Overview
 

Matthew Slaughter primarily handles complex commercial litigation and corporate disputes for a diverse portfolio of regional and national clients. With a multifaceted practice encompassing corporate and shareholder disputes, breach-of-contract matters, construction litigation, employment disputes, data privacy breaches, real estate matters, intellectual property disputes, and catastrophic personal injury cases, Matt brings extensive experience and keen strategic insight to every matter he handles. He also frequently represents clients opposing and responding to third-party subpoenas, manages complex electronic discovery efforts, and secures and defends against time-sensitive injunctive proceedings. Matt serves as outside general counsel to several closely held companies, providing strategic guidance to businesses in the pharmaceutical, real estate and UAS (drone) sectors.

 

Matt previously served as a law clerk for the Hon. Robert G. James and Karen L. Hayes of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He also maintains a robust pro bono practice that includes handling matters in federal court under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

 

Professional Experience

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• Trial counsel in a highly publicized multi-day jury trial in federal court, obtaining favorable settlement mid-trial for a nonprofit association over trademark infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets claims.

• Successfully represented national franchisor in dismissal of former CEO’s quo warranto petition challenging his termination and removal from board, securing ruling that validated corporate governance actions in high-stakes leadership dispute. 

• Defeated ad valorem tax assessments in excess of $3 million issued against a publicly traded parking services company by securing judgment in client’s favor.

• Obtained court ruling to enforce all provisions of commercial license agreement used in Louisiana and in multiple other states, including early injunctive relief to stop future license violations.

• Lead trial counsel in securing federal court victory for pro bono client under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.

• Successfully appealed to Alabama Supreme Court, reversing trial court summary judgment ruling, and negotiated favorable settlement for client following the appellate win.

• Successfully defended and obtained favorable settlement for tech startup against claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and conversion in federal court.

• Successfully obtained and defeated injunctive relief in both state and federal courts, including matters involving trade secrets, non-compete agreements, commercial contracts and property rights.

 

Professional Affiliations

 

• Pro Bono Project – Board of Directors (2020-present); Secretary and Executive Committee member (2024-present); and Justice for All Ball Co-Chair 2023 and committee member (2020-present)

• New Orleans Bar Association – Young Lawyers Section Secretary (2024-2025); YLS Executive Council Member (2021-present); YLS Public Service Co-Chair (2022-present); and YLS Bench Bar Committee Chair (2024-present)

• New Orleans Bar Foundation – Board of Directors (2025)

• Louisiana State Bar Association —Suit Up for the Future Diversity Program Instructor 

• Federal Bar Association

 

Honors & Recognition

 

• Louisiana State Bar Association Young Lawyer Division’s Top 40 Award (2023)

• Leadership in Law, New Orleans CityBusiness (2023)

• Pro Bono Publico Award, Louisiana State Bar Association (2020)

• Commercial Litigation (2021-2025), Litigation - Construction (2021-2025), The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch 

• Louisiana Super Lawyers Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (2023-2025)

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Admissions

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• Louisiana (2017)

• Alabama (2015)

• U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals (2018)

• U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana (2018)

• U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana (2018)

• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana (2018)

• U.S. Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals (2017)

• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Alabama (2017)

• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Alabama (2017)

• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Alabama (2017)

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Publications

 

• Using Electronic Contracts and Signatures While Social Distancing, American Bar Association Practice Pointers (Sept. 29, 2020).

• Erratic Approaches to Substantive Changes on Errata Sheets, BIRMINGHAM BAR BULLETIN (Spring 2018).

• Supreme Court’s Treatment of Drug Detection Dogs Doesn’t Pass the Sniff Test, 19 NEW CRIM. L. REV. 279 (2016).

• First Amendment Right to Record Police: When Clearly Established is Not Clear Enough, 49 J. MARSHALL L. REV. 101 (2016).

• The Barriers of Facebook’s Terms of Service Agreement: Hardships Placed On Fiduciaries Access to Digital Assets, 24 INFO. & COMM. TECH. L. (2015).

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Speaking Engagements

 

• Louisiana State Bar Association, “Drones Over the Delta: Legal Considerations for Unmanned Aircraft in Louisiana” (2024)

• Louisiana State Bar Association, “Staying Compliant in a Changing Landscape: What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act and Louisiana’s Statutory Employer Law” (2024)

• New Orleans Bar Association, “Direct Examinations: Getting in Critical Evidence” (2023)

• New Orleans Bar Association, “Ethical Considerations in Navigating New Technology and Social Media” (2021 and 2022)

• Lorman Educational Services, “How to Stop and Remove Online Counterfeiting and Infringements” (2021)

• New Orleans Bar Association, “The Dos and Don’ts of Summer Clerkships” (2020)