Matthew Macdonald
Partner
Matthew Macdonald focuses on high-stakes litigation in federal and state courts across the country, with experience defending clients in cutting-edge disputes in technology, life sciences, intellectual property, and other areas.
Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Matt was a litigation partner at Munger Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles. He joined Munger Tolles in 2009 and became a partner in 2017.
Following law school, Matt served as a law clerk for Judge Carlos T. Bea of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Justice Nathan L. Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.
Experience
Matthew Macdonald focuses on high-stakes litigation in federal and state courts across the country, with experience defending clients in cutting-edge disputes in technology, life sciences, intellectual property, and other areas.
Prior to joining the firm in 2021, Matt was a litigation partner at Munger Tolles & Olson LLP in Los Angeles. He joined Munger Tolles in 2009 and became a partner in 2017.
Following law school, Matt served as a law clerk for Judge Carlos T. Bea of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and Justice Nathan L. Hecht of the Texas Supreme Court.
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 2007Cum Laude
- M.A., International Relations, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, 2004With Distinction
- B.A., History and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 2002With High Distinction
Admissions
- State Bar of California
Credentials
Education
- J.D., Harvard Law School, 2007Cum Laude
- M.A., International Relations, Lancaster University, United Kingdom, 2004With Distinction
- B.A., History and Political Science, University of California, Berkeley, 2002With High Distinction
Admissions
- State Bar of California
Select Representations
- Obtained a complete plaintiff-side verdict for VB Assets in a multi-patent case against Amazon and its Alexa/Echo virtual assistant and voice commerce platform. After a one-week trial, the jury found that Amazon willfully infringed all four asserted VB Assets patents and awarded $46.7 million in damages. Law.com named the case among its “Top 100 Verdicts for 2023.”
- Obtained a complete defense verdict for Aadi Bioscience in a $340 million ICC arbitration arising out of claims that Aadi breached its duties under a drug development and licensing agreement. In September 2024, the panel issued a 60-page ruling finding that Aadi had not breached the contract.
- Defending OpenAI in a first-of-its-kind litigation in which the plaintiff alleges that he was defamed by output from ChatGPT.
- Defending global retailer in putative nationwide class action litigation pending in federal court regarding allegations that “was/now” pricing misleads consumers.
- Secured a victory at trial for the owners of Santa Anita Race Track in litigation arising out of the 2019 horse racing fatality crisis.
- Successfully defended a consortium of term lenders against $600 million clawback claims asserted by the GM bankruptcy estate; the representation resulted in a settlement under which Matt’s clients paid nothing and recovered a significant portion of their attorney fees.*
- Successfully obtained the dismissal of $77 million breach of contract claims asserted against the J. Paul Getty Trust arising out of a proposed art acquisition.*
- Successfully resolved billion-dollar breach of contract claims against Bank of America arising out of Bank of America’s role as administrative agent for a credit facility that financed the construction of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel and casino.*
- Successfully resolved nationwide class action claims against a major financial institution arising out of their role as indenture trustee for debt issued by a medical factoring company.*
- Successfully resolved a nationwide securities class action against MGM Resorts International related to the construction of the Las Vegas CityCenter development.*
- Represented the Los Angeles Clippers in litigation over the construction of a new basketball arena in Inglewood.*
- Obtained a complete defense verdict in a $100 million breach of contract lawsuit against a biotechnology company.*
- Successfully resolved litigation against the J. Paul Getty Trust related to ownership of eight illuminated pages from a medieval gospel manuscript.*
- Represented the Imperial Irrigation District in litigation and administrative proceedings related to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, a landmark agreement for the transfer of Colorado River water.*
* Denotes experience at another firm prior to joining Wilson Sonsini in 2021.
Matters
Select Representations
- Obtained a complete plaintiff-side verdict for VB Assets in a multi-patent case against Amazon and its Alexa/Echo virtual assistant and voice commerce platform. After a one-week trial, the jury found that Amazon willfully infringed all four asserted VB Assets patents and awarded $46.7 million in damages. Law.com named the case among its “Top 100 Verdicts for 2023.”
- Obtained a complete defense verdict for Aadi Bioscience in a $340 million ICC arbitration arising out of claims that Aadi breached its duties under a drug development and licensing agreement. In September 2024, the panel issued a 60-page ruling finding that Aadi had not breached the contract.
- Defending OpenAI in a first-of-its-kind litigation in which the plaintiff alleges that he was defamed by output from ChatGPT.
- Defending global retailer in putative nationwide class action litigation pending in federal court regarding allegations that “was/now” pricing misleads consumers.
- Secured a victory at trial for the owners of Santa Anita Race Track in litigation arising out of the 2019 horse racing fatality crisis.
- Successfully defended a consortium of term lenders against $600 million clawback claims asserted by the GM bankruptcy estate; the representation resulted in a settlement under which Matt’s clients paid nothing and recovered a significant portion of their attorney fees.*
- Successfully obtained the dismissal of $77 million breach of contract claims asserted against the J. Paul Getty Trust arising out of a proposed art acquisition.*
- Successfully resolved billion-dollar breach of contract claims against Bank of America arising out of Bank of America’s role as administrative agent for a credit facility that financed the construction of the Fontainebleau Las Vegas hotel and casino.*
- Successfully resolved nationwide class action claims against a major financial institution arising out of their role as indenture trustee for debt issued by a medical factoring company.*
- Successfully resolved a nationwide securities class action against MGM Resorts International related to the construction of the Las Vegas CityCenter development.*
- Represented the Los Angeles Clippers in litigation over the construction of a new basketball arena in Inglewood.*
- Obtained a complete defense verdict in a $100 million breach of contract lawsuit against a biotechnology company.*
- Successfully resolved litigation against the J. Paul Getty Trust related to ownership of eight illuminated pages from a medieval gospel manuscript.*
- Represented the Imperial Irrigation District in litigation and administrative proceedings related to the Quantification Settlement Agreement, a landmark agreement for the transfer of Colorado River water.*
* Denotes experience at another firm prior to joining Wilson Sonsini in 2021.
Recent Insights
Client Highlights
Wilson Sonsini Defeats $341 Million Arbitration Claim Against Aadi Bioscience
On September 26, 2024, an international arbitration tribunal delivered a unanimous award in favor of Wilson Sonsini’s client, Aadi Bioscience, Inc., and decisively rejected the claimant’s multimillion-dollar demand for damages.
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