Matthew R. Devine
Biography
Chambers USA describes Matt as a “go-to trial lawyer . . . noted for his sophisticated representation in class action defense, trade secrets and breach of contract related litigation.”
“He is an incredible lawyer, and his pragmatism and understanding of the big picture are valued. Matthew provides high-level strategic thinking and is a fantastic litigator.”
Overview
Matt Devine is a partner in White & Case LLP's Chicago office and serves as the Office Executive Partner for the Chicago office, responsible for leading nearly 100 Chicago-based lawyers and business professionals in serving the firm's clients. Matt has extensive first-chair experience leading trial teams in state and federal courts around the country, as well as private arbitrations. Matt represents clients in high-stakes commercial disputes posing reputational risk to clients that are in the media spotlight.
Matt's practice focuses on heavily litigated aspects of business law, particularly class action defense, trade secrets, restrictive covenants, shareholder derivative actions and high stakes "mass raid" cases, as well as representing corporate clients in responding to inquiries and subpoenas from government regulators. Matt leads sensitive internal investigations for corporate clients.
Matt has served as lead counsel for Fortune 500 companies and other clients in a variety of high-profile business litigation matters, including representing a major global airline in litigation arising out of an airline disaster and recently defeating class action matters against a Big Ten university and a global financial services company.
Matt has an active pro bono practice representing indigent criminal defendants in state and federal court. Crain's Chicago Business recognized Matt as a 2024 Notable Leader in Law. Matt's peers selected him for The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 in consumer litigation.
School of Law
Experience
Represented Bayport Financial Holdings USA and Bayport Colombia S.A. in "mass raid" litigation in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Represented Novanta, Inc. a NASDAQ-listed medical device company, in litigation in the US District Court for the Middle District of Florida, alleging violations of the Lanham Act. Matter was successfully resolved after discovery.
Represented Fitness International, d/b/a as LA Fitness, which operates the largest chain of fitness centers in the U.S., in a putative class action filed in the US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, which sought millions in fees after COVID-19 and related government orders forced the centers to close. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois granted LA Fitness's motion to dismiss the complaint with prejudice.
Represented Goldentree Asset Management, a global credit asset manager with approximately $47 billion AUM, in a cross-border contract dispute. The matter resulted in a successful confidential resolution.
Represented LED Cove Asset Finance in breach of contract litigation filed in Illinois state court against Align Business Finance. The matter resulted in a successful confidential resolution.
Represented Morningstar, a leading provider of independent investment research, in an independent internal investigation into whether ESG ratings products demonstrated anti-Israel bias.
Represented a publicly traded energy company in a AAA arbitration involving a contract dispute with a top executive. The matter resulted in a confidential and successful resolution.
Business and Commercial Litigation in Federal Courts (5th ed.), Warranties (Thomson Reuters)
Class and Group Actions 2022, International Comparative Legal Guide, 14th Ed., November 2021
Class and Group Actions 2021: Developments and Trends in Collective Actions, International Comparative Legal Guide, 13th Ed., November 2020
Class Actions, Illinois Institute for Continuing Legal Education 2020
Illinois Civil Litigation Guide
Best Lawyers in America 2024 – Consumer Law
2024 Notable Leader in Law, Crain's Chicago Business
US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and the Chicago Chapter of the Federal Bar Association
"Excellence in Pro Bono Service" - 2016