Matthew T. McLaughlin

My focus

I work closely with my clients to resolve their disputes as well as to develop strategies to minimize future litigation risk. Today, I concentrate on four main areas.

Trade Secret and Restrictive Covenant Litigation

I lead the firm’s Non-Compete & Trade Secrets team and have successfully represented clients in restrictive covenant and trade secret disputes in state and federal courts throughout the country, often in connection with requests for preliminary injunctions or other interim relief. I also regularly counsel clients to develop procedures to protect their trade secrets and confidential information.

Private Fund Disputes

I represent private investment partnerships, hedge funds, private equity funds, and other alternative investment vehicles in a variety of disputes across the U.S. I also frequently work with offshore funds and liquidators in the British Virgin Islands and Cayman Islands.

Securities Litigation

I am currently representing the former chairman and CEO of a major pharmaceutical company in multiple federal court securities fraud class actions as well as a derivative action in the Delaware Chancery Court. I represented an international financial services company in several multi-billion-dollar disputes involving residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS). I also have substantial experience representing and defending corporations, as well as their executives and directors, in connection with SEC investigations and litigation and FINRA arbitrations.

ADA Compliance and Defense

I advise and defend clients regarding ADA Title III compliance matters and disputes, including defending ADA website accessibility claims. I have also successfully resolved such claims pre-litigation.

Representative experience

• Represented international financial services company in several multi-billion-dollar disputes, involving residential mortgage-backed securities
• Represented concrete manufacturer in $100 million dispute brought by commuter railroad
• Obtained seven-figure award, including an award of attorneys’ fees, on behalf of global travel company against multinational computer software company for unfair and deceptive trade practices after several-week trial
• Complete defense verdict after trial on behalf of executive search firm in commercial dispute with brokerage firm
• Successful defense of former CEO of a public company after four-week jury trial in federal court brought by the SEC
• Successful defense of brokerage firm and its registered representative after ten-day FINRA arbitration brought by former investors
• Successful defense of target CFO of a public company in SEC investigation of stock option grants
• Represented independent power producer in a dispute with an African government in arbitration before the International Centre for the Settlement of Investment Disputes (settled)
• Represented fiber optic cable manufacturer in a dispute arising out of breach of supply agreement in arbitration before Stockholm Chamber of Commerce (settled)
• Obtained summary judgment on behalf of client in dispute over enforceability of employment restrictive covenant
• Prosecuted and secured summary judgment award of over $7 million on behalf of investor in dispute with general partner manager of tax credit partnership

Other Experience

• Matt previously served as a special assistant district attorney for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office, where he prosecuted a range of criminal matters and tried numerous cases to verdict.

Looking ahead

As COVID-19 has changed the nature of the workplace, employers face a heightened risk of the loss of trade secret and confidential information from an increasingly mobile workforce.  Companies should revisit their policies and practices to ensure that they are sufficiently safeguarding their information.