Matthew A. White

Partner

Philadelphia

Tel 215.864.8849
Fax 215.864.8999

Matthew A. White litigates a wide array of complex commercial disputes, including securities, mergers and acquisitions, commercial real estate, and complex construction cases.

Matt has co-authored the definitive practice guide for the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas for over 20 years and has extensive arbitration and mediation experience, in addition to trying cases in state and federal court.

Services

Representative Experience

Representative Matters

Lead lawyer in Delaware Superior Court case involving earn-out dispute for the sale of a billion-dollar wind-generation subsidiary. The matter proceeded to summary judgment, and Matt’s client prevailed on its interpretation of the applicable contractual language.
Lead lawyer for one of three national manufacturers of a class of industrial products in multiple antitrust class actions brought in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, accusing price-fixing, brought on behalf of direct and indirect purchasers. Following discovery, the matters were favorably resolved with no out-of-pocket payment by the client.
Lead lawyer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection in its effort to implement the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. The initial preliminary injunction hearing involved mastering a voluminous administrative record, including multiple environmental, economic, and health studies, in less than one week. This effort was ultimately abandoned by a new governmental administration, but Matt argued multiple appeals before Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Lead lawyer for manufacturing company in enforcement of a perpetual supply contract in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. This rarely litigated matter resulted in a favorable resolution and a definitive agreement lasting more than a decade.
Lead lawyer in merger and acquisition case pending in Delaware Chancery Court, defending owners of a business sold to a publicly traded company. The acquiring company sued the sellers for fraud and misrepresentation. After mediation, Matt resolved the case for $0 on the purchaser's claims and a payment on his clients' counterclaims for an earn-out withheld by the purchaser.
Lead lawyer representing the European acquirer of a U.S. business in Delaware Superior Court. After successfully overcoming preliminary motions to dismiss our client’s fraud and misrepresentation claims, the Ballard Spahr team was able to recover most of the original purchase price from seller and from the representations and warranty insurer.
Lead lawyer representing a national retailer in a commercial lease dispute. After defeating the counterclaim on summary judgment, the case proceeded to trial (AAA arbitration). Matt obtained a complete victory, including interest, costs of arbitration, pre- and post-award interest, and attorney's fees. The award was affirmed by federal district court and by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Lead lawyer defending a major investment bank against securities claims brought by two plaintiffs in a FINRA arbitration. After an 11-day hearing in which one key witness admitted that she lied and another refused to answer a question on the basis that it would "hurt his case," the panel, in a reasoned decision, granted a complete defense award ($0) against one plaintiff and minimal award (less than $45,000) against the other. The panel denied the claimants' requests for punitive damages and attorney's fees.
Matt represented the owner of a 95-acre industrial manufacturing facility against a prospective purchaser who threatened to publicize false and misleading statements about the property. In this "drop everything" case that played out in state court in Pennsylvania and Tennessee, Matt successfully obtained a temporary, and then preliminary, injunction from the Tennessee Chancery Court enjoining publication of the commercially defamatory material, achieving a rare prior restraint of speech over state and federal constitutional arguments in favor of publication.

Professional Highlights

Pro Bono Experience

Matt routinely represents citizens of Philadelphia whose title to real estate is threatened by fraud and tenants in landlord tenant disputes. Matt also participates in Wills for Heroes, drafting estate planning documents for first responders. He also counsels parents on issues surrounding their children's intellectual disabilities.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

Philadelphia Bar Association, State Civil Litigation Section

Recognition & Accomplishments

Philadelphia Business Journal, 'Best of the Bar,' 2022

The Best Lawyers in America, Commercial Litigation (Philadelphia), 2013-2026

AV Peer Review Rating, Martindale-Hubbell, 2012-2026

Speaking Engagements

Frequent speaker at Continuing Legal Education seminars on such topics as civil practice, temporary restraining orders and injunctive relief, and legal writing.

Board Memberships & Community Service

Jewish Family & Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia, 1999-present.

For over 20 years, Matt served as General Counsel for the Jewish Family & Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia and a member of its Executive Committee.

Publications

The Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas Civil Practice Manual, 7th through 18th editions, 1995 to 2017

Related Insights

Credentials

Education

Vanderbilt University Law School (J.D. 1989)

Harvard University (A.B., cum laude, 1986)

Admissions

Pennsylvania

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit