Matt litigates complex civil matters, focusing on financial services litigation, professional liability defense, and appellate work. He has represented financial institutions in enforcement actions by federal and state agencies and in private litigation involving mortgage-backed securities. Matt also has defended law firms in cases involving allegations of malpractice, breach of fiduciary duty, or conflicts of interest. In addition, Matt has briefed and argued a broad range of appeals in state and federal courts across the country. Matt also has experience in commercial arbitration, copyright and trademark matters, and shareholder disputes.
Matt was named a “Litigator of the Week” by Law.com and a “Lawyer of the Week” by Original Jurisdiction for obtaining a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction against a presidential executive order targeting a major law firm.
Matt grew up in Tallahassee, Florida. He earned his B.A., with high honors, from the University of Virginia in 2006. He earned his J.D. in 2009 from the University of Virginia School of Law, where he served as an Articles Editor of the Virginia Law Review and graduated first in his class. Following law school, Matt clerked for the Honorable J. Harvie Wilkinson III of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit; served as a Bristow Fellow in the Office of the Solicitor General; and clerked for Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court of the United States. He joined Williams & Connolly in 2012.
Representative Experience
Though all cases vary and none is predictive, Matt’s experience includes:
- Prevailed on appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court in a major trademark case, Jack Daniel’s Properties, Inc. v. VIP Products LLC, No. 22-148 (2023), concerning whether a defendant’s “humorous” or “expressive” use of another’s trademark insulates the defendant from trademark liability;
- Obtained a TRO and permanent injunction against a presidential executive order targeting a major law firm;
- Obtained summary judgment and a permanent injunction on behalf of television broadcast companies in copyright suit against an internet service that retransmitted television programming without authorization;
- Prevailed on appeal before the Delaware Supreme Court in defending the trial court’s grant of a new trial in a major insurance dispute;
- Obtained dismissal in Delaware of a complaint alleging claims for fraud and unjust enrichment arising out of shareholder dispute;
- Obtained dismissal in Rhode Island of shareholder derivative lawsuit against major pharmacy company;
- Prevailed on appeal before Maryland Appellate Court on behalf of criminal defendant seeking a new trial based on newly discovered evidence;
- Represented internet search company in copyright suit brought by company that publishes song lyrics online and defeated petition for cert;
- Prevailed on appeal before Maryland Appellate Court on behalf of criminal defendant seeking a new trial based on newly discovered evidence;
- Defeated motions to disqualify against two major law firms;
- Defended a major law firm in malpractice action arising from underwriting of foreign energy company;
- Defended a major law firm in malpractice action arising out of hedge-fund transaction;
- Represented a national television news organization in defamation and product disparagement lawsuit, seeking more than $1 billion in damages;
- Obtained dismissal of complaint filed in U.S. against multinational media company regarding phone hacking controversy in United Kingdom;
- Represented the petitioner before the U.S. Supreme Court in Warger v. Shauers, 135 S. Ct. 521 (2014), concerning whether jurors may testify about juror deliberations to demonstrate that another juror lied during voir dire;
- Represented mortgage originators in breach-of-contract and indemnification actions relating to securitization of residential mortgage loans;
- Represents the provider of an electronic payment service in enforcement action brought by state attorney general;
- Represented a major bank in enforcement action brought by Consumer Financial Protection Bureau;
- Represents banking trade associations in lawsuit challenging federal rule to modernize the Fair Credit Reporting Act;
- Represents an LNG producer in several ICC arbitrations concerning development of a major LNG production facility in the United States;
- Represented a major provider of veterinary services in commercial arbitration concerning alleged termination of contract.
- Argued criminal appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit;*
- Argued criminal appeal before Maryland Court of Special Appeals;
- Briefed appeals before United States Courts of Appeals for the Second, Third, and Fifth Circuits and the Minnesota Supreme Court.
*Representation occurred prior to joining Williams & Connolly.