Mersberger PLC, and from early morning to mid-day, you would find him interning to Chief Judge Dennis Smith of the Fairfax Circuit Court.
Mr. von Fricken is also a community activist and grant writer. Along with his work on Initiative 71, he developed programming and funding for the 6th Presbyterian Learning Center, which created a free educational facility and tutoring center for underprivileged children in the District of Columbia.
As an undergraduate at Georgetown University, Mr. von Fricken studied writing, psychology, finance and accounting. He had the honor of being named a Folger Shakespeare Library Lannan Fellow in 2002 and 2003. A true son of Washington DC, Matthew attended Gonzaga College High School in Washington, DC and he holds the motto of his Alma Mater, “men for others”, near and dear to his heart.
Mr. Von Fricken worked as a Legislative Correspondent for Robert Brady of Pennsylvania’s 1st District the summer of 2002. He also worked as an investigative and beat reporter/photographer for Connection Newspapers, where he wrote and photographed several cover stories the summer of 2003.
Mr. von Fricken can muddle his way through a meal in Spanish and German, he enjoys singing, playing piano, and guitar for his twin girls, he enjoys chess, computers, and is active in his church and community.