Matthew S. Salerno

matthew.salerno@lw.com

+1.212.906.4738

Profile

Matthew Salerno represents institutional and individual clients in their most sensitive and highest-stakes disputes, including crisis management, white collar investigations, complex commercial disputes, and bet-the-company litigations.

Combining keen negotiating and trial skills, Mr. Salerno delivers strategic counsel to clients in a range of investigations and litigation. He regularly navigates business-critical matters on behalf of many of the world’s leading banks, financial institutions, and brands, as well as corporate officers and executives.

Mr. Salerno draws on his mix of plaintiff and defense-side experience to develop effective case strategies for clients. His vast and varied white collar work includes Foreign Corrupt Practices (FCPA), insider trading, short-seller attacks, bribery, corruption, trading, and securities fraud matters. Mr. Salerno frequently advises on sovereign debt and securities matters involving government-owned entities. He also regularly handles trade secrets cases, breach of contracts disputes, and general tort matters, including defamation suits.

Mr. Salerno advises clients throughout all phases of state and federal investigations. Leveraging his broad experience working with government agencies and officers, he helps clients interact effectively with the US Department of Justice (DOJ), the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA), state attorneys general, congressional oversight panels, and the Special Counsel’s Office. He secures desired outcomes for clients both by negotiating favorable settlements and bringing cases to trial.

Mr. Salerno regularly advises clients on a pro bono basis, including in connection with immigration, domestic violence matters, and with respect to military veteran organizations.

Mr. Salerno previously served as a member of the firm’s Associates Committee, a firm leadership body comprising associates and partners that manages associate reviews and development as well as partnership recommendations, as well as the firm’s Mentoring Committee.

Experience

Mr. Salerno’s experience includes representing:

White Collar Investigations, Litigation, and Crisis Management

A large international bank in several investigations conducted by multiple state attorneys general, the SEC, and the DOJ, including under the Financial Institutions Reform, Recovery, and Enforcement Act (FIRREA), which resulted in a US$7.2 billion global settlement
Robert Hunter Biden in a criminal investigation brought by the DOJ Tax Division and US Attorney’s Office for the District of Delaware
Mark Cuban, entrepreneur and owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks franchise, in a securities fraud suit brought by the SEC in the US District Court for the Northern District of Texas, resulting in a four-week jury trial and complete defense verdict
An individual in connection with Robert Mueller’s special counsel Russia probe and related Treasury Department investigations, with no action pursued
A large public company in various SEC investigations, including into fair disclosure violations, resulting in no action pursued
A global technology company in multiple investigations of company executives and related media strategy
A global law firm and individual in a cross-border investigation into potential FCPA and bribery allegations conducted jointly by the DOJ, SEC, and international investigatory entities, with no action pursued
A big-four accounting firm in several international investigations initiated by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, resulting in favorable resolution
A global bank in its internal executive-level bribery and corruption investigation
A global bank in its internal front-running investigation
A global bank in a European Commission cartel investigation related to foreign exchange (FX) trading, with no action pursued
A technology healthcare company in executive-level insider trading investigation by the NYAG, with no action pursued
The audit committee of a SPAC investigating fraud and material misstatements by company executives and related interfacing and reporting to DOJ
A financial technology company in connection with overseas bribery allegations and related internal investigation

Complex Commercial Litigation

A technology company in two jury trials in the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts regarding breach of fiduciary duty, misappropriation of trade secret, and unfair competition claims
Perkins Coie LLP and the Democratic National Committee in several defamation suits brought by a former Trump campaign advisor
Peloton Interactive in several trade secret, trademark, and false advertising litigations involving hundreds of millions of dollars at issue, ending on favorable settlement terms
Meta Platforms in litigation involving alleged misappropriation of trade secrets
Various financial entities in litigation brought against the Office of Foreign Asset Control for release of millions of blocked funds, resulting in favorable settlement
A telemedicine company in connection with civil fraud litigation
A telemedicine company in litigation concerning trade secret misappropriation
A film production company in various personal injury lawsuits and related government investigation concerning an on-set fire
A film financing company in connection with a hundred-million dollar fraud claim against studio
A large talc-mining company in connection with its restructuring and related personal injury litigation
A regional power company in connection with its restructuring efforts

Sovereign Debt and Securities

A trustee and collateral agent on behalf of noteholders to recover more than US$1.68 billion issued by Venezuelan oil company PDVSA, resulting in a complete district-court victory (currently on appeal)
A group of plaintiffs in litigation against the Republic of Argentina in connection with breach of contract and non-payment on more than US$100 million
Multiple consensual reprofilings of more than US$1 billion in Argentine provincial debt, including in the provinces of Chubut and Neuquén