Chapman, Popik & White

J. Michael Matthews
Senior Counsel

PRACTICE AREAS
Business Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, Professional Liability, Real Estate & Construction, Securities Litigation & Enforcement

Mike Matthews is an experienced trial lawyer specializing in partnership and corporate litigation, construction, real estate, and general civil litigation. He is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and has tried over thirty-five jury and court trials involving partnership disputes, commercial contracts, construction claims, employment issues, mechanics' liens, professional negligence, product liability and insurance coverage (including bad faith).

Mr. Matthews also acts as an arbitrator and mediator for regional state courts. In addition, he has taught real estate law in the M.B.A. program at Golden Gate University, has written articles regarding real estate, construction and partnership issues, and has lectured on a variety of subjects including litigation skills, insurance coverage issues, and issues that arise when a partner withdraws from a partnership and/or dissolves a partnership or closely held corporation. He regularly presents continuing legal education programs either in-house to corporate law departments or through the Bar Association of San Francisco's lunchtime CLE program.

Mr. Matthews graduated from Yale University in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He received his J.D. from Georgetown University of Law Center in 1976.

Representative Cases

Represented parties in a partnership dissolution relating to large dairy ranches in Marin County.
Pursued fraud/securities claims relating to investment in failed real estate developments.
Represented a large Silicon Valley company in litigation related to non-disclosure of asbestos in a retail location.
Prosecuted mechanics’ lien claims.
Defended against warranty/defect claims in the construction setting.
Represented an employer in several race discrimination class actions.
Represented the largest single property owner in the consolidated Oakland Fire litigation.
Represented a large chemical company in litigating a breach of a build-to-suit lease for a toxic storage facility.
Prosecuted real estate fraud cases.
Represented a large pipeline contractor in litigation with its dewatering subcontractor, arising out of a major municipal pipeline project.
Represented several law firms and/or individual attorneys in litigating claims related to partner withdrawal and/or firm dissolution.
Retained as an expert witness several times by parties/counsel involved in attorney malpractice cases.
Represented holder of patents in defense of claim that the patents had been developed while the patent holder was employed by plaintiff.

CONTACT
phone: (415) 352-3000
fax: (415) 352-3030
mmatthews@chapop.com