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Matthew T. "Matt"
Nelson

  • Partner
mnelson@wnj.com
Grand Rapids
T 616.752.2539
F 616.752.2500

My admin

industries

practices

  • Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians v. Patchak, 132 S. Ct. 2199 (2012): Obtained 8-1 decision in favor of client, defeating claims of the federal government that sovereign immunity defeated client’s challenge to government’s agency action and that client did not have prudential standing.
  • Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2751 (2014): Submitted amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities supporting the successful religious employer.
  • Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 132 S. Ct. 694 (2012): Submitted amicus curiae briefs at the petition and merits stages on behalf
  • Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians v. Patchak, 132 S. Ct. 2199 (2012): Obtained 8-1 decision in favor of client, defeating claims of the federal government that sovereign immunity defeated client’s challenge to government’s agency action and that client did not have prudential standing.
  • Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., 134 S. Ct. 2751 (2014): Submitted amicus curiae brief on behalf of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities supporting the successful religious employer.
  • Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, 132 S. Ct. 694 (2012): Submitted amicus curiae briefs at the petition and merits stages on behalf of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities supporting the successful religious employer.
  • Priority Health v. Commissioner of Office of Financial & Insurance Services, 489 Mich. 67, 802 N.W.2d 132 (2011): Persuaded the Michigan Supreme Court to overturn state agency ruling against a health maintenance organization.
  • Tomecek v. Bavas, 482 Mich. 484, 759 N.W.2d 178 (2008): Obtained 4-3 ruling favorable to clients in an easement dispute involving the Land Division Act.
  • O’Boyle v. Borough of Longport, 218 N.J. 168, 94 A.3d 299 (N.J. 2014): Submitted amicus curiae brief on behalf of DRI—The Voice of the Defense Bar successfully urging limited approach to waiver of work-product protection.
  • Oneida Charter Twp. v. City of Grand Ledge, 485 Mich 859, 771 N.W.2d 785 (2009): Retained to obtain review by the Michigan Supreme Court of a published Michigan Court of Appeals decision regarding municipal water-rate dispute; persuaded Court to grant peremptory reversal.
  • Winterhalter v. Dykhuis Farms, 2012 WL 2989238 (6th. Cir. July 23, 2012): Successfully argued for affirmance in an employment discrimination case.
  • Mallison v. Haworth, Inc., 2012 WL 2580609 (6th Cir. July 3, 2012): Obtained decision affirming district court’s grant of summary judgment in favor of the employer in an Equal Pay Act case.
  • Keiper, LLC v. Intier Automotive Inc., 2012 WL 833652 (6th Cir. Mar. 13, 2012): Successfully argued for reversal of summary judgment in a million-dollar automotive-supplier dispute.
  • Chen v. Dow Chemical Co., 580 F.3d 394 (6th Cir. 2009): Persuaded the Sixth Circuit to affirm summary judgment in favor of The Dow Chemical Company in an employment dispute.
  • Sherrills v. Beison, 242 Fed. App’x 332 (6th Cir. 2007): Defended summary judgment in favor of a hospital system on a former employee’s race discrimination and retaliation claims.
  • Canvasser Heritage, L.L.C. v. Fifth Third Bank, 2012 WL 5853896 (Mich. Ct. App. Nov. 15, 2012): Defended summary disposition in mortgage foreclosure case.
  • Thomas E. Woods v. JLG Industries, Inc., et al, 2011 WL 2342719 (Mich. Ct. App. June 14, 2011): Defended jury verdict in a commercial contract dispute.
  • Fifth Third Bank v. Canvasser, et al, 2011 WL 2347707 (Mich. Ct. App. June 14, 2011): Defended summary judgment in favor of bank in a mortgage case.
  • Denney v. Dow Chemical Co., 2011 WL 92964 (Mich. Ct. App. Jan. 11, 2011): Obtained summary disposition on former employee’s sex discrimination and retaliation claims and defended ruling on appeal.
  • Old Republic National Title Holding v. First Metropolitan Title, 2010 WL 1056609 (Mich. Ct. App. Mar. 23, 2010): Persuaded Michigan Court of Appeals to reverse summary disposition against client in a commercial contract dispute.
  • Foote v. Dow Chemical Co., 2010 WL 173777 (Mich. Ct. App. Jan. 19, 2010): Obtained summary disposition on former employee’s breach of contract and tortious interference claims and defended ruling on appeal.
  • Day v. HME Inc., 2007 WL 3120942 (Mich. Ct. App. Oct. 25, 2007): Obtained dismissal of former employee’s race-discrimination claims and, on appeal, obtained reversal of order denying sanctions against former employee for asserting frivolous claims.
  • Multiband Co. v. Block, 2012 WL 1843261 (E.D. Mich. May 12, 2012): Obtained order enforcing arbitration agreement in employment dispute and imposing Rule 11 sanctions.
  • Graham v. Access Business Group, LLC, 2011 WL 3758726 (W.D. Mich. Aug. 25, 2011): Obtained summary judgment on behalf of employer in a case involving FMLA retaliation and disability discrimination claims.
  • El Camino Resources, LTD. v. Huntington National Bank, 722 F. Supp. 2d 875 (W.D. Mich. 2010): Obtained summary judgment on behalf of bank in case arising from $100 million Ponzi scheme.

    Testimonials

    “Matt (Nelson) represented us on several very important litigation matters and also provided valuable advice on non-litigation matters. He was always very responsive to requests for assistance and was a clear communicator in all of his writings and conversations. Our litigation results with Matt were positive – they provided municipal officers the opportunity to effectively carry out their duties in a constitutionally and statutorily appropriate manner. Matt is an excellent attorney.” – Retired corporate counsel for a Michigan municipality

    Image for Matthew T. “Matt” Nelson

    Matthew T. "Matt"
    Nelson

    • Partner
    mnelson@wnj.com
    Grand Rapids
    T 616.752.2539
    F 616.752.2500

    My admin

    Biography|
    Credentials

    industries

    practices

      Testimonials

      “Matt (Nelson) represented us on several very important litigation matters and also provided valuable advice on non-litigation matters. He was always very responsive to requests for assistance and was a clear communicator in all of his writings and conversations. Our litigation results with Matt were positive – they provided municipal officers the opportunity to effectively carry out their duties in a constitutionally and statutorily appropriate manner. Matt is an excellent attorney.” – Retired corporate counsel for a Michigan municipality