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Matt Gurvitz is a partner in the Litigation Department. He focuses on complex litigation in state and federal courts across the United States. Matt's broad range of experience—including consumer product, entertainment, general business, employment, and probate litigation—provides a multidisciplinary wealth of knowledge from which to creatively approach any complex dispute.

Matt has significant experience in all aspects of litigation, from discovery to depositions, trial, and appellate work. He also routinely advises companies on complex regulatory issues with a focus on avoiding litigation in the future, including acting as de facto outside general counsel for smaller companies.

Experience

  • Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under List, 2023

  • Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America, 2022

  • Super Lawyers, Rising Star, Class Action/Mass Torts, Business Litigation, Media and Advertising, Southern California (2016 – 2022)

  • Graduate of the International Association of Defense Counsel (IADC) Trial Academy, an intensive, week-long program at Stanford University designed to develop defense trial advocacy skills
  • Member, Pro Bono Civil Rights Panel, United States District Court for the Central District of California
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, L.A. County Bar Association; Member, Environmental Section Executive Committee (2012 – 2015)
  • Board member, Association of Business Trial Lawyers (ABTL), Los Angeles Chapter

Entertainment/Business Litigation

  • Obtained $15 million judgment on behalf of singer/model for claims of sexual assault against prominent music producer, which was affirmed in full by the California Court of Appeal
  • Successfully defended a media company against claims of trade secret and intellectual property misappropriation
  • Defended a media company in a multi-day breach of contract arbitration, resulting in a favorable settlement
  • Represented an international shipping company against claims arising under maritime law, resulting in a favorable settlement
  • Defeated a motion to compel arbitration on behalf of a medical group that brought claims against its billing company, which was upheld by the Court of Appeal
  • Represented an audio/visual equipment company in a breach of contract claim against a product manufacturer
  • Represented an entertainer in a breach of contract claim against a national alcoholic beverage company in California state court
  • Represented a private equity company in a breach of contract claim and a breach of fiduciary duty action against former officers of a portfolio company
  • Defended a private equity company against claims for breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and fraud, brought by the former CEO of an entertainment company
  • Successfully defended a franchisor against claims of misrepresentations by franchisees, resulting in a favorable settlement
  • Successfully obtained civil harassment restraining orders for various celebrities and entertainers

False Advertising/Class Actions

  • Successfully defended a manufacturer of fruit snacks at a bench trial related to the representation "Fruit is our 1st Ingredient," which was affirmed by the California Court of Appeal
  • Successfully moved to dismiss, without leave to amend, a nationwide class action complaint in New York federal court regarding the representation "with fiber"
  • Successfully moved to dismiss a nationwide class action complaint against a pet food manufacturer related to alleged false and misleading labeling of the products' content
  • Defeated a motion for class certification of a New Jersey consumer class action brought against a manufacturer of fruit snacks related to the representation "made with real fruit"
  • Defeated a motion for class certification on behalf of a pet store against a California consumer protection and unfair competition class action
  • Successfully moved to dismiss a California class action complaint, without leave to amend, on behalf of a nutritional supplement company regarding labeling describing the amount of omega-3 in a serving size
  • Successfully defended a food product manufacturer against a California consumer class action related to "imitation" meat resulting in a dismissal of the complaint
  • Defended a nutritional supplement distributor against federal Lanham Act and California state unfair competition claims related to generally recognized as safe (GRAS) claims resulting in a favorable settlement

Product Safety/Toxic Tort/Personal Injury

  • Obtained summary judgment on behalf of franchisor for claims of personal injury at franchisee location
  • Defended a rental car company against claims for personal injury in connection with vehicle collisions, resulting in either dismissals or favorable settlements
  • Successfully represented a medical device company against California class action claims of consumer protection law
  • Defended a pharmaceutical company against numerous product liability claims around the country in complex coordinated procedures
  • Defended a generic drug manufacturer against strict and negligent product liability claims
  • Defended an oil drilling rig manufacturer against complex toxic tort/chemical exposure claims in a multi-year litigation
  • Represented numerous retailers, distributors, and manufacturers against allegations of violations of Proposition 65
  • Successfully defended a nationwide hospitality company against numerous personal injury claims, resulting in favorable settlements

Employment Litigation

  • Obtained a dismissal without leave to amend on behalf of a nationwide retailer related to alleged insufficient protections against COVID-19
  • Obtained a dismissal with prejudice on behalf of defense contractors regarding allegations of California employment violations for work performed outside of the United States
  • Successfully represented a national retailer against Cal/OSHA claims, obtaining a reversal of the citation following an administrative trial
  • Represented a national cable provider in an alleged harassment and discrimination action, resulting in obtaining summary judgment against all causes of action
  • Represented a media group against California class actions related to alleged employee misclassification

Probate Litigation

  • Represented a trustee in litigation regarding the division of responsibilities in managing trust-owned assets, resulting in a favorable settlement
  • Represented the beneficiary of a trust in obtaining a distribution being improperly withheld

Environmental Litigation

  • Represented a major oil company in claims for response costs and natural resource damages at several Superfund sites

Regulatory/Advice

  • Advised various consumer product companies on advertising compliance issues
  • Advised various companies on website terms and conditions, and privacy policy compliance
  • Advised a California grocery chain on compliance with California pricing notice requirements
  • Advised a national retailer regarding GRAS status of food products and cooking utensils
  • Advised retailers, distributors, and manufacturers on product safety compliance, including compliance with the Consumer Product Safety Commission regulations
  • Advised retailers, distributors, and manufacturers on Proposition 65 compliance

Credentials

Education


University of California, Hastings College of the Law, J.D. (cum laude), 2010 University of Illinois, B.S., 2006

Bar Admissions


California

Court Admissions


United States District Court, Central District of California United States District Court, Southern District of California United States District Court, Northern District of California United States District Court, Eastern District of California United States Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit