Overview
Matt Knowles advises companies, boards of directors and individuals in high-stakes commercial litigation as well as government and internal investigations. He represents clients in a broad range of litigation matters at the trial and appellate levels in federal and state courts across the country, including class actions and other complex matters.
Matt frequently represents companies and individuals in investigations and litigation under the False Claims Act. He also has substantial experience helping clients manage legal and reputational risk in crisis situations, including recent matters involving disease outbreaks at hospitals, allegations of misconduct at medical facilities and disputes involving educational institutions.
Matt has an active pro bono practice, where he has challenged wrongful convictions, a death penalty appeal, disputes between students and educational institutions concerning reasonable accommodation and racial discrimination, domestic violence victim protection cases and employment discrimination matters. He recently represented a traveler in pro bono litigation against TSA after an abusive search and false arrest at an airport checkpoint. This case resulted in an en banc decision from the Third Circuit establishing travelers’ rights to pursue damages from the TSA under the Federal Tort Claims Act.
Matt graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was the recipient of the Charles H. Smith Bequest Scholarship and was named a Dean’s Scholar in the Federal Courts and the Federal System. He served as an honors legal intern in the Office of Legal Counsel for the US Department of Defense and as an intern in the office of the US Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. He also served as an intern to the Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court.
Results
- Helped to lead McDermott’s investigation into an outbreak of COVID-19 at the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home that led to the deaths of at least 76 veterans. The Governor of Massachusetts retained McDermott to investigate the tragedy, identify root causes, and make recommendations to prevent similar outbreaks. Matt coordinated a team of thirteen lawyers that worked around the clock to conduct 111 interviews and review 17,000 documents in a matter of weeks. The team’s work resulted in a public 176-page report and substantial legislative changes to ensure the future of the Soldiers’ Home and the safety of its residents.
- Defeated class certification and secured voluntary dismissal of all claims against a healthcare client in a case arising from one of the largest outbreaks of hepatitis C in the nation’s history. The matter began as an internal investigation and resulted in a favorable settlement for Matt’s client – by that point, the plaintiff in the case – on the eve of trial.
- Defeated a high-stakes claim against an agricultural co-op in the trial and appellate courts of California. Matt’s client moved to a new operating model, but an incumbent grower-member sued seeking extensive damages and to compel the co-op to abandon its new model. Matt briefed and argued three motions to dismiss the case, each of which was successful despite a plaintiff-friendly forum and relaxed pleading standards in state court. When the plaintiff appealed, Matt briefed and argued the matter before the California Courts of Appeal, which affirmed his client’s victory on all counts.
- Represented an international startup incubator in bet-the-company litigation that culminated in a jury trial in the Business Litigation Session of the Massachusetts Superior Court. Matt led a team that secured an extraordinary result for their client after several years of contentious litigation.
- Represented numerous hospitals, physicians’ groups, medical device manufacturers, and other healthcare entities in government investigations and litigation (at both the trial and appellate level) under the False Claims Act. This includes a recent False Claims Act appeal arising from allegations of medically unnecessary surgical procedures, in which Matt argued before the United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. In particular, Matt specializes in False Claims Act matters and other enforcement proceedings involving hospitals, provider entities, laboratories, and controlled-substance prescribing.
- Defeated class certification and secured other favorable resolutions in a number of putative class actions in state and federal court alleging violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and related state-law data privacy claims. Matt recently led a team that defeated certification of a proposed national class in a TCPA fax case, and then defended this result on appeal before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Matt also has substantial experience in representing defendants under the Florida Telephone Solicitation Act (FTSA) and other state-law analogs to the TCPA.
- Successfully resolved all claims against a publicly traded bank that was sued under RICO for providing banking services to a medical marijuana dispensary. Matt was the lead author of the bank’s motion to dismiss. Although the Court allowed the plaintiffs to re-plead, they soon elected to end the litigation and withdraw all claims against the bank on a voluntary basis
- Represented a pharmaceutical sales manager who was charged with healthcare fraud in connection with a nationwide investigation by the United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts. The manager – who was facing a substantial prison sentence under the federal sentencing guidelines – was sentenced to probation
- A substantial monetary judgment and broad permanent injunction in an extended trade secret dispute in state and federal court involving low-shrink film for the encapsulation of solar panels. This case included appeals to the Massachusetts Appeals Court, Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, and the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
- Prevailed in a dispute between a hedge fund and a large mutual fund relating to a fundamental issues of corporate governance, including successful defense of the trial court’s decision on appeal before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court
- A jury award of compensatory and punitive damages in a civil rights case in federal court in which Matt delivered the opening statement and cross-examined the primary defendant
- Part of a team that represented a state legislature in connection with a federal criminal investigation; the government declined to bring charges against any member of the legislature
- Defended an employee of a healthcare client at a preliminary injunction hearing in Massachusetts Superior Court. The case related to allegations that the client did not follow state law relating to a child residing at the client’s facility. The court denied the injunction and dismissed the case
- Favorable decision on a motion to dismiss in the Delaware Court of Chancery in a dispute between an international pharmaceutical company and a biotechnology firm regarding the development of a novel antibiotic drug
- Bankruptcy adversary proceedings relating to credit-default swaps and other complex financial instruments
- Favorable resolution of an international arbitration and litigation involving virtual reality training software
- Favorable resolution of administrative proceedings related to the distribution of alcoholic beverages
- Favorable resolution of an employment dispute in federal court involving an international humanitarian relief organization
Recognitions
- Legal 500 US, Recommended Lawyer, 2023-2024
- Chambers USA, Litigation, 2024
- Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly, “Up & Coming Lawyer,” 2017
Community
- Law360, Massachusetts Editorial Board, 2022
Credentials
Education
Harvard Law School, JD, cum laude
Harvard College, AB, cum laude
Admissions
Massachusetts
Courts / Agencies
US Supreme Court
US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit
US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
US Court of Federal Claims
US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
US District Court for the District of Massachusetts