Matthew Fong

Matt Fong is the former California State Treasurer. He is of counsel in the firm’s Los Angeles office. His practice is transactional law and governmental relations.

Education

• J.D., Southwestern University, 1985
• M.B.A., Pepperdine University, 1983
• B.S., United States Air Force Academy, 1975

Admissions

• California
• Washington, D.C.

• Represented a national insurance carrier before the State of California Commissioner of Labor and the U.S. Secretary of Labor to obtain favorable interpretations of policy and regulations Represented a billion dollar hedge fund invested in the California energy market to obtain political insight into the direction of legislation that would regulate the California market Represented nationallay listed real estate company with CalPers Pension Fund to create a $1.2 billion land acquisition fund Represented tax appeals successfully before the State Bar of Equalization
• Mr. Fong brings an entrepreneurial blend of fiscal, political and global expertise to a variety of private and public sector organizations. He recently served, by appointment from President George W. Bush, as the chairman of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation Advisory Board based in Washington D.C. with oversight responsibilities of its $27 billion retirement fund.
• From 1990-1998, he guided the State of California’s fiscal affairs as Vice-Chairman of the State Board of Equalization, the nation’s largest state tax agency and as State Treasurer. As the Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer for California, he invested a $32 billion cash investment portfolio and served as a Trustee of CalPers and CalStrs public pension funds (with over $200 billion in assets).
• Mr. Fong was an associate in Sheppard Mullin’s Los Angeles office from 1985-1990. He practiced as a business attorney with a focus on transactional law, cross-border acquisitions and technology licensing. He also helped establish the firm’s presence in the Pacific Rim (China, Taiwan, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong SAR and Thailand).
• Mr. Fong is a FAA Certified Flight Instructor (SEL), commercial pilot and glider pilot.

Memberships

• Pepperdine University Board of Regents
• Director, Trust Company of the West’s complex of mutual funds (TCW)
• Chairman for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger Re-Election Committee
• Director, Potomac Golf Partnership
• Senior Advisor, Nogales LP
• Senior Advisor, Lennar Corporation

Speeches

• Pension Fund Reform – Annual Conference, Utah State Bar Convention (July 2006)
• Private Equity and US Public Pension Funds – Paris Private Equity Forum (April 2005)
• APA Leadership – NYC Asian American Leadership Forum (June 2005)
• Asset Allocation (facilitator) – Pacific Pension Institute, Seoul Korea (Aug 2006)
• Corporate Governance – US & PRC Forums in Beijing and Shanghai (2004 – delegate)
• Corporate Governance – US & Japan Forums in Tokyo and Osaka (2003 – delegate)