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C. Matthew Keen

Managing Shareholder   |   Raleigh

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Matt Keen has served as managing shareholder of Ogletree Deakins since 2016 and has practiced labor and employment law in the firm’s Raleigh office since 1987. His practice has included employment litigation in state and federal courts, representing clients before the National Labor Relations Board and advising clients on equal employment opportunity and wage and hour issues. He has successfully litigated cases to defense verdicts in employment discrimination cases. He has also litigated matters involving ERISA, non-competition and trade secrets, workplace injuries and other contract and tort claims. He has successfully represented clients in dozens of labor and employment arbitrations.

Matt has been recognized as a leading labor and employment lawyer by The Best Lawyers in America, and was named “Lawyer of the Year” in the area of Employment Law – Management in Raleigh by Best Lawyers for 2012. In 2014, Matt was again named Best Lawyers “Lawyer of the Year” of Labor Law – Management. He has been named in the top tier of the leading employment lawyers in North Carolina by Chambers USA America’s Leading Business Lawyers every year since 2006. He has also been recognized by North Carolina Legal Elite and Super Lawyers.

Matt has lectured on various employment law topics before business groups and has written articles for legal and employment journals. He contributed to and revises the North Carolina Employers’ Desk Manual and also contributed to a treatise on the Americans With Disabilities Act. He is active in the Greater Raleigh Chamber of Commerce.

More About C. Matthew Keen

Experience

Employment Litigation

Matt regularly represents employers in litigation matters in state and federal courts. He has tried numerous cases to defense verdicts, in addition to successful summary judgment motions in many other matters. Significant verdicts & decisions include:

  • Jenkins v. Akzo Nobel Coatings. 4th Circuit affirmed summary judgment on breach of contract and fraud claims filed by expatriate employee.
  • Abdel-Rahman v. BASF.  Defense jury verdict in age and national origin discrimination case.
  • Howard v. Cape Industries. 4th Circuit upheld summary judgment on ERISA claims.
  • Holder-Blake v. Duke University. Defense jury verdict in age discrimination case.
  • Kearns v. Duke University. Defense verdict in race discrimination case.
  • Kranz v. Hendrick Automotive Group. North Carolina Court of Appeals affirmed summary judgment on wrongful discharge claim.
  • Chao v. IBM. 4th Circuit affirmed summary judgment on claims of age and national origin discrimination.
  • Allen v. IBM. 4th Circuit affirmed motion to dismiss “Woodson” intentional injury claim.
  • Coggins et al. v. PSNC Energy. Defense verdict in harassment and hostile work environment claims.

Arbitration

Matt has tried many employment arbitrations for leading North Carolina employers. He has litigated a wide variety of discrimination claims in the arbitration context.  He also has handled many labor arbitrations before AAA and FMCS.

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Practice Groups

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