Biography
Matt is a former U.S. Department of Justice trial attorney who focuses his practice in the areas of white collar criminal defense and investigations, federal tax controversies, financial institution regulatory compliance and complex civil litigation.
Matt represents companies and individuals in federal grand jury investigations and criminal prosecutions in a wide variety of areas and maintains an extensive federal tax controversy practice in which he represents taxpayers in all stages of proceedings before the Internal Revenue Service, including examinations, appeals and collection proceedings. He also advises financial institutions on compliance issues under the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA Patriot Act, the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, the anti-money laundering laws and regulations and economic sanctions.
He serves as Co-Chair of the firm’s White Collar Criminal Defense & Government Investigations practice group.
Before Fox Rothschild
Prior to joining Fox, Matt was a partner in the Philadelphia office of a national law firm.
Beyond Fox Rothschild
Matt is renowned in the Philadelphia region for his commitment to pro bono service and devotion to the pursuit of equal justice for all. He is annually selected as a member of the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Pro Bono Roll of Honor. In 2016, he was the recipient of the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network Excellence Award for his pro bono work in the area of civil forfeiture.
Matt previously served as an elected Democratic committeeperson and served on Philadelphia’s Fifteenth Ward Democratic Executive Committee. He is also active in civic and charitable causes and has served on the following boards:
- Friends Select School (2018-present)
- The First Tee of Greater Philadelphia, Inc. (2011-2016)
- Philadelphia VIP, Inc. (the pro bono arm of the Philadelphia Bar Association)
- Board member (2004-2014)
- Board president (2013-2014)
- Co-chair of 35th Anniversary Gala (2016)
- Member of Executive Director search committee (2017)
- The Lighthouse, Inc.
- Board member (2006-2014)
- Board president (2008-2009)
- Fairmount Civic Association
Matt is a graduate of LEADERSHIP Philadelphia's class of 2008 and previously served as a lecturer of law at the Villanova University School of Law. He also periodically serves as a guest lecturer at the Drexel University School of Law and the University of Pennsylvania Law School.
Client Resources
Tax Controversy and Financial Crimes Report
Matt’s blog, Tax Controversy and Financial Crimes Report, reports on the latest developments in all aspects of tax controversy and financial crimes. These include criminal tax investigations and prosecutions, civil tax matters before the Internal Revenue Service including audits, appeals, and collection matters, as well as tax litigation in the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. Court of Federal Claims, and U.S. district courts. The blog also covers international tax compliance issues, including foreign bank account reporting (FBAR), the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), and the IRS’s voluntary disclosure programs for both domestic and offshore issues. Finally, Tax Controversy and Financial Crimes Report addresses compliance issues arising under the Bank Secrecy Act, the USA Patriot Act, FATCA, the anti-money laundering laws and regulations, and economic sanctions regimes.
Bar Admissions
- District of Columbia
- New Jersey
- New York
- Pennsylvania
Court Admissions
- U.S. Tax Court
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Eleventh Circuit
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
- U.S. District Court, District of Maryland
- U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
Education
- New York University School of Law (LL.M.)
- Emory University School of Law (J.D.)
- Furman University (B.A.)
Memberships
- Philadelphia Chapter of the Federal Bar Association’s Tax Section (co-chair)
