Matthew W. Walch

Partner

Chicago
matthew.walch@lw.com
+1.312.876.7603

PRACTICES

  • Complex Commercial Litigation
  • Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Litigation & Trial

INDUSTRIES

  • Automotive
  • Hospitality, Gaming & Leisure
  • Retail & Consumer Products
  • Technology

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • Illinois

EDUCATION

  • JD, Georgetown University Law Center, 1994
  • BA, Miami University, 1991

PROFILE

Matthew Walch, a litigation partner in the Chicago office, represents clients in complex commercial and intellectual property litigation.

Matthew represents Fortune 500 companies and leading organizations in litigation related to:

  • Complex commercial disputes
  • Intellectual property
  • Unfair competition
  • Advertising
  • Employment

He draws on over 25 years of experience litigating matters to successful resolution in federal and state courts and before US and international arbitration panels. He regularly resolves litigation through both interlocutory and dispositive motion practice as well as at trial.

Complementing his litigation work, Matthew routinely counsels clients to develop strategies and processes to prevent litigation, especially in the areas of intellectual property, and related restrictive covenant employment issues. In 2020, the World Trademark Review 1000 recognized M atthew as “[e]xperienced throughout all phases of litigation, including trial” and an “anchor” of the firm’s unfair competition practice.

Matthew also manages trademark and copyright prosecution and licensing efforts throughout the world and regularly negotiates with owners and collective management organizations regarding copyright and licensing matters.

Matthew is admitted to practice in the US Supreme Court, US Court of Appeals for the Second, Third , and Seventh Circuits, and US District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois, Western District of Wisconsin, Eastern District of Michigan, and District of Colorado.

Matthew frequently writes and speaks on IP issues.

Leadership
 

Matthew is a Past President of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court, an American Inn of Court consisting of over 160 Chicago-area judges, in-house and outside counsel, academics, and students focused on intellectual property law. He received the 2017 Linn Inn Alliance Distinguished Service Medal for his contributions to the American Inns of Court movement. Matthew is also a member of the Intellectual Property section of the American Bar Association and the International Trademark Association.

As part of the firm’s commitment to the community, Matthew works with Lawyers for the Creative Arts, the Domestic Violence Legal Clinic of Chicago, and their clients on a pro bono basis. He also serves on the Board of Directors of Prevent Child Abuse America and the Legal Aid Society of Metropolitan Family Services.

EXPERIENCE

Matthew's experience includes advising:  

  • ACS Carbon Solutions: Managed defense of trade secret misappropriation claims relating to the construction of an activated carbon production facility in a three-week arbitration hearing in Atlanta, Georgia
  • Aon: Served as lead counsel for insurer in connection with its assertion of claims for trade secret misappropriation and breach of various non-competition covenants; negotiated comprehensive settlement agreement resolving all claims favorably
  • Aon Hewitt: Served as lead counsel in trade secret misappropriation case; obtained expedited injunctive relief preserving client’s proprietary information
  • Dalton: Defended client in trade secret misappropriation litigation arising from its hiring of two former employees from one of its competitors; successfully defeated motion for preliminary injunction seeking to enjoin the continued employment of the former employees and otherwise engage in the use of alleged confidential information
  • Eddie Bauer: Served as lead defense counsel in trademark infringement case; secured favorable settlement resulting in dismissal of all claims
  • Frazier Healthcare Ventures: Served as lead counsel in commercial contract arbitration; secured US$11 million final award for client
  • General Electric: Managed defense of various litigation matters involving trademark and products liability issues
  • GoSecure: Defended GoSecure and certain individual defendants in trade secret misappropriation and breach of contract; defeated temporary restraining order motion and subsequently negotiated settlement of all claims
  • Hyatt Hotels: Assisted on a broad range of intellectual property and complex litigation matters
  • Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. and Nissan North America: Served as lead counsel on trademark infringement matters in various federal district courts, including litigation in the Eastern District of Michigan pursuant to which Nissan secured favorable settlement against another global automobile manufacturer
  • Orbitz, LLC: Obtained summary judgment in federal district court in Delaware dismissing all claims in case involving breach of technology license agreement
  • Owens-Illinois Inc. and Affiliates: Obtained injunctive relief and final award of over US$31 million in international arbitration arising from joint venture dispute
  • Pharma Logistics Ltd.: Served as lead counsel in successful defense of “bet the company” copyright infringement and trade secret misappropriation case
  • ProQuest LLC: Acted as counsel in multi- defendant class action copyright infringement litigation; successfully obtained reversal of Second Circuit decision regarding class action settlement in the US Supreme Court
  • SS&C Technologies: Represented software company in pursuit of trade secret misappropriation claims in Illinois and Connecticut state courts against former employees charged with taking and disseminating trade secrets to a competitor
  • Steak ‘n Shake: Served as lead counsel in copyright infringement case in which federal district court in Illinois granted Rule 12 motion to dismiss copyright infringement claim relating to one of the client’s television ads
  • United States Soccer Federation: Served as lead counsel in various trademark infringement and unfair competition matters; helped secure summary judgment for the Federation in one of its commercial contract disputes