Matt is a Partner with Peacock Linder Halt & Mack LLP; his practice involves a wide range of commercial civil litigation with a focus on oil and gas, shareholder disputes, directors and officers liability and class action defence. He has appeared as counsel before all levels of Court in Alberta, as well as at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague, Netherlands.  Matt also represents clients in numerous forms of alternative dispute resolution, including arbitral proceedings, judicial dispute resolution and mediation.

Prior to joining the firm, Matt clerked for the Alberta Court of Appeal and articled with a major international law firm. In 2009, Matt obtained a graduate degree from the University of Oxford in international dispute resolution and international commercial law.

EDUCATION

• B.C.L., 2009, Wadham College, University of Oxford
• LL.B. (With Distinction), 2006, University of Alberta
• B.A. (Honours), 2001, University of Calgary,

RECOGNITIONS AND RANKINGS

• Benchmark Litigation – recognized since 2020 as a Future Star
• Best Lawyers – recognized by peers since 2018 for Corporate and Commercial Litigation
• Best Lawyers – recognized by peers since 2022 for Labour and Employment Law
• Winter Williams Prize in International Economic Law awarded by the University of Oxford, 2009
• Viscount Bennett Scholarship for postgraduate study in law awarded by the Law Society of Alberta, 2008
• Dean’s List and First Class Standing, University of Alberta Faculty of Law, 2004-2006
• National Trust Award for the highest cumulative result on examinations in Property Law, Wills and Administration, and Trusts awarded by the University of Alberta, 2006
• Lloyd W. Gardiner Memorial Prize in Trusts awarded by the University of Alberta, 2006
• Gordon Wright Q.C. Memorial Award for excellence in competitive mooting and advocacy awarded by the University of Alberta, 2006
• Honourable Clinton J. Ford Shield for winning the Clinton J. Ford moot competition, awarded by the University of Alberta, 2006

MEMBERSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES

• The Calgary Bar Association

REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE

• Acted as co-counsel for an operator in the oil and gas industry in obtaining a summary judgment award in excess of $5,000,000 in relation to unpaid processing fees.
• Acting as co-counsel in defending a senior executive in relation to multiple class action lawsuits and securities commission investigations concerning the restatement of the corporation’s financials.
• Acting as co-counsel in defending a leading oil and gas producer in relation to civil claims for secondary market misrepresentation.
• Appeared as co-counsel in a six-week trial on behalf of the plaintiff in relation to a trust dispute involving an estimated $1-billion in assets.
• Acted as co-counsel for a major Canadian university before the Alberta Court of Appeal in relation to the application of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
• Acted for an international digital payment solutions provider in a trust dispute with a domestic financial institution.
• Acted as defence counsel in relation to numerous professional negligence claims against lawyers on behalf of the Alberta Lawyers Insurance Association