Matthew D. Green

Matthew Green is a Virginia‑based, trial‑ready complex commercial litigator with first‑chair experience in 24 jury trials in state and federal courts. He represents businesses, insurers, and public entities in complex commercial litigation and high‑stakes civil disputes, particularly matters requiring courtroom‑tested advocacy and readiness for trial. Matthew is regularly trusted to handle cases that may proceed to verdict.

He served as the 2020 President of the Virginia Chapter of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA) and currently serves as an ABOTA National Board Representative and Chair of its International Committee. He will serve as the 2028 President of ABOTA’s Southeastern Regional Chapter (SEABOTA).

Clients most commonly retain Matthew when they need:

A trial‑ready commercial litigator in Virginia
First‑chair jury‑trial experience for complex civil disputes
Counsel capable of taking a business or institutional case to verdict
Detailed understanding of the Eastern District of Virginia’s Rocket Docket
Trial credibility that strengthens settlement leverage

Clients routinely retain Matthew in matters involving:

Business torts, including fraudulent misrepresentation, tortious interference, and breach of fiduciary duty
Breach of distribution and commercial agreements, including related conversion, fraud, and contract claims
Shareholder and governance disputes, including management conflicts, governance agreement violations, and valuation disputes
Insurance recovery actions, including bad‑faith claims involving liability, property, and injury coverage
Professional services disputes, including claims involving lawyers, accountants, and auditors

A native of Virginia, Matthew brings a deep understanding of Virginia law, courts, and jury dynamics. His jury‑trial experience spans both the Eastern and Western Districts of Virginia, as well as Virginia state courts in localities including Arlington, Charlottesville, Covington, Emporia, and Richmond. In addition to his jury‑trial experience, Matthew has participated in more than 100 mediations, including over 25 federal settlement conferences. He is well‑versed in the Eastern District of Virginia’s accelerated “rocket docket” and has served as local counsel to multiple Am Law 100 firms.

Matthew has handled a wide range of complex civil matters, including breach of contract, business torts, professional malpractice, shareholder disputes, insurance recovery, and wrongful death. His practice also includes education‑law litigation, including matters under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, and Title IX, as well as defense of School Board policy authority.

Prior to law school, Matthew served as a Small Business Advisor in the United States Peace Corps in Honduras. He has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, Europe, and the Indian Subcontinent. For ABOTA, he has led comparative‑law conferences in Milan, Frankfurt, Buenos Aires, and Guadalajara.

Services

Qualifications

Education

University of Chicago Law School
J.D. 2001

University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce
B.S. 1995

Admissions

Virginia

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

Honors & Recognitions

Virginia Super Lawyers® in Civil Litigation: Defense, 2007-2019, 2024-2026

Best Lawyers in America® in Insurance Law, 2012-2026; Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants, 2026

Virginia Lawyers Weekly - Leader in the Law, 2023

"Legal Elite", Virginia Business Magazine, Civil Litigation 2019-2025

Selected to the American Board of Trial Advocates

Rated “AV®" (highest rating) Martindale-Hubbell

Benchmark Litigation’s Guide to America’s Leading Litigation Firms and Attorneys, 2008-present

Recipient of the E. Randolph Williams Award for outstanding pro bono service

Experience

First‑Chair Jury Trial Experience Highlights

First‑chair representation in a two‑week jury trial in a wrongful‑death matter arising from the tragic passing of University of Virginia lacrosse player Yeardley Love in 2010.
First‑chair representation in a week‑long jury trial on behalf of a Virginia state agency in litigation against its independent auditor arising from the auditor’s failure to identify a $1 million skimming embezzlement scheme.
First‑chair representation in a week‑long jury trial on behalf of a local Virginia School Board in a breach‑of‑contract action against an outside law firm, involving disputes over scope of representation, contract approval and terms, Virginia public policy, and application of the first‑material‑breach doctrine.
First‑chair representation in a week‑long federal jury trial in the Western District of Virginia involving a commercial dispute between suppliers in the aftermarket auto‑parts industry.
First‑chair representation in a week‑long jury trial involving liability for criminal acts of a third party on behalf of a national leader in the travel‑center industry.
First‑chair representation in a three‑day federal jury trial in the Eastern District of Virginia involving property‑damage and personal‑injury claims arising from a high‑speed vehicular collision on private premises.

Commercial, Institutional, and Government Litigation

Representation of an Am Law 100 firm in an insurance‑recovery matter under a commercial general liability policy relating to defamation claims brought by a former firm partner.
Successful litigation of federal claims on behalf of a national convenience‑store grocery distributor asserting conversion, fraud, and breach‑of‑contract claims against a large Virginia‑based retail chain.
Obtained summary judgment on behalf of the Virginia Secretary of the Commonwealth in Title VII litigation in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Virginia.
Representation of multiple School Boards in litigation defending their authority to adopt transgender‑related policies and to maintain broad access to reading materials in public school libraries.
Pioneered litigation seeking injunctive relief and recovery of attorneys’ fees against abusive advocates under Virginia’s statutory framework implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Representation of two families of victims of the 2007 Virginia Tech tragedy, successfully resolving claims through the Virginia Attorney General’s appointed special‑master process.

Appellate, Arbitration, and Advanced Proceedings

Argued dispositive motions and handled a Fourth Circuit appeal on behalf of an insurer in litigation arising from the collapse of a commercial horse‑stable complex due to excessive snowfall.
Resolved multiple international commercial disputes through arbitration, including representation of a German company in a construction dispute arising from the design and installation of high‑purity tubing at a U.S. polysilicon manufacturing facility.

Financial, Professional, and Governance Disputes

Resolved a real‑estate tax liability dispute prior to trial for a commercial manufacturer in a professional‑malpractice action against a “Big Four” accounting firm.
Representation of major financial‑services institutions and banks in consumer‑finance and mortgage‑related litigation in Virginia state and federal courts, including claims under the Truth in Lending Act (TILA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
Representation of members and owners in partnership and LLC disputes under the Virginia Limited Liability Company Act and the Virginia Nonstock Corporation Act.

Affiliations

Community

Boy Scouts of America, Troop Committee Chair, Troop Leader

Trinity United Methodist Church

YMCA, Soccer Coach

Professional

American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), National Board Member (2021-2025), Virginia Chapter President (2020), International Issues Committee Co-Chair (2025)

Defense Research Institute

Richmond Bar Association

Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys

Virginia State Bar