Matt understands the challenges faced by working people first-hand, having worked as a carpenter, woodworker, and picture framer for nearly a decade prior to attending law school. His experience in the trades informs his work as a lawyer, allowing him to connect with his clients’ experiences and giving him a personal motivation to secure positive outcomes for them.

Matt received his undergraduate degree from New York University in 1992. He obtained his J.D., cum laude, from Lewis & Clark Law School in 2003, where he served as a member and Managing Editor of its law review, Environmental Law. Upon graduating, Matt obtained a Certificate in Environmental and Natural Resource Law and was inducted into the Cornelius Honor Society. After law school, Matt served as a judicial law clerk for the Honorable Jack L. Landau on the Oregon Court of Appeals from 2003-05.

Matt’s practice focuses primarily on Employment Law, Labor Law, Defamation and Other Torts, representing employees and unions. These types of cases frequently involve complex legal and factual issues, and Matt uses the research, analytical, and writing skills honed in law school and on the Court of Appeals to ensure that his clients’ cases will be heard. In that regard, he has successfully defeated numerous defense motions against his clients. He has successfully represented clients in wage and hour, discrimination, retaliation, defamation, and other employment-related actions. He has also defended his clients in the exercise of their union rights, and he assists the firm's union clients to advance their members’ interests by drafting legislative and administrative proposals such as prevailing wage policies and project labor agreements.

ADMITTED TO PRACTICE

  • State Courts of Oregon
  • U.S. District Court of Oregon
  • U.S. Supreme Court

EDUCATION

  • J.D., Lewis & Clark Law School
  • B.S., Studio Arts, New York University

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

  • American Bar Association
  • Multnomah Bar Association
  • Oregon State Bar
  • Oregon Trial Lawyers Association

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Matt has served as a mentor with the law student mentor program at Lewis & Clark Law School, has volunteered as a judge for the Classroom Law Project's Oregon High School Mock Trial Competition, and has been a volunteer Pen Pal in the imprint program.