ABOUT
Matthew Howard represents and advises bank and nonbank lenders and other financial institutions on a variety of federal and state matters, including litigation and enforcement actions arising out of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, the regulations promulgated by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and other consumer protection entities. His practice also concentrates on representing the financial services industry with respect to federal and state consumer protection laws, including the Federal Truth in Lending Act, the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and various unfair, deceptive, or abusive acts or practices (UDAP/UDAAP) statutes.
Mr. Howard also has experience representing clients in general commercial litigation, including first-party and third-party insurance contexts, such as business and property claims, commercial liability claims, construction litigation, and bad faith litigation. In addition, he has advised several insurance companies regarding their policy-based coverage obligations and extensive regulatory duties under federal and state law.
Prior to joining Ballard Spahr, Mr. Howard served as a law clerk for U.S. District Judge Richard L. Voorhees of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina. During his clerkship, Matthew also counseled Judge Voorhees as he sat by designation on multiple panels of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.
Representative Matters
Obtained a favorable published decision from the Georgia Court of Appeals on an issue of first impression concerning whether a general contractor can make a first-party claim on its subcontractors general liability insurance policy for defective workmanship occurring within the general contractors scope of work.
In a federal diversity lawsuit, obtained summary judgment against multiple national insurers for breach of their respective insurance contractsachieving a multimillion dollar collection judgment for his clients.
Negotiated a five-figure settlement against a county school board and its superintendent relating to violations of clients First Amendment/free speech rights, where client was fired by the school district for making a Facebook post on an matter of public concern.
Successfully defended against a corporate plaintiffs multimillion dollar breach of contract and bad faith claims in federal district court and before the 11th Circuit.
Judicial Clerkship
U.S. District Judge Richard L. Voorhees, Western District of North Carolina (2015-2016)
