Matthew C. Luzadder

Partner

Location
Chicago
Phone number
(312) 857-2623
Location
Los Angeles
Phone number
(213) 547-4929

The last place a business wants to find itself is under the government’s microscope. When that happens, a steady hand with a clear strategic plan can mean the difference between a disruptive annoyance or a serious threat to the business.

Heavily regulated clients turn to Matt Luzadder, Managing Partner of Kelley Drye’s Chicago office, for actionable guidance on regulatory, compliance, and litigation matters. His seasoned, solution-focused representation protects their interests if government investigators, regulators, and plaintiff’s attorneys come calling.

Matt merges deep regulatory knowledge with a litigator’s skill in identifying potential risks and a business lawyer’s eye for practical, efficient solutions. He knows what works for his clients because he appreciates their operational realities and recognizes both their industry’s challenges and opportunities.

Matt distills complex legal and factual issues into understandable concepts. He helps clients understand their regulatory expectations to craft proactive compliance solutions and favorable resolutions to existing concerns. When the facts are unknown, he efficiently conducts internal investigations that minimize the burden on clients and get to the subject’s core. Matt’s relationships with regulators, investigators, and prosecutors​ give him valuable​ insight into their priorities and what will change their perspective. As a prolific speaker and writer, he ​“gets” his clients and where their industries are headed.

Matt represents clients before the Department of Justice, the Department of Agriculture, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Department of Treasury, including FinCEN and OFAC, as well as foreign law enforcement entities. He regularly represents clients before state attorneys general, offices of inspectors general and financial regulators. His engagements include multistate and parallel investigations. He is a Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist® (CAMS) by the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.

Matt’s clients include public and private companies, and emerging and fast-growth companies. A faculty member at Nacha’s Payments Institute, he advises leading financial services organizations, payment processors, and companies that provide services related to blockchain technologies. Matt also represents the country’s foremost general and specialty contractors and the largest developers, generators, and distributors in the energy sector.

The comprehensive compliance counseling Matt delivers includes implementation of best practices, risk assessments, and crafting policies, procedures, and training. He draws on real-world experience in conducting compliance reviews, resolving government investigations, and advising clients obtaining licenses, certifications, and strategic partnerships. All of this work has one overarching goal: to move his clients’ through or around issues that would otherwise impede their growth.

Matt represents companies in a wide range of regulatory regimes, ranging from data privacy and security, fraud prevention, and consumer protection issues related to financial services and products.

A member of the Northern District of Illinois’ Trial Bar, Matt is an accomplished litigator and strategic negotiator who has successfully pursued, defended, and settled breach of contract, tortious interference, false advertising, trade secrets, and various other related commercial and consumer protection claims. He has nearly two decades of experience defending businesses in employment actions and is fluent in issues including SEC reporting, negotiating service contracts, and software licensing agreements negotiations.

“You can’t just look at laws and regulations as written. Like a musical arrangement, you need to understand the players, their instruments, what they are capable of, and how the result will be received by the listener. The ultimate goal is to move them.”

White Collar Crime and Internal Investigations

Represented a financial institution in a FinCEN investigation of compliance programs. The investigation concluded with no action taken by FinCEN.

Advised clients in achieving assurances of voluntary compliance, assurance of discontinuance and deferred prosecution agreements at both the state and federal levels. Assisted the client in responding to and implementing the recommendations of a DOJ-appointed corporate compliance monitor.

Represented a client in a parallel investigation into business practices that lasted years, and involved the review of millions of documents and the interviews of dozens of employees. This matter was resolved in a manner that avoided protracted and costly litigation.

Member of a defense team who represented an individual accused of the alleged payment of kickbacks to a medical equipment distribution company. The judge granted a motion for a judgment of acquittal at the conclusion of the government’s case in chief.

Represented companies and individuals in insider trading investigations.

Litigation

Represented multiple energy developers in resolutions of potential Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) violations.

Member of a national litigation coordinating counsel team for a Fortune 500 company, including coordinating and directing local litigation counsel.

Represented a large chemical manufacturer in litigation brought in Cook County, Illinois by multiple plaintiffs involving alleged exposure to ethylene oxide. Obtained a summary judgment against all plaintiffs and in favor of the chemical manufacturer.

Member of a defense team in a case in which a manufacturer’s alleged negligence resulted in an above-the-knee amputation. A favorable settlement was reached while the jury was deliberating.

Member of a defense team for Life Fitness in Quarta v. Life Fitness, which involved allegations that a defective treadmill caused severe and permanent injuries. The jury returned a verdict in favor of Life Fitness.

Obtained a summary judgment on behalf of Life Fitness in Kalfakis v. Life Fitness, in which the plaintiff alleged that he was injured as the result of a defective piece of strength equipment.

Employment

Obtained a dismissal on summary judgment of worker’s compensation and ADA-based claims for a multi-national construction company. The court’s order was upheld by the appellate court following the briefing.

Obtained a dismissal of breach of contract and Illinois Wage Act claims for a private equity fund. In addition to these claims, the plaintiff attempted to pierce the corporate veil.

Obtained a dismissal of a race discrimination claim brought against a multi-national construction company. The plaintiff alleged a novel theory that sought to create a private cause of action under statutes governing federal housing and community development programs.

Obtained a summary judgment on behalf of a multi-national construction company in a gender discrimination claim. The plaintiff claimed she was terminated after a supervisor made discriminatory remarks.

Obtained a favorable settlement of an employment matter on behalf of a multi-national corporation. The plaintiff alleged violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act, discrimination and retaliation. The case settled during the discovery phase of the litigation.

Pro Bono

Geography of Hope–advises non-profit on general legal issues, including corporate and employment matters.

Active Transportation Alliance–advises non-profit on general legal issues, including employment matters and government contracts.

Chicago Legal Clinic, Inc.–handles pro bono matters involving business disputes, including breach of contract, landlord/tenant law and insurance coverage.

Selected as a Client Service All-Star in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019 by BTI Consulting. In 2015, he was also selected as a MVP Labor and Employment specialist.

Named by the Law Bulletin Publishing Company’s Leading Lawyers division as a 2017 Emerging Lawyer in the category of Commercial Litigation.

Illinois State Bar Association

Florida Bar Association

Intellectual Property Owners Association

Better Government Association - Young Professionals Board

Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists, member

Payments Innovation Alliance, Risk, Regulatory, Security Committee, advisory board, 2018

Lookingglass Theatre Company, Watermark Level Supporter

Chicago Council on Global Affairs, member