Matt is a strategic trial and appellate litigator who is equally adept at guiding clients through pre-litigation disputes and sensitive investigations. He brings to his cases the same discipline and excellence that made him a successful college athlete.

Matt has defended Fortune 500 clients in medical product liability, insurance, and business litigation in state and federal courts across the country from inception through appeal. He has also represented a variety of educational institutions in matters including federal employment discrimination actions, COVID-19 policies, Title IX and NIL compliance, and whistleblower allegations. And outside of active litigation, he has effectively steered clients through contractual disputes and investigations.

Matt is experienced at every litigation stage, beginning with formulating legal strategy. He routinely crafts successful dispositive and evidentiary motions, winning appellate briefs, and savvy mediation statements. He efficiently navigates discovery to advance his clients’ interests. And he has significant oral argument and trial experience. At each stage, he never loses sight of his clients’ interests and goals.

  • Represented major university in multi-plaintiff federal Title IX cases alleging sexual assault: interviewed witnesses, defended client employees at deposition, managed non-party subpoena team and FERPA notification/objection processes, drafted discovery motions, drafted dispositive motions.
  • Represented school district in federal litigation regarding client’s COVID-19 mask policy: drafted appellee’s brief and co-drafted supplemental appellee’s brief to Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Represented school district in state litigation regarding alleged violation of Texas Whistleblower Act: drafted appellee’s brief to Texas Fifth Judicial District Court of Appeals.
  • Represented school district in federal employment litigation alleging racial discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and constitutional violations: drafted successful motion to dismiss after drafting brief opposing leave to amend and deposing plaintiff.
  • Advised junior college regarding potential effects on client’s athletic program of U.S. Supreme Court and NLRB opinions regarding NCAA student-athlete amateurism.
  • Counseled community college on administrative policymaking regarding transgender student overnight travel accommodations.
  • Guided community college investigation of alleged professor/student sexual conduct.
  • Represented Fortune 500 medical technology firm in nationwide federal medical product liability litigation:
    • Co-drafted appellee’s briefs in support of summary judgments in medical product liability cases in Eighth and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeals; each affirmed.
    • Drafted successful motion for summary judgment in TN federal medical product liability case, which was affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
    • Drafted Daubert motions and motions in limine, resulting in exclusion or limitation of key expert testimony in vanguard OR federal litigation.
  • Represented biomedical technology firm in CA federal wrongful death suit: drafted successful motion to dismiss; plaintiff did not re-file.
  • Represented law firm in CA state professional liability suit: drafted respondent’s brief and associated motion to dismiss in appeal from trial verdict in favor of client; Court of Appeal upheld verdict in client’s favor in its entirety; petition for review denied.
  • Represented insurance company in federal bad faith litigation: co-drafted appellee’s brief to Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
  • Represented manufacturing firm in CA state contract and business tort suit: conducted site visits and interviews; drafted successful demurrer on behalf of client’s officer; conducted written discovery and depositions; drafted and argued successful motion for protection; drafted mediation brief, co-represented client at mediation resulting in favorable settlement.
  • Represented nonprofit in CA medical negligence case: drafted motion for summary judgment and co-represented client at mediation that resolved for 10% of initial demand.
  • Represented insurer in CA insurance bad faith litigation: drafted jury instructions, objections to jury instructions, and motion for new trial argument regarding judicial bias.
  • “Playing Prime Time or Stuck on a Broken-Down Bus? Are Your High School Athletics Programs Providing Equal Benefits under Title IX?” (with Jackie Wernz, Adam Rothey, and Kendra Yoch), published on June 17, 2022, by Thompson & Horton LLP’s Title IX Tips blog.
  • “Hitting (Throwing, Running, and Kicking) Like a Girl: A Title IX and Athletics Update” (with Jackie Wernz, Adam Rothey, and Kendra Yoch); Thompson & Horton LLP’s 50 Years of Title IX webinar series (June 9, 2022).
  • “Ninth Circuit: University Not Liable for Assault in Athlete’s Off-Campus Apartment Despite Disciplinary Authority Over Student and Prior Reports of On-Campus Conduct,” published on February 15, 2022, by Thompson & Horton LLP’s Title IX Tips blog.
  • “Title IX [in Higher Education]: Where We Were & Where We Are Going” (with Katie Long); Thompson & Horton LLP’s Title IX Summer Seminars webinar (June 17, 2020).
  • Settlement Strategies (with Karen Woodward and Mario Horwitz), in DEFENSE COUNSEL TRAINING MANUAL 284-88 (Int’l Ass’n of Def. Counsel, 3d ed. 2016).
  • “The Evolution of the Common Benefit Order” (with Karen Woodward), ABA Mass Torts Litigation Newsletter, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Spring 2015).
  • “The Legal Landscape of ‘Failure to Train’ Claims, and Its Implications for the Prescription Medical Product Industry,” Thomson Reuters/West LegalEdcenter Continuing Legal Education Program (June 5, 2014).
  • “Squeezing Buckman Out of Pom Wonderful,” ABA Mass Torts Litigation Newsletter, Vol. 11, No. 2 (Winter 2013).
  • “What’s the Implication? Courts and the Scope of Implied Medical Device Preemption,” Washington Legal Foundation Legal Backgrounder, Vol. 27, No. 22 (Nov. 16, 2012).
  • Texas Super Lawyers by Internet Brands, 2026
  • State Bars of Texas and California
  • United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
  • United States District Courts for the Eastern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas
  • United States District Courts for the Central, Eastern, and Southern Districts of California
  • National School Boards Association Council of School Attorneys
  • Texas Association of School Boards Council of School Attorneys