Matthew W. Holder

Mr. Holder is a partner in the Business Trial and Labor and Employment Practice Groups in the Del Mar Heights office.

Areas of Practice

Mr. Holder is an experienced litigation attorney, with an emphasis on complex civil business litigation and labor and employment litigation, including class actions. In addition to handling civil litigation, Mr. Holder also counsels clients in connection with pre-litigation resolution of disputes and best practices in his areas of expertise.

Mr. Holder’s focus in every matter is to work collaboratively with the client to find the approach and solution which best meets the client’s needs and objectives, while always providing legal work and client service of the highest caliber.

Mr. Holder’s many valued clients include well-known companies with prominent positions in the insurance, sporting goods and apparel, consumer electronics, defense, construction, life sciences, and automotive industries, among many others.

In addition to providing timely and thoughtful advice to his clients outside the litigation context, Mr. Holder has successfully defended clients in a variety of class action lawsuits, including class actions alleging unfair business practices, illegal recording of telephone calls in violation of California Penal Code section 630, fraud, false advertising, wage-hour violations, and legal malpractice. Mr. Holder has also successfully litigated numerous single-plaintiff sexual harassment, discrimination, and wrongful termination cases, as well as cases involving unfair competition, misappropriation of trade secrets, breach of contract and interference with contract, negligence, breach of warranty, and workplace violence, among many others.

Mr. Holder also represents employers in disputes with unions, and has successfully handled dozens of unfair labor practice charges on a wide variety of issues before the National Labor Relations Board and its Regional Offices.

Education

• J.D., University of Southern California, 2001; Order of the Coif; National Moot Court Team; Hale Moot Court Semifinalist; American Board of Trial Advocates Award for Excellence in Preparation for Trial Practice of the Law
• B.A., University of Southern California, 1998, magna cum laude

Clerkships

• Intern to Judges John Reid and Susan Bryant Deason, U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington D.C.
• Extern, in Los Angeles County Superior Court, U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California

Honors

• "Outstanding Service Award" for the Legal Aid Society of San Diego, both 2007 and 2008

Memberships

• Association of Business Trial Lawyers
• J. Clifford Wallace American Inn of Court
• Member, Board of Directors and Human Resources Committee, Boys & Girls Clubs of San Dieguito
• Alumni, Pi Kappa Alpha International Fraternity

Articles

• Who's to Blame? 'Baird' Clears Way for an Answer, June 13, 2006

Construction & Infrastructure Law Blog Articles

• "California Court of Appeal Affirms That Certain Types of Public Contributions Do Not Make Development a 'Public Work' Under Former Version of Statute", January 25, 2006

• "United States Supreme Court Limits Scope Of Federal Criminal "Honest Services" Fraud Statute," July 30, 2010

Labor & Employment Law Blog Articles

• "U.S. Supreme Court Rejects Gender Discrimination Class Action Against Wal-Mart," June 20, 2011
• "Lawsuit by Deaf Employee Based on Failure to Provide Sign Language Interpreter Sent to Jury", August 30, 2010
• "Wall Street Reform Legislation Creates New Diversity Requirements for Government Contractors", August 30, 2010