Matthew E. Johnson

Matthew Johnson focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation and arbitration.  He has handled disputes involving breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duties and related securities issues, joint-venture operating agreements, and mergers and acquisitions in various jurisdictions around the country.  Mr. Johnson has appellate briefing experience before the Iowa Supreme Court, the Michigan Court of Appeals, and the Illinois Court of Appeals. 

Mr. Johnson's litigation experience includes the following:

• Representing an independent oil and gas exploration company with one other WTO lawyer in a lawsuit where the plaintiff is claiming $225 million in damages following WTO's client's sale of oil and gas interests in the Williston Basin for $1.05 billion;
• Assisting borrowers in numerous different negotiations and lawsuits against one of the largest financial institutions in America;
• Acting as the lead or secondary attorney on various commercial and securities disputes, including breach of promissory note actions, breach of fiduciary duty actions, a breach of real estate agreement action, and oil and gas commercial disputes;
• Serving as the second-chair litigator in three separate arbitrations for one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers following the passage of Section 747 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2010. Two arbitrations resulted in complete victory for our client and the third concluded with a favorable result;
• Assisting in the deposition discovery phase of a large multidistrict litigation for one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies, including taking depositions of physicians across the country;
• Assisting in the trial defense of a mid-level private equity fund before Vice Chancellor Strine of the Delaware Chancery Court for alleged breaches of fiduciary duties and related claims;
• Assisting in pursuing claims in the Delaware Chancery Court on behalf of a group of private investors for breach of contract by oil and gas partnerships and limited liability companies, including obtaining a $6.3 million partial summary judgment ruling in favor of the group of private investors;
• Assisting in the representation of one of the world's largest oil companies in a contract dispute with its joint venture partner regarding the funding obligations for a $450 million joint venture dedicated to alternative energy sources; and
• Assisting in the trial court and appellate court representation of one of the world's largest ice cream manufacturers in a $75 million lawsuit relating to a plant explosion.

Other Experience
Latham & Watkins LLP
Davis Graham & Stubbs LLP

Community Memberships Activities, and Honors
The Bridge Project, Tutor, 2011-present
Cook County Juvenile Court System, Pro Bono Advocate, 2004-2008
Chicago Youth Programs Cabrini Green, Tutor, 2003-2005

Personal Interests
Reading
Skiing
Fishing
Traveling abroad
Soccer
Basketball