Matthew A. Durfee

• Defense counsel of record for a luxury automobile manufacturer in the Volkswagen “clean diesel” multidistrict litigations (MDLs) pending in Texas.
• National defense counsel for an active pharmaceutical ingredient manufacturer in prescription opiate MDLs throughout the U.S., including as defense counsel of record in the Texas MDL.
• Won a challenge to personal jurisdiction in Texas state court on behalf of an Australian power company, resulting in the dismissal and voiding of a default judgment that awarded relief equivalent to approximately $200 million.
• Counsel of record for a major wireless telecommunications provider in obtaining reversal by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals of a district court order denying a motion to dismiss product liability and negligence claims. 
• Counsel of record for a major wireless telecommunications provider in obtaining dismissal in federal district court of product liability and negligence claims, affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.
• Represented a national mortgage bank against corporate-raid claims seeking up to $25 million in damages, including winning a Daubert motion resulting in the complete exclusion of the plaintiff’s damages expert and a spoliation motion resulting in sanctions against the plaintiff for the destruction of text messages.
• Defended a homeopathic medicine manufacturer and distributor against a series of class action lawsuits in federal and state courts that alleged violations of state advertising laws. 
• Secured summary judgment in a Florida state court, affirmed on appeal, awarding a commercial mortgage lender approximately $9 million on breach of contract claims and dismissal of counterclaims for breach of contract and mechanic’s liens. 
• Obtained a grant of summary judgment resulting in the dismissal of an oil and gas company’s claims that it had excluded profitable acreage from a leasehold assignment.
• Represented a coal company being investigated for an explosion that killed 29 people.

Matt Durfee is a member of Alston & Bird’s Dallas litigation team who has substantial experience in federal and state courts throughout the U.S. He focuses his practice on high-stakes commercial litigation for clients in the manufacturing and telecommunications industries. Within the last year alone, Matt has defended numerous clients against complex product liability claims, including multiple high-profile class actions and multidistrict litigations in various jurisdictions. He also has significant experience representing clients from a wide array of other industries on diverse legal issues ranging from typical breach of contract, negligence, and fraud matters to large-scale government investigations and international disputes.

Matt earned his J.D. from Baylor University School of Law, where he graduated summa cum laude, was in the Order of the Barristers, was the executive editor of the Baylor Law Review, and earned the Outstanding First-Year Student Award. He earned his B.S., also summa cum laude, from North Dakota State University.

Matt is a member of the State Bar of Texas and is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of Texas, U.S. Supreme Court, and Fifth and Sixth Circuit Courts of Appeals.

Bar Admissions

• Texas

Education

• Baylor University (J.D., 2009)
• North Dakota State University (B.S., 2006)

Memberships