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Flanagan Partners
Matthew R. Slaughter, Partner at Flanagan Partners

Partner

Matthew R. Slaughter

Overview

Matthew Slaughter is a commercial litigator and trusted outside counsel who embeds himself in his clients' operations. He works alongside executives and ownership groups to spot risk, tighten contracts, and resolve problems before they escalate, and when they do, he tries them. Licensed in both Louisiana and Alabama, he represents a growing portfolio of regional and national companies, startups, and high-net-worth individuals, serving as the first call for legal issues ranging from contract interpretation and employment matters to intellectual property, data privacy, and regulatory compliance.

His litigation practice spans complex commercial disputes, including trade-secret and trademark claims, breach-of-fiduciary-duty actions, shareholder and partnership disputes, construction litigation, and insurance-coverage matters. He regularly obtains and defends against emergency injunctive relief and handles third-party subpoena disputes.

Before private practice, he served as a law clerk to the Honorable Robert G. James and Karen L. Hayes of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana. He maintains an active pro bono practice, including representing petitioners in federal court under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, and serves as a board member and executive committee member of the Pro Bono Project.

Professional Experience

  • Trial counsel in a highly publicized multi-day jury trial in federal court, obtaining a favorable settlement mid-trial for a nonprofit association over trademark infringement and misappropriation of trade secrets claims.
  • Lead trial counsel securing complete victory in a business-divorce dispute between partners, obtaining a six-figure judgment with attorneys' fees and costs in a breach of contract action in Louisiana district court.
  • Secured a seven-figure federal court settlement on trade-secret, breach-of-contract, and unfair-trade-practices claims arising from a $1.19 billion government project.
  • Successfully represented a national franchisor in dismissal of a former CEO's quo warranto petition challenging his termination and removal from the board.
  • Defeated ad valorem tax assessments in excess of $3 million issued against a publicly traded parking-services company.
  • Obtained a court ruling to enforce all provisions of a commercial license agreement used in Louisiana and in multiple other states, including early injunctive relief to stop future license violations.
  • Lead trial counsel in securing a federal court victory for a pro bono client under the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction.
  • Successfully appealed to the Alabama Supreme Court, reversing a trial court summary judgment, and negotiated a favorable settlement following the appellate win.
  • Successfully defended and obtained a favorable settlement for a tech startup against claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and conversion in federal court.
  • Successfully obtained and defeated injunctive relief in both state and federal courts, including matters involving trade secrets, non-compete agreements, commercial contracts, and property rights.

Speaking Engagements

  • Louisiana State Bar Association, "Drones Over the Delta: Legal Considerations for Unmanned Aircraft in Louisiana" (2024)
  • Louisiana State Bar Association, "Staying Compliant in a Changing Landscape: What You Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act and Louisiana's Statutory Employer Law" (2024)
  • New Orleans Bar Association, "Direct Examinations: Getting in Critical Evidence" (2023)
  • New Orleans Bar Association, "Ethical Considerations in Navigating New Technology and Social Media" (2021 and 2022)
  • Lorman Educational Services, "How to Stop and Remove Online Counterfeiting and Infringements" (2021)
  • New Orleans Bar Association, "The Dos and Don'ts of Summer Clerkships" (2020)