Matthew J. Gagnon

Matt’s practice focuses on defending employers against all manner of complex employment litigation and government-initiated investigations, with a particular emphasis on class and collective actions, PAGA, pattern or practice, and disparate impact litigation. He views every workplace challenge within the context of each client’s unique set of circumstances and draws on his extensive experience to design creative solutions that fit within and advance their larger strategic goals and objectives.

Matt has extensive experience defending clients with a national presence in a wide range of industries, including manufacturing and construction companies, franchisors, hospitality and restaurant companies, staffing companies, retailers, financial institutions, and educational institutions. He has defended many high-stakes class and collective actions alleging claims under the Fair Labor Standards Act and state wage and hour laws, as well as those arising under federal and state anti-discrimination laws that involve a wide range of discrimination claims and theories, including sex, race, and national origin discrimination, age discrimination, pay discrimination, sex harassment, and failure to accommodate and disability discrimination claims. A significant portion of Matt’s practice involves litigation against the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, both at the early charge and investigation stage and in large-scale EEOC systemic litigation. Matt has been instrumental in defending his clients against some of the EEOC’s most high-profile systemic cases. He is also a prolific writer and speaker on topics involving EEOC-initiated litigation, equal pay litigation, and class and collective action procedure.