Matt Norris is the founder and principal of Norris Law Group, P.C.
Matt has been practicing law for nearly 19 years. He started his career as a litigator, but has also practiced in transactional contexts and acquired substantial transactional and business law experience. This experience informs Matt’s approach to litigation on behalf of business clients; he understands the economic realities of running a successful organization, and can provide more than just ideas to deal with issues that arise in court. Consulting with Matt about a legal matter – whether it involves litigation you might be considering or need to defend against, or whether your goal is to structure a transaction or a business so that you stay out of the courtroom – means that you receive advice about the whole picture, not just legal maneuvering. If you do head to court, Matt approaches litigation matters with three perspectives in mind, enhanced by his experience with each: the potential plaintiff, whether an individual or a business; the potential defendants, large or small; and the inner workings of any organizations involved. Matt prides himself on tenacious, proactive, and highly effective litigation strategies at a reasonable cost.
Matt initially represented businesses in litigation matters in Rochester and Buffalo, New York, primarily focusing on employment law. Matt later practiced litigation and transactional law in Charlotte, North Carolina before opening his own litigation boutique, advising corporate and individual clients in employment law, construction law, and health care litigation, among other areas. In 2003, Matt relocated to Philadelphia, where he spent nearly four years as the vice president, general counsel and human resources director of a 3,000-employee company in the real estate and financial services sector, overseeing all of the company’s legal operations in over 30 states, and building an organizational philosophy designed to resolve workplace issues and promote growth. After a return to private practice in Philadelphia, representing clients in unfair trade practices, construction defect, employment discrimination, and other litigation matters, and continuing to advise businesses in contract drafting and interpretation, general corporate law, and human resources, Matt founded the Norris Law Group, P.C. to service clients on both coasts.
Matt is admitted to active practice in California, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and North Carolina, and in numerous federal courts. He has handled litigation matters from motion hearings and depositions to jury trials, bench trials, binding arbitrations, and appeals in over 25 states, and has supervised litigation in several others. Matt has litigated complex civil and commercial matters in many sectors of the law, from noncompetition disputes to bankruptcy proceedings, from cases under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) to real estate and financial services disputes sometimes involving more than 20 parties. Matt regularly advises and provides consultation and workplace evaluation to clients concerning human resources issues, and also maintains an active intellectual property practice, including patent, trademark and copyright litigation, trademark prosecution, and advice and counseling on IP issues. Matt has structured and drafted complex business transactions in the financial services, construction, and real estate industries. Recently, Matt has advised numerous business partners and members concerning their rights against improperly governed organizations.
Matt’s proudest career achievements include the successful defense of a financial services company against a corporate plaintiff claiming unfair trade practices and seeking a seven-figure damages amount, obtaining a zero-dollar defense verdict at trial; reaching a landmark settlement with a state agency on behalf of an aggrieved employee after four years of litigation; structuring the acquisition of two companies with hundreds of employees and integrating their operations into those of the parent organization; redesigning a company’s employee compensation plan in cooperation with government regulators pursuant to amendments to the Fair Labor Standards Act; obtaining a complete defense victory in a multimillion-dollar, multi-week trademark infringement arbitration; and successfully persuading a North Carolina trial judge to release a client requiring immediate medical attention from an improper criminal detention. Whatever your case may involve, Matt will give it the full attention that it deserves, and provide you with highly effective, results-oriented, client-focused representation at a very competitive rate.
Matt is a member of the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the San Fernando Valley Bar Association, the Santa Monica Bar Association, the Association of Workplace Investigators, the American Bar Association, and other professional and civic associations. He actively monitors legal developments in the laws of the states where he is admitted to practice, (actually) enjoys detailed analysis of federal appellate decisions concerning employment law, ERISA, and intellectual property, and is a close follower of the workings of the federal judiciary. When not writing long biographies, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and cats, running and biking, reading things that happen to be written in French and/or Spanish, and avidly watching college basketball.