Matthew Peters represents leading global companies and individual executives in complex commercial litigation, with a focus on securities class actions.

Mr. Peters handles high-stakes matters in state and federal courts for clients in a range of industries, including:

  • Securities fraud class actions
  • Shareholder derivative litigation
  • De-SPAC litigation
  • Securities and Exchange (SEC) investigations
  • Internal investigations
  • Books-and-records demands

He protects clients at all stages of litigation, including pre-suit investigation, motion practice, and settlement negotiations, all the way up to the eve of trial. Mr. Peter draws on an impressive track record of disposing claims prior to active litigation.

Mr. Peters brings clients a unique global perspective based on extensive experience studying and working in China, and a previous career with the Central Intelligence Agency.

He maintains an active pro bono practice, representing victims of human trafficking and children in need of legal assistance.

While in law school, Mr. Peters served as an editor on the Duke Law Journal.

Mr. Peters’ experience includes representing:

  • Twitter and its CEO and CFO, in a dismissal of securities class action arising out of fixes to Twitter users’ privacy settings
  • Nissan and certain of its former officers in a securities fraud class action pending in the Middle District of Tennessee, arising from allegations that the automaker failed to disclose executive compensation for the Company’s former CEO and Chairman of the Board
  • Chipotle, and its officers and directors, in defense of securities class actions and derivative suits stemming from foodborne illnesses
  • TechnipFMC and certain of its officers in a securities fraud class action filed in the Southern District of Texas, arising from the Company’s restatement of its reported financials due to errors in accounting for temporary gains and losses on naturally-hedged currency positions
  • Walmart and its officers in two high-profile federal securities class actions in the Southern District of New York and Western District of Arkansas, challenging disclosures relating to an FCPA investigation
  • Charter in state attorney general investigations regarding allegedly deceptive broadband speed advertising and in related class action litigation
  • Deloitte & Touche against a professional negligence claim brought by Freddie Mac arising from the failure of mortgage originator Taylor, Bean and Whitaker
  • Weatherford and its officers, in federal securities class actions in the Southern District of New York, derivative litigation, and an SEC investigation arising out of financial restatements related to income tax accounting

Bar Qualification

  • District of Columbia
  • Maryland

Education

  • JD, Duke University School of Law, 2012
    magna cum laude
  • MA, Harvard University, 2006
  • BA, Davidson College, 2003

Languages Spoken

  • English