Biography

Matt Dow is a civil trial lawyer with a wide range of experience throughout Texas. Over his 28 years of practicing trial law, Mr. Dow has tried more than 30 cases, with more than half of those being first chair jury trials. He has extensive trial experience in federal and state courts representing companies in trade secret, covenant not to compete, discrimination, business tort, and class action cases. He has also argued before several Texas appellate courts and the Texas Supreme Court. He is the managing partner of the firm's Austin office.

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Representative Matters

• In 2011, successfully represented a nationwide company which was threatened by the Texas Medical Board. Jackson Walker obtained an injunction allowing its client to continue doing business in Texas.


• In 2011, successfully represented a quasi-governmental entity in Texas which faced various constitutional and due process challenges as well as an open meetings challenge. Jackson Walker obtained a summary judgment disposing of all of the claims.


• In 2010, represented a nationwide home builder in a collective action FLSA case filed in federal court against the home builder. Plaintiffs claimed that the home builder violated the Fair Labor Standards Act by failing to pay overtime. The matter was eventually settled.


• In 2010, represented a local start-up company in a trade secrets case brought by a competitor in federal court in California. The competitor sought damages in excess of $50 million. Jackson Walker was successful in having the case transferred to Texas, defeating the competitor's request for a preliminary injunction after a day long evidentiary hearing and defeating the competitor's motion for summary judgment. The case was eventually resolved to the parties' mutual satisfaction.


• In this jury trial between the plaintiff/employee and her former employer, Mr. Dow defended the defendant/employer against claims for a declaratory judgment, slander and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The plaintiff sought actual and punitive damages. During the third day of trial, Mr. Dow was able to negotiate a favorable settlement for its client and obtain a dismissal of the case. The case was tried in the 33rd Judicial District Court of San Saba County, Texas.


• Successfully represented employee at a two-week jury trial on the former employer's claim for $10 million in damages for theft of trade secrets and unfair competition.


• Successfully represented employer in a federal court jury trial in a race and age discrimination case.


• Successfully represented owner of commercial office building in a jury trial on claims of breach of contract and city code violations.


• Represented nationwide employer in MDL class action case under the Fair Labor Standards Act.


• Successfully argued at the trial court and appellate court the licensing of a multi-million dollar feedlot operation.

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Organization Membership

Mr. Dow is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, the State Bar of Texas, the American Bar Association, the Austin Bar Association and the Litigation and Employment Law Sections of the Austin Bar Association and the American Bar Association. In addition, he is a Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation and the Austin Bar Foundation.

Community Involvement

Mr. Dow is a member and Chairman of the Capital Area Food Bank's board of directors, an Austin council member of the Baylor Alumni Association, and a graduate of Leadership Austin. He is also an elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church.

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Peer Recognition

Mr. Dow was named a "Super Lawyer" (2006-2011) by Thomson Reuters and is listed by Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition as a "Super Lawyer in Business Litigation" for 2006-2009. He is also listed in the 2012 edition of The Best Lawyers in America under Commercial Litigation.

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Speeches / Publications

Mr. Dow is a frequent author and lecturer on a wide variety of topics including the use of e-mail at trial, employment issues, and trial strategy. He has authored or presented the following:

• "Social Media and Chaos in the Workplace" (2011)


• "Texas Jury Survey" (2009)


• "Fifth Circuit Update" (2009)


• Austin Bar Association Ultimate Trial Notebook, Voir Dire (2009)


• "Amendments to the ADA" (2009)


• "Texas Jury Survey" (2008)


• "Confidential Information" (2008)


• "Harassment & Discrimination Prevention Training for Management" (2008)


• "ADA: The New Burden of Proof" (2008)


• "Texas Supreme Court Bolsters Non-Competition Agreements" (2007)


• "Texas Supreme Court Rules on Covenants Not to Compete" (2007)


• "State of the Law 2007: Trends and Cases" (2007)


• "The E-Discovery Amendments to the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure" (2007)


• Employer's Update - Fall 2005 (2005)


• "Texas Jury Survey 2005-2006" (2005-2006)


• "Texas Jury Survey" (2005)


• Employer's Update - Winter 2005 (2005)

Links to Publications

• Avoiding Electronic Chaos: Pitfalls of Social Media at Work
• Texas Supreme Court Upholds Enforceability of Covenants Not to Compete
• Three Important Reminders for Company Holiday Parties

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Latest News

• Matt Dow Accepted to the American Board of Trial Advocates
• Jackson Walker Congratulates Its Best Lawyers in America
• Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 46 "Texas Super Lawyers"
• Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 41 "Texas Super Lawyers"
• Jackson Walker Announces New Managing Partners
• Jackson Walker Congratulates Its 38 "Texas Super Lawyers"
• Featured Attorneys

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