Practice Areas
Class Action Defense
Corporate & Financial Services Litigation & Regulation
Corporate Governance Litigation and Counseling
Global Litigation
M&A Litigation
Trial Practice
Admissions
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
U.S. Court of Appeals, 2nd Circuit
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
New York
Connecticut
Clerkship
Hon. P. Kevin Castel
U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
Education
Bowdoin College - B.A., 2008, cum laude
New York University School of Law - J.D., 2011, cum laude
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Profile
Matthew Karlan is a partner in Cadwalader’s Global Litigation Group. Matthew has experience representing clients in a broad range of complex litigation, including securities, M&A, corporate governance, antitrust, RICO and bankruptcy matters, as well as other commercial disputes. He has tried cases on behalf of plaintiffs and defendants in federal and state courts and arbitral tribunals, including before the Southern District of New York and the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Matthew received his J.D., cum laude, from New York University School of Law in 2011, where he was a Robert McKay Scholar and served as a Development Editor of the Annual Survey of American Law. He received his undergraduate degree, cum laude, from Bowdoin College in 2008. Before joining Cadwalader, Matthew was an associate in the New York office of Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP. He also served as a law clerk to the Honorable P. Kevin Castel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Matthew has been recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America for his work in Commercial Litigation (2025) and the Lawdragon “500 X – The Next Generation” list (2023 and 2024).
Matthew is admitted to practice in the State of New York and Connecticut and before the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.
Experience
- Won a trial victory on behalf of Mar-Bow Value Partners, LLP (Jay Alix) against global consulting firm McKinsey & Co., Inc. in In re Westmoreland Coal Co., an eight-day trial addressing McKinsey’s violations of bankruptcy disclosure laws, which resulted in McKinsey’s withdrawal of its application for $8 million in fees.
- Secured reversal in the Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in Alix v. McKinsey & Co., Inc., et al., reinstating Alix’s civil RICO complaint against McKinsey.
- Obtained complete dismissal of mortgage fraud charges against Paul Manafort on statutory double jeopardy grounds, and successfully defended that ruling on appeal to the First Department.
- Won a multibillion-dollar award on behalf of leading mining company Vale S.A. in an LCIA arbitration concerning misrepresentations in connection a West African mining project.
- Obtained dismissal with prejudice of a multibillion-dollar civil RICO suit brought by a competitor against Vale S.A. in the Southern District of New York in Rio Tinto PLC v. Vale S.A. et al.
- Won trial victory enforcing informational access rights of a founding investor before Delaware Court of Chancery in Cappel v. JenCap Holdings LLC, et al.
- Defended Chairman of world-renowned New York art gallery in action for breach of fiduciary in New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, resulting in dismissal of majority of claims and successful settlement of remaining claims.
- Represented a global insurance company in arbitration of $35 million post-closing purchase price adjustment related to the adequacy of loss reserves, resulting in a favorable settlement.
- Represented Authentic Brands Group (ABG) in complex breach-of-contract case in the Southern District of New York regarding exercise of warrants, resulting in successful, publicly-announced settlement.
- Represented founder and former CEO of broker-dealer in three-day trial before Delaware Court of Chancery in dispute over indemnification rights, resulting in successful settlement.
- Represented hospitality REIT in complex contract dispute in New York Supreme Court, Commercial Division, and related confidential arbitration.
- Defended a private equity firm against Exchange Act claims brought in the Central District of California related to a portfolio company’s bond issuance, resulting in successful settlement.
- Defeated a preliminary injunction motion seeking to block the launch of a new product in a multi-district monopolization case brought by competitors and purported class action plaintiffs.
- Defeated a preliminary injunction motion seeking to enjoin termination of alleged exclusive sales agent, and successfully moved to compel arbitration of claims.
- Secured dismissal with prejudice of predatory pricing antitrust claims brought by a competitor against a market research company before the Southern District of New York.
- Represented a national business federation as amicus curiae before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit in a securities case based on the “price maintenance” theory.
- Represented minority investor in successful action before the Delaware Court of Chancery to compel an annual meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing directors.
- Matthew also maintains an active pro bono practice. His pro bono matters have included a major federal constitutional and civil rights action against the City of Chicago to address the discriminatory and unreasonable use of force by the Chicago Police Department, resulting in a favorable consent decree; achieving reversal of a client’s New York state criminal conviction on constitutional speedy trial grounds; and securing asylum for a Haitian national who faced political persecution in his home country, among others.
*Certain representations occurred prior to Matthew's association with Cadwalader.
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