Matthew H. White

Matthew Harrington White is an associate in Goodwin’s Complex Litigation & Dispute Resolution practice and is a member of the firm’s Life Sciences Disputes and Tech FCPA & Investigations practices. His practice focuses on securities and shareholder litigation; complex commercial disputes; SEC and other government, regulatory and internal investigations; and M&A-related litigation and post-closing disputes, with a focus on the life sciences, technology and healthcare industries.

Mr. White has represented clients in a variety of civil and criminal investigations and complex commercial litigation matters in both state and federal courts and before federal and state regulators, including the DOJ, SEC, and FINRA. His clients include public and private life sciences, technology, and healthcare companies and their boards, officers, and directors, as well as financial institutions. His representations include:

• A global public pharmaceutical company, along with several officers, directors and employees, in an SEC investigation into potential insider trading. Resolved the matter favorably with the SEC issuing termination notices and declining to bring an enforcement action.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in a high-profile internal investigation concerning monetary donations from Jeffrey Epstein.
• Forensic investigation on behalf of a public cloud-based cybersecurity company relating to high-profile Solar Winds data security incident.
• A global technology company in connection with criminal investigations by the U.S. Attorney's Office and the U.S. Department of Justice, National Security Division, relating to defense contracts and allegations of visa fraud, contract fraud, and export control violations.
• Two nationwide pharmacy chains in health care fraud investigations by HHS/OIG and U.S. Attorneys’ Offices in New Jersey, the Eastern District of Michigan and the Southern District of Florida.
• A public pharmaceutical company in an arbitration before a Big Four accounting firm in a post-closing working capital dispute.
• On a pro bono basis, a defendant charged with drug conspiracy in a federal jury trial in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.
• Won dismissal of claims for breach of fiduciary duty against an investment partnership majority stockholder in connection with a go-private transaction of a web-services technology company in Delaware Court of Chancery.
• LaSalle Hotel Properties and its board of trustees in merger-related fiduciary duty litigation in Maryland state court in connection with Pebblebrook Hotel Trust’s acquisition of LaSalle.
• Life sciences companies and real estate investment trusts (REITs) in M&A-related litigation in state and federal courts.
• Public technology company in connection with SEC inquiry concerning public statements regarding company financials and trading in company stock by officers.
• A medical services company in connection with a DOJ False Claims Act investigation.
• A major pharmaceutical company in post-closing earn-out litigation in Delaware state court.
• The special committee of a mutual fund board in connection with an investment adviser’s suspension of redemptions from one of its mutual funds.
• Audit committees of life sciences companies in internal investigations related to alleged misuse of corporate funds and immigration violations.
• The demand review committee of a mutual fund board investigating a shareholder demand that alleged violations of fiduciary duties related to the fund’s investments in affiliated funds.
• Waste management companies in Massachusetts state court actions defending nuisance lawsuits and permitting for waste-to-energy facilities.
• Public pharmaceutical company responding to an SEC subpoena concerning potential insider trading.
• Parties responding to subpoenas from the Massachusetts Securities Division.
• Dozens of public and private companies in investigations by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA).
• Numerous Delaware life sciences and technology corporations in connection with stockholder requests for books and records under DGCL 220.
• On a pro bono basis, two federal prisoners serving life sentences for nonviolent drug offenses in successful petitions for clemency to the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Mr. White is a member of the Boston Bar Association and the Massachusetts LGBTQ Bar Association.

During law school, Mr. White served as a judicial intern to the Honorable Nathaniel M. Gorton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

In 2020, Mr. White gained significant trial experience during a six-month secondment with the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office, where he served as a Special Assistant District Attorney in the Woburn, Massachusetts District Court. In that capacity, he independently conducted jury and bench trials to final verdict and argued numerous dispositive and evidentiary motions.

Mr. White contributed to “A Guide To Corporate Internal Investigations,” MCLE (March 2017).