Matt is a practical labor lawyer, who uses his deep experience in all areas of traditional labor law to deliver real-world results to his clients. Every client is different, and Matt applies his "one size fits one" approach to achieve each client's unique labor relations goals.
Overview
Matt's practical approach and tireless work-ethic has been a lifetime in the making, starting on his family's multi-generation farm. Blue-collar roots combined with extensive labor and employment law experience allow him to transition easily from the court room to board room to the break room, and connect with employers and business leaders from all industries, coast to coast.
With deep experience in all areas of traditional labor law, Matt provides real-world, practical solutions to complex labor law issues. He applies his “one size fits one” approach to every client relationship, working hard to understand each client’s unique business and—even more importantly—labor and employment culture and goals. He helps employers ranging from the Fortune 50 to small businesses find the right solution for their unique labor and employment objectives.
Matt represents unionized employers of all sizes in collective bargaining negotiations, labor arbitrations, strikes, and day-to-day labor relations issues; he helps non-unionized employers maintain their union-free status by working closely with business leaders to develop a positive employee relations culture that fits the employer's unique business. Employers of all sizes use Matt for their organizing campaigns and elections before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Matt is also an experienced employment counselor, litigator, and appellate attorney. With over a decade of experience defending employers through all stages of employment and labor litigation, Matt has experience defending nearly every type of employment claim, including highly-sensitive sex and race discrimination claims, FLSA collective actions, and whistleblower retaliation claims. Whether in state court, federal court, or in administrative litigation before the Department of Labor or NLRB, clients lean on Matt's litigation and trial experience. Matt will go the distance in defending his clients’ rights, having successfully preserved and reversed judgements before the Seventh and Eighth Circuit Courts of Appeal.
When he’s not helping employers, Matt loves spending time with his wife and their two kids, chauffeuring the kids to their many activities like baseball, soccer, and dance; getting back to the family farm; frequently slicing his drives into the water on the golf course; cheering on his cursed Minnesota sports teams; and working the grill.
Experience
Prior to joining Stinson, Matt served as judicial law clerk to the Chief Justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, Lorie Skjerven Gildea.
Matt has successfully negotiated several initial/first collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), for employers in industries ranging from power cooperatives to legal and social services to energy export.
Matt has successfully negotiated dozens of CBAs throughout the country.
Matt has successfully represented employers through dozens of union organizing campaigns throughout the country.
Matt has successfully represented unionized employers through numerous labor arbitrations over issues as wide-ranging as discharges, disciplines, promotions, policy changes, significant transfers of work, and pay.
Matt successfully represented an international aerospace company during a significant plant closure arbitration.
Matt has prepared numerous employers through strikes, and guided a major employer through a several thousand employee strike, seeking and securing injunctions of unlawful strike activity.
Matt has won summary judgement and motions to dismiss in employment litigation ranging from discrimination claims, Railway Labor Act claims, and whistleblower and retaliation claims.
Matt has successfully defended nearly every type of Unfair Labor Practice claim before the National Labor Relations Board, including refusal to bargain, election conduct, request for information, discharge, discrimination, unilateral change, surveillance, and interference claims.
Matt has successfully litigated nearly every type of employment claim before federal, state, and administrative courts, including retaliation, whistleblower (with a significant amount of experience litigating Federal Rail Safety Act claims for Railroad carriers), disability, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, fraud, constructive discharge, Fair Labor Standards Act collective action, wage and hour, non-competition and non-solicitation, race discrimination, national-origin discrimination, transgender discrimination, and Family and Medical Leave Act claims, among others.
Matt has twice successfully defended victories before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Matt has successfully reversed an adverse decision before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.
News & Insights
Speaking Engagements
Labor Law Updates for Non-Union Employers Panel Discussion, 2016
Publications
"Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Government and Government Contractor Activities Provisions," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, April 3, 2020
"Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act Small Business Provisions," Stinson's Government Contracting Matters Blog, April 3, 2020
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
Federal Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Speaker at SHRM Conferences
Practices & Industries
Admissions
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Education
University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., magna cum laude, 2011
- Order of the Coif
- Best Brief Award
- Honors in Legal Writing
- Phi Kappa Phi
University of St. Thomas, B.A., History, summa cum laude, 2008
- Varsity Baseball Player
Clerkships
- Chief Justice Lorie Skjerven Gildea, Minnesota Supreme Court
