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Matthew J. Schlesinger

Partner

Washington +1 202 662 5581

  • About
  • Representative Matters
  • Credentials
  • About

    Matt Schlesinger represents policyholders nationwide in insurance coverage disputes and counsels clients on insurance-related issues. Legal 500 reports that Matt “has a depth and breadth of experience and is very sensitive to business needs.” Using a combination of litigation and alternative dispute resolution, Matt has cost-effectively recovered hundreds of millions for clients in a wide variety of hotly contested complex, multi-party cases. His clients range from Fortune 100 companies to smaller public and privately held entities, and include Major League Baseball, the National Hockey League and individual professional sports entities and teams as well as large financial institutions and technology companies.

    Matt has particular experience obtaining coverage under financial institution and other crime bonds for losses resulting from large, sophisticated frauds, as well as handling coverage for shareholder and customer-driven financial services related claims, including under directors and officers, professional liability, and specialty policies. He also has deep experience with first-party property damage and business interruption claims. Matt has also successfully handled cyber-liability, environmental and asbestos liability, intellectual property, and a range of other claims and coverage disputes and issues. He often is retained to help negotiate a resolution to the underlying matter, as well as the insurance coverage dispute.

    Matt also actively consults on policy renewals, helping clients obtain the most favorable policy terms possible. He speaks, writes, and is quoted on insurance coverage issues and has co-chaired or participated in numerous insurance coverage conferences.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Practices and Industries
  • Representative Matters
    • Lead or co-lead counsel on some of the largest COVID-19 business interruption litigations, including for MLB, NHL, Monumental Sports and various hotel and other businesses.
    • Achieved a very successful near $250 million settlement of the St. Thomas Frenchman's Reef Resort property damage/business interruption claim, one of the largest arising out of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, weeks before trial after winning a forum battle (keeping the case in St. Thomas as opposed to New York), successfully obtaining a very aggressive litigation schedule and prevailing on certain key discovery motions.
    • Successfully resolved a hotly disputed and litigated D&O coverage claim for losses a fund manager incurred in shareholder and other litigation stemming from a going-private transaction.
    • For a large mortgage servicer, successfully resolved disputed coverage claims arising out of CFPB and other regulatory actions.
    • For a large student loan servicer, handling E&O and D&O claims arising out of CFPB actions, state attorneys general litigations and shareholder actions.
    • Advised a public global investment bank in connection with coverage for an aiding and abetting breach of fiduciary duty claim.
    • For a global systemically important bank (or G-SIB), advising on insurance coverage issues relating to resolution planning.
    • For a New York-based publicly traded international investment bank, successfully handled the crime bond claim arising from the well-publicized fraud of a former partner and also handling a related E&O coverage claim.
    • For former officers and directors of MF Global, handled hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of D&O and E&O coverage claims arising from bankruptcy trustee, shareholder, and customer-related litigation.
    • Litigated and successfully resolved coverage for Freddie Mac under a financial institution bond for a $100 million-plus fraud loss arising out of one of the largest ever financial frauds.
    • For a Fortune 200 international company, successfully resolved a multi-million dollar fidelity bond claim resulting from a fraud in their Moscow, Russia office involving sham vendors.
    • For a large bank, providing advice on their financial institution bond and computer crime policy.
    • Prevailed in the Eleventh Circuit on an issue of first impression, preventing an insurer from rescinding a Mortgage Bankers Bond on the basis of misrepresentations by the owner who stole third-party funds.
    • For Fannie Mae, handled all D&O and fiduciary liability coverage issues arising out of the shareholder and other litigation, stemming from one of the largest restatements, including obtaining coverage for fines levied against senior officers.

    • For the U.S. operations of a German bank, in the context of a renewal, reviewed and advised on all professional, cyber and crime coverage.
    • Handled all coverage issues arising out of Fannie Mae’s placement into conservatorship, as well as alleged subprime mortgage loan related shareholder and ERISA litigation.
    • Litigated and successfully resolved multiple financial institution bond claims arising from various Ponzi schemes and other frauds involving losses in the multiple tens of millions of dollars.
    • For a publicly traded technology company, successfully resolved coverage under traditional and cyber-insurance policies for a purported class action involving the use of consumer data.
    • For a leading Fortune 100 banking and financial institution and others, successfully resolved mortgage insurance coverage disputes arising from the rescission of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of mortgage insurance on thousands of mortgage loans and pools.
    • For a well-known Fortune 500 international food company, successfully resolved a disputed D&O claim arising out of alleged antitrust violations.
    • For a Fortune 500 multi-national technology company, successfully resolved days before trial a significant professional liability claim arising from a legacy business after successfully resolving related claims.
    • Successfully resolved various discrimination claims under CGL and employment practices policies arising out of matters involving alleged credit scoring and sexual discrimination.
    • Successfully obtained coverage, on behalf of airbag initiator manufacturer, after a four week, bad faith/punitive damages trial involving business interruption and property damage claims for explosions at two manufacturing facilities.
    • Handled disputed first party property and business interruption claims arising from the breakdown of large manufacturing equipment, including an earthquake simulator and electrical plant generator.
    • Won summary judgment and an award of attorney's fees in a hotly contested D&O liability matter.
    • Successfully resolved first-party property and business interruption claims involving extensive water and mold damage to a hotel.
    • Obtained favorable settlements in disputed environmental cases, including involving alleged contamination at an apartment complex and a heavily litigated matter involving hundreds of sites in multiple states.

    Areas of Expertise

  • Credentials
    Education
    • Northwestern University School of Law, J.D., 1989
        • Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business, Note and Comment Editor
        • Dean’s List
    • American University, B.A., 1985
        • cum laude
        • Mortar Board Senior Honor Society
    Bar Admissions
    • District of Columbia
    • Maryland
    • U.S. Supreme Court
    • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit
    • U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
    • U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
    Accolades
    • Chambers USA, Insurance: Policyholder (2018-2023)
    • Legal 500 US
    • Washington, DC Super Lawyers, Insurance Coverage (2013-2020)
    • Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Outstanding Achievement Award in the fields of Equal Employment Opportunity and Immigration & Refugee Rights.
    • Rated an AV-Preeminent lawyer by Martindale-Hubbell.
    Memberships and Affiliations
    • Fidelity Subcommittee of the Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee of the American Bar Association, former Co-Chair
    • Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, Trustee

    Areas of Expertise

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