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.

• Mr. Fong brings a blend of fiscal, political and global expertise to a public-private sector practice.  His specialty is working with clients who must deal with federal, state or local agencies.  At the federal  level it includes dealing with the Department of Defense and various cabinet agencies.  At the state and local level, the typical focus is on developing strategies to seek approvals for real estate  entitlements through the state and local permitting processes.  His project experience ranges from large scale master planned communities to resort and golf course development communities.  He also represents  clients that deal with semi-government agencies such as institutional investors including public pension funds.
• 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

• Southwestern University School of Law Board of Trustees
• Host Committee, The Stonebrae Classic (Hayward Nationwide PGA Tour)
• Member, California Club, Los Angeles
• Member, Olympic Club, San Francisco
• Pepperdine University Board of Regents
• Director, Trust Company of the West’s complex of mutual funds (TCW)
• Senior Advisor, Nogales LP
• Senior Advisor, FivePoint Communities, (a Lennar Corp. spin-off)

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)