Matt is a litigator whose practice focuses on employment matters in state and federal courts.

He has extensive experience defending employers in complex wage-and-hour class actions, as well as in single and multi-plaintiff lawsuits involving claims of discrimination, harassment, wrongful discharge, failure to accommodate, unpaid wages, and leave law violations. Matt also prosecutes and defends against claims related to employee mobility, such as misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of non-competition and non-solicitation covenants.

In addition to his litigation practice, Matt counsels companies on issues such as hiring, termination, wage and hour, employment policies, reductions in force, leaves of absence, and employment due diligence related to corporate transactions.

He also conducts independent workplace investigations for both public and private employers. He has experience investigating complaints of harassment and discrimination, as well as allegations of misconduct involving executive-level employees.

Matt is a member of the Executive Committee of the Labor and Employment Law Section for the Washington State Bar Association. Prior to joining Foster Garvey, he practiced management-side labor and employment law at a Chambers-ranked law firm. He graduated cum laude from Seattle University School of Law, where he served as a Lead Article Editor on the Law Review and participated in the Civil Rights and Amicus Clinic with the Fred T. Korematsu Center for Law and Equality.

Professional Activities

• Foster Garvey, Opportunity & Progress Council, Member, 2023-present
• King County Bar Association, 2014-present
• Washington State Bar Association, Member
  • Labor & Employment Law Section, 2014-present
    • Executive Committee, 2022-present

Community Activities

• Art with Heart, Board Member, 2019-2020
• Childhaven, Community Leadership Board Member, 2020-present

Experience

Wage-and-Hour Litigation

• Defeated class certification in a putative class action involving claims of independent contractor misclassification and failure to pay for all hours worked.
• Represented construction employer in a class action involving allegations of missed rest and meal breaks and failure to pay for commute time. Obtained dismissal of rest and meal breaks claims based on LMRA Section 301 preemption.
• Represented healthcare employer in a class action involving allegations of unpaid wages due to time clock rounding and failure to provide meal periods and rest breaks.
• Represented numerous agricultural employers in class actions involving allegations of unpaid overtime and meal periods and rest breaks.
• Represented numerous transportation employers in class actions involving allegations of unpaid rest and meal breaks.
• Represented numerous hospitality employers in class actions involving allegations of unpaid wages related to service charges and failure to provide meal periods and rest breaks.

EEO Litigation

• Obtained complete defense verdict on behalf of telecommunications employer at arbitration involving claims of gender and age discrimination.
• Obtained pre-trial dismissal of all claims asserted against an individual defendant in a lawsuit involving claims brought under the Equal Pay and Opportunities Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination.

Non-Compete, Non-Solicit, and Trade Secret Litigation

• Obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on behalf of an employer against former employees in a case involving allegations of misappropriation of trade secrets.
• Obtained temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction on behalf of an employer against a former employee in a case involving allegations of breach of a noncompetition agreement.
• Obtained permanent injunction against a former employee on behalf of a construction employer in a case involving claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of fiduciary duty of loyalty.