Matthew L. Riffee

Matt Riffee is a partner in Goodwin’s Financial Industry group and specializes in ERISA Litigation and Consumer Financial Services Enforcement and Litigation. Matt's practice focuses on ERISA and Consumer Financial Services litigation, class actions, and counseling and representing banks and financial institutions in government investigations and enforcement actions. 

He regularly litigates class actions under ERISA, and counsels ERISA-covered retirement plan sponsors and service providers concerning ERISA-related matters. He also counsels and represents financial services companies in enforcement and litigation matters concerning an array of financial services and products, including mortgages, card, and various other lending and investment products.

He joined Goodwin in 2013.

Matt has represented clients in federal and state courts throughout the United States. His work for clients includes representation of:

Consumer Financial Services 

• A national bank in an investigation brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency
• A national mortgage servicer in a lawsuit and appeal brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state attorneys general, and state financial regulator
• A national mortgage servicer in an investigation brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, state attorneys general, and state financial regulators
• Quicken Loans (nka Rocket Mortgage) in lawsuit filed against the federal government concerning the administration of the FHA loan program and defense of a False Claim Act lawsuit and investigation brought by the Department of Justice
• Representation of corporations involved in government and internal investigations relating to the False Claims Act and other alleged violations of federal and state law
• A national bank in a lawsuit alleging systemic violations of the Fair Housing Act
• A financial institution in suit brought by the Federal Housing Finance Agency involving approximately $26 billion in mortgage-backed securities that were purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
• Multiple financial institutions in putative class actions relating to mortgage loan modifications
• A financial institution in various suits brought by other financial institutions relating to the purchase of mortgage-backed securities
• Several corporations involved in government and internal investigations relating to the False Claims Act and other alleged violations of federal and state law
• Regulatory and compliance guidance to a national bank concerning its obligations under the EFTA, Regulation E, UDAAP, and other consumer financial protection statutes and rules
• Regulatory and compliance guidance concerning RESPA, TILA, UDAAP, and other consumer financial protection statutes, rules, and regulations
  

ERISA Litigation

• Numerous plan sponsors, including companies and universities, in class action lawsuits brought by 401(k) plan participants alleging violations of ERISA
• A managed account service provider in a class action lawsuit brought by participants in various 401(k) plans alleging violations of ERISA
• Financial services providers in class action lawsuits concerning services offered to 401(k) participants 
• A trustee of an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) in a lawsuit on behalf of an ESOP plan and its participants alleging violations of ERISA

Pro Bono

• A pro bono client in relation to his claim for unlawful termination resulting from his exercise of his First Amendment right
• A pro bono client seeking waiver of an alleged Social Security overpayment
• A pro bono client involved a landlord-tenant dispute and related civil action
• Pro bono clients seeking assistance in applying for U.S. citizenship

Matt was named to the "Ones to Watch" list by Best Lawyers in America 2025. Matt was named as a Recommended Lawyer in 2024 by the Legal 500 US for his work in ERISA Litigation. Matt was recognized in 2022 by The Legal 500 for his work in Commercial Lending and in 2020 for his timely and detailed client work for Goodwin’s ERISA practice.

Matt is an editor and contributor to several Goodwin publications including the:

• Consumer Finance Insights Blog, the marketplace’s first resource for real-time reporting on the latest on consumer finance regulation, litigation, and enforcement activity
• Annual Consumer Finance Year in Review, which recaps each year’s most significant developments and offers analysis and predictions on what the mortgage, credit card, student lending, credit reporting, auto lending, debt collection, TCPA, payday lending, and FinTech industries may expect in the coming year
• ERISA Litigation Update, Goodwin’s quarterly publication that shares notable developments in the industry, including important court decisions and appeals, as well as regulatory guidance