Matthew J. Lund

With more than 30 years of courtroom experience, Matt is a trial attorney focusing on complex litigation. He is regularly called upon to handle the most difficult exposures faced by his clients over a broad array of subject matters ranging from high-value contract and business tort claims to federal CERCLA and state law environmental matters. He has represented employers and defended executives in the U.S.’s largest corporations and has published material regarding the rights of corporate officers regarding advancement and indemnification of defense costs.

A large part of Matt’s casework involves federal court practice, where he has a deep and longstanding commitment to bar-related leadership. Through appointment by the judges of the Eastern District of Michigan, Matt serves as chair of the Local Rules Advisory Committee, which is composed of attorneys who advise the court on revisions to its local rules. He also serves as president of the Historical Society for the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Previously, Matt was 60th president of the Federal Bar Association for the Eastern District of Michigan and served nearly a decade on the U.S. Courts Committee for the State Bar of Michigan.

Matt’s practice also includes a strong and long-standing commitment to pro bono and public interest litigation. Matt has served as lead counsel in a federal voting rights case that successfully challenged the systematic purging of voter lists and related disenfranchisement of thousands of Michigan voters. His work on the case was recognized by the American Lawyer magazine in a feature titled “Franchise Players,” and he was awarded the firm’s William R. Klaus Pro Bono Award “in recognition of [his] distinguished role in protecting the fundamental right to vote and [his] inspiration to [our] lawyers to be defenders of the constitutional rights of all.” Matt is the only attorney to receive the Klaus Award twice, receiving it again when he was recognized in 2014 for his work on a federal lawsuit challenging Michigan’s child removal laws and procedures. The case was recognized by Michigan Lawyers Weekly in its annual “Most Important Opinions” review.

Matt has taught Advanced Civil Procedure at the Michigan State University College of Law and is general counsel to the ACLU of Michigan. He serves in the leadership of the firm’s Business Litigation Group as regional coordinating partner of the firm’s Midwest (Detroit and Chicago) Region.

Financial Services

• Co-lead counsel to group of banks and hedge funds in pursuing a $340 million claim for past-due interest on lending commitment.
• Lead trial attorney defending an automotive finance corporation against claims under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act involving alleged misrepresentations in the issuance of credit.
• Lead litigation counsel for automotive finance company in a putative class action alleging violation of state licensing statutes.
• Lead litigation counsel to mortgage lender in putative class action related to residential lending disclosures.
• Served as counsel to an independent examiner appointed by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois to analyze public disclosures of a retailer in connection with an enforcement action filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

Automotive, Transportation, and Heavy Industry

• Lead trial counsel for Tier I automotive supplier in product liability-based wrongful death lawsuit involving robotic assembly system.
• Co-lead trial counsel for Class I railroad in federal lawsuit to determine mainline rail access to industrial site in southeast Michigan.
• Defended jet fuel supplier in $100 million sub-supplier dispute related to federal government contract.
• Obtained summary judgment in favor of automotive seat manufacturer on multimillion-dollar claims for indemnification following catastrophic vehicle accidents, with order sustained through appeal to the Michigan Supreme Court.
• Lead counsel for Tier I automotive supplier in wrongful death action involving alleged structural failures at manufacturing facility.
• Represented tire manufacturer in precedent-setting product liability action involving installation injury (Fleck v. Titan Tire Corp., 177 F. Supp. 2d 605 (E.D. Mich. 2001)).

Environmental Litigation

• Lead trial attorney defending a major utility company against federal and state environmental claims for recovery of costs exceeding $20 million in relation to alleged groundwater contamination at former manufactured gas plant.
• Lead litigation counsel in PFAS-related property damage and remediation claims in state and federal courts throughout the United States
• Represented fuel retailer in groundwater contamination claim asserting tort and statutory claims under Michigan law.
• Lead trial attorney in precedent-setting CERCLA action involving recovery of attorney fees related to investigation of groundwater contamination (Milford v. K-H Holding Corp., 390 F.3d 926 (6th Cir. 2004)).

Representation of Officers, Directors, and Employers

• Lead trial attorney defending the former chief accounting officer of a Tier I automotive supplier in 10-week federal securities fraud trial against the SEC, arising from the accounting for commercial transactions in excess of $500 million.
• Defended claims brought by investors in a commodities fund against the company COO/investment advisor alleging breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and violation of securities laws.
• Defended investment relations business owner in federal action brought by the SEC and related investigation by US DOJ alleging securities fraud in the promotion of penny stocks.
• Represented a former executive in extensive federal investigation of corruption in the auto industry and auto workers’ union. Successfully convinced prosecutors to decline to file charges.
• Defended former owner of one of the nation’s largest car dealerships against claims of personal liability for $5 million of corporate obligations.
• Defended a former executive of one of the nation’s largest retailers against a $3.4 million claim alleging fraud, conspiracy, and breach of fiduciary duty.
• Counsel to employers in non-compete actions and claims alleging age, race, and disability discrimination under federal and state law.
• Obtained “no-cause” awards in labor arbitration hearings on behalf of international glass manufacturer in disputes involving interpretation of collective bargaining agreements as to rights of promotion and creation of job positions.

Appeals

• Lead counsel to clients in more than 15 appeals before various appellate tribunals, including the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, Michigan Court of Appeals and Michigan Supreme Court.

• Chambers USA: Litigation – General Commercial, Michigan (2020-present)
  • “Matt displays excellent written and oral communication regardless of the audience. He takes the time to truly understand the subject matter.” Chambers USA, 2025
  • “Matt is a phenomenal litigator. I’d trust him with any matter.” “Matt is pragmatic, commercial, well versed in the law and quick on his feet. He is able to quickly and astutely evaluate complex legal issues and provide sound strategic advice.” Chambers USA, 2022
  • “…[A] very careful, thoughtful and considerate lawyer; he is the epitome of professionalism and his word is gold.” Chambers USA, 2021
• Super Lawyers: Michigan (2013-present)
• Best Lawyers in America®: Commercial Litigation (2014-present)
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly “Go To Lawyers” for Business Litigation (2023, 2025)
• Michigan Lawyers Weekly Class of 2023 “Leaders in the Law”
• American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan Civil Libertarian of the Year (2014)
• William R. Klaus Pro Bono Award (2010, 2014)