Matthew Edling, Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy partner
Image: Jason Doiy/The Recorder
Matthew Edling, 31, partner
Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy
In his first year of practice, Edling second-chaired a trial on behalf of Santa Maria residents whose community was devastated as a result of oil field pollution in Adelhelm v. Unocal. The cases resulted in confidential settlements prior to the close of trial and the 31-year-old's clients were able to move to new homes, leaving behind their polluted neighborhood. Working in financial litigation, intellectual property, business disputes and environmental law, the 2007 UC-Hastings law school graduate also served as lead attorney and negotiated multimillion-dollar settlements for the Monterey County and the city of Ventura in actions against former Washington Mutual directors and officers and currently represents the same municipalities in litigation arising out of the Lehman Brothers collapse. His securities practice also includes some of the largest securities class actions in the country — against Freddie Mac, BP and MF Global Holdings.
Word that best describes you?
Impatient
Toughest moment in law school or as a lawyer?
Having to tell the mother of a child suffering from leukemia that our expert's test results disproved causation and that we were not going to survive summary judgment and neither she nor her son would have the opportunity to take the stand.
Most unusual hobby?
I watch Red Sox games in fast forward ... I am impatient.
A lawyer you admire?
Theo Epstein. He brought the first championship to the Boston Red Sox in 86 years and broke a curse. That is good lawyering.
Best advice you ever got?
All idols have clay feet.
Trial or deal you wish you could have worked on?
Lincoln Savings and Loan trial in 1991. I would have loved to see Joe Cotchett examine Charles Keating.
