Matthew Gurgel

Matt Gurgel has represented financial institutions, multinational corporations, and individuals in a wide array of complex commercial litigation and enforcement matters. He has extensive experience representing clients in mortgage-backed securities and bankruptcy litigation, and has argued dispositive motions before state and federal courts. His matters have included contract and insurance disputes, stockholder suits arising from mergers and acquisitions, cases involving copyright, fraud, and securities law claims, as well as advising clients in response to regulatory investigations.

At HSG, Matt has represented a leading national retailer in litigation with lenders, as well as one of the world’s pre-eminent law firms in the successful defense of high-profile malpractice claims, among other matters. He currently represents trustees and other interested parties in various RMBS putback matters, and a major insurer in coverage disputes with pharmaceutical distributors.

In his pro bono practice, Matt is part of the HSG team that filed a lawsuit with the ACLU of Louisiana’s Justice Lab against police officers for using excessive force against a cooperating black man with preexisting injuries. He has assisted other pro bono clients in Federal Tort Claims Act and veterans benefit-related matters.

Prior to joining HSG in 2016, Matt was an associate at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP and clerked for the Hon. Debra Ann Livingston of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit. Before beginning his legal career, Matt served aboard four ships as a surface warfare officer and nuclear engineer in the U.S. Navy.

Notable Cases

• U.S. affiliates of a multinational telecommunications company in several bankruptcy-related matters, including litigation culminating in parallel, six-week cross-border trials to resolve inter-estate claims to billions of dollars in liquidation proceeds; defense against copyright, contract, and trade secrets claims; and litigation of an advertising contract dispute with a professional sports franchise.
• An international financial institution in defendant class action arising from the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers, achieving dismissal of all claims.
• A national variety store chain in stockholder litigation resulting from pending merger transaction, defending decision of board of directors to reject nominally higher bid due to antitrust concerns.
• A major financial institution in litigation stemming from foreign exchange trading scandal at one of the institution’s clients.

Writings

• “M&A Litigation," The Mergers & Acquisitions Review (9th ed. 2015) (co-authored with Mitchell A. Lowenthal and Roger A. Cooper)