Matthew S. Barkan

Matthew is a sought-out counselor who guides public and private media and technology companies, financial institutions, hospitality companies, and their officers and directors through “bet-the-company” situations—and advises on strategies to mitigate the risks of such disputes.

Among others, he has represented:

• A UK-based digital music company in defense of breach-of-contract and related claims concerning the construction of a first-of-its-kind high-resolution music streaming platform.
• A global media company in the dismissal of securities fraud claims in connection with accusations that its reporters engaged in phone hacking.
• A global luxury design studio whose minority shareholder seized control of the company’s email and file servers on Christmas Eve.

Matthew has particular experience counseling foreign companies in disputes before U.S. courts. Among others, he has represented:

• An Italian design studio in asserting claims that its New York-based licensor breached their license agreement concerning a storied Italian home furnishings brand.
• A Malta-based global financial services firm and its U.S. subsidiary in opposing third-party document and testimony subpoenas in an SEC enforcement action.
• A Norwegian offshore drilling contractor in the defense of securities fraud claims related to Russian oil sanctions.
• A French global financial services firm in opposing discovery from multiple foreign branches and subsidiaries based on the service on its New York branch of a subpoena and asset-freeze order.
• A Malaysian e-payments company in the defense of securities fraud claims concerning accounting reports at a subsidiary.

He also regularly represents companies and individuals in alternative dispute resolution before various arbitral bodies, including:

• A global hospitality company in proceedings before the American Arbitration Association concerning the company’s repurchase of shares in a subsidiary.
• Two U.S.-based consulting companies in JAMS arbitral proceedings concerning breach-of-contract claims against a public Canadian cannabis company.
• A Barbados entity in an ICSID arbitration against Venezuela related to the expropriation of a fertilizer plant.

Matthew has worked in local, state, and national politics and interned on Capitol Hill. He began his legal career at a global Vault 5 law firm.