Matthew H. Ladner

Matt is a partner in the firm’s Business Litigation practice. He focuses his practice on complex litigation and trial work in state and federal courts throughout the U.S., in addition to arbitration matters. Matt has experience representing a wide range of publicly traded and private companies, including foreign and domestic technology companies, financial institutions, pharmaceutical companies, health care entities, as well as travel and hospitality companies. 

Before joining the firm, Matt was a law clerk to the Honorable Suzanne H. Segal in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

• Successfully defended European technology companies and their U.S. affiliate in parallel $40+ million tortious interference lawsuits in California and New York state court, culminating in the exclusion of the plaintiff’s proposed damages experts on the eve of trial, and the subsequent global settlement of all claims against the clients on favorable terms.
• Obtained three successive orders dismissing unfair competition claims against major pharmaceutical company in Orange County Superior Court, followed by the plaintiff, the client’s main competitor, voluntarily abandoning and dismissing its complaint entirely, including its remaining tortious interference claims.
• Successfully prosecuted breach of contract and fraud claims in Arizona state court to recover misappropriated sale proceeds, resulting in a favorable settlement, exceeding the amount demanded in the complaint, after defeating the defendants’ three summary judgment motions and motion for judgment on the pleadings in their entirety.
• Secured order granting motion to dismiss defense contractor’s negligence and tortious interference claims against European technology company with prejudice, thereby reducing the client’s alleged damages exposure from seven-figures to less than $50,000.
• Successfully defended publicly traded electric vehicle company in $40+ million breach of contract and employment action against its former general counsel, resulting in a favorable settlement on the eve of trial after obtaining summary judgment on all-but-one of the plaintiff’s claims.
• Served as lead arbitration counsel for the world’s largest provider of mutual funds in a FINRA proceeding concerning the alleged provision of tax advice, resulting in a final arbitration award dismissing all claims against the client.
• Served as counsel for wholesale food distributor in a two-week bench trial in Los Angeles Superior Court, resulting in a complete defense judgment in favor of client and an award of all monetary damages sought by the client on breach of contract and fraud cross-claims.
• Represented a consortium of plaintiffs who were fraudulently induced to fund the development of an animated television series, resulting in (1) the award of compensatory and punitive damages after a seven-week jury trial in Orange County Superior Court, (2) a finding of attorneys’ fees liability against the defendants as “alter ego” signatories to the loan agreements executed by their nonparty corporation, and (3) the entry of a corresponding non-dischargeable judgment for damages and attorney’s fees in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Central District of California.
• Represented an investment advisor in multiweek jury trial against his former employer and partner, resulting in the successful defense of the client against the employer’s trade secret misappropriation claim, and an award of damages and attorney’s fees in favor of the client on his cross-claims for breach of contract and quantum meruit.
• Successfully defended a startup vacation company against a trade secret misappropriation lawsuit filed by market leading competitor, resulting in the favorable settlement of all claims immediately following the deposition of the plaintiff’s CEO.
• Secured dismissal of direct and derivative liability claims against a corporation and its executives in an AAA – International Division arbitration.
• Represented a trustee and family trust beneficiaries in a dispute concerning control of over a $50 million investment company, resulting in a favorable settlement on the eve of trial.