Matthew A. Fitzgerald

Matt is a co-chair of the firm’s Appeals and Issues group. His practice focuses on appellate matters, constitutional issues, and major motions. Matt previously served as a law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas of the Supreme Court of the United States and Chief Judge Edward E. Carnes of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit in Montgomery, Alabama.

In January 2018, Matt presented argument in the U.S. Supreme Court on behalf of the petitioner in Collins v. Virginia, No. 16-1027.  The case has been widely noted as an important Fourth Amendment case in which the Court will address the scope of the automobile exception to the warrant requirement.  Over the past several years, Matt has also argued complex cases in the Second, Fourth, Sixth, Eighth, Ninth, Eleventh, and D.C. Circuits as well as the Supreme Court of Virginia and the Georgia Supreme Court (pro hac vice).

His practice also focuses on sharp and efficient legal writing. Matt has written dozens of appellate briefs, white papers, and important strategic motions such as those opposing class certification and attempting to quash subpoenas.  On the topic of effective written advocacy in particular, Matt devotes time to mentoring associates, including presenting a writing CLE that has received excellent reviews.

Matt graduated magna cum laude from the University of Virginia School of Law. At Virginia, he served as a Dillard Fellow and worked on the editorial and managing boards of the Virginia Law Review.