About Matthew T. Wakefield

Matt regularly provides counsel to employers concerning all areas of employment and labor law, including human resources decisions, union organizing, employee communications, employment and labor policies, wage and hour challenges, employee investigations, and compliance with state and federal employment and labor laws. Matt has successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements for employers throughout the United States and its territories. He has successfully represented employers in over 80% of the National Labor Relations Board regions, as well as before the Board itself.

Experience

Matt has a wealth of experience navigating clients through all forms of difficult labor and employment environments, including:

•Negotiating collective bargaining agreements;
•Boycotts, corporate campaigns, media and political pressure, strikes, and other economic weapons or organized labor;
•Arbitration of union grievances concerning employee discipline/discharges and contract interpretation disputes;
•Discrimination and retaliation charges;
•Labor and employment issues in asset and stock purchases/sales, including withdrawal liability and ERISA section 4204 transactions;
•Defending unfair labor practice charges;
•Union representation petitions and organizing campaigns;
•Wage and hour claims; and
•Layoffs, restructurings, employee terminations, and other sensitive human resources matters.

Publications

•California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation, Payment of Wages, Regular Rate and Overtime - California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)(Annually updated book)
•Advising California Employers and Employees, Wage and Hour Laws - California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) (Annually updated book)
•Applying the Federal Labor-Management Law - Valley Lawyer Magazine (SFVBA) 2012
•Labor Insignia Battle Decided in San Diego - Hotel & Motel Management 2007
•Employers Must Handle Issues Before Unions Do - Hotel & Motel Management, 2006
•Flip-Flop on Weingarten Rights for Non-Union Employees - Los Angeles Daily Journal 2004

Professional Activities & Recognition

Speaking Engagements

What Every Non-Labor Lawyer Needs to Know About Labor Law, Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Employment Law CLE Program (2018)
The National Labor Relations Board: Preemption, Employer Rules, and Changes under the New Administration, Los Angeles County Bar Association 37th Annual Labor & Employment Law Symposium (2017)
The National Labor Relations Board: A New Agenda for Union and Non-Union Workplaces, Beverly Hills Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section (2013)
Collective Bargaining Challenges, Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Conference, Denver, Colorado (2010)
Labor-Management Strategies in the Economic Crisis: Allies or Adversaries in Responding to Plant Closings, RIFs, and Layoffs, OC LERA Dinner Meeting (2008)
A Full Board and a New General Counsel at the NLRB: A Future Remarkable or Predictable? 24th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference (2006)
Strikes and Labor Disputes in the Early 21st Century, LA County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Meeting (2005)
Employee Investigations, Discipline, and Terminations, Employment Law From A to Z in California (2005)

Honors

Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers

 

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Services

Areas of Law

  • Labor and Employment 1
    • Wage and hour law
  • Other 5
    • Business acquisition/disposition
    • Employer advice and problem solving
    • Government agency investigations
    • Labor management relations
    • Management training

Practice Details

  • Firm Information
    Position
    Partner
    Firm Name
    Ballard Rosenberg Golper & Savitt LLP
  • Representative Cases & Transactions
    Cases
    Published Decisions: United States Court of Appeals: Venetian Casino Resort LLC v. NLRB, 793 F.3d 85 (D.C. Cir. 2015) (employer's request that police issue criminal citations to demonstrators
    block them from employer-owned sidewalk because of alleged trespass was protected under First Amendment right to petition the Government for a redress of grievances )
    National Labor Relations Board: Interstate Management Co., LLC, 369 NLRB No. 84 (2020) (upholding employer policies
    dismissing allegations that employer interrogated
    threatened employees)
    Venetian Casino Resort, LLC, 366 NLRB No. 14 (2018) (following rem
    from court of appeals, Board dismissed allegation that employer unlawfully requested police issue criminal citations to demonstrators
    block them from possible trespass on employer-owned sidewalk)
    Sheraton Universal Hotel, 350 NLRB 1114 (2007) (employer lawfully terminated a supervisor for refusing to remove a union pin from his lapel)
    W San Diego, 348 NLRB 372 (2006) (employer established special circumstances to justify ban on union insignia where guests may be present
    in the kitchen where it posed a risk of food contamination)
    Sofitel San Francisco Bay, 343 NLRB 82 (2004) (overturned a narrow election victory for union as a result of union's misleading campaign materials
    union subsequently withdrew petition)
    Holiday Inn City Center, 332 NLRB 1246 (2000) (petitioned-for unit of employees was inappropriate
    union subsequently withdrew petition)
    Service Employees Local 87 (Cresleigh Management), 324 NLRB 774 (1997) (union engaged in unlawful secondary boycott after employer established reserved entrance for contractor in dispute with union)
    Refuse Compactor Service, Inc, 322 NLRB 738 (1996) (Board denied General Counsel's motion for summary judgment on employer's answer to compliance specification)
    National Labor Relations Board General Counsel: S
    s Casino Resort Bethlehem, 2012 NLRB GCM Lexis 6 (2012) (NLRB General Counsel dismissed unfair labor practice charge challenging employer's improved benefits for non-union employees while withholding the improved benefits from newly-organized bargaining unit)
    Century Plaza Hotel & Towers, 2005 NLRB GCM Lexis 38 (2005) (NLRB General Counsel dismissed unfair labor practice charges challenging employers' use of lockout
    other aggressive bargaining tactics)
    Hilton San Diego Mission Valley, 2000 NLRB GCM Lexis 64 (2000) (NLRB General Counsel dismissed unfair labor practice charge challenging employer's h
    ling of Social Security no-match letter)
    Labor Arbitrators: Confidential Employer, 2018 BNA LA Supp. 4635848 (Dunn, 2018) (employer acted in compliance with collective bargaining agreement when it did not fill cafeteria attendant position)
    Confidential Employer, 2013 BNA LA Supp. 148362 (O'Brien, 2013) (employer did not violate seniority, scheduling, overtime, or other requirements of collective bargaining agreement in scheduling housekeeping employees)
    Hotel del Coronado, 10-2 ARB 5125 (Bordone, 2010) (employer had just cause to discharge employee who tested positive for alcohol while on duty)
    La Costa Resort
    Spa, 124 BNA LA 964 (Wormuth, 2007) (employer had the right to require restaurant servers to close their own guest checks, rather than rely upon a cashier,
    did not have to increase servers' wage rate)

Experience

  • Bar Admission & Memberships
    Admissions
    1994, California
    2009, District of Columbia
    2010, North Carolina
    United States Courts of Appeals
    Fourth Circuit
    Ninth Circuit
    D.C. Circuit
    United States District Courts
    Central District of California
    Southern District of California
    Northern District of California
    Memberships

    Professional Activities

    Speaking Engagements

    The National Labor Relations Board: A New Agenda for Union and Non-Union Workplaces, Beverly Hills Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section (2013)
    Collective Bargaining Challenges, Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Conference, Denver, Colorado (2010)
    Labor-Management Strategies in the Economic Crisis: Allies or Adversaries in Responding to Plant Closings, RIFs, and Layoffs, OC LERA Dinner Meeting (2008)
    A Full Board and a New General Counsel at the NLRB: A Future Remarkable or Predictable? 24th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference (2006)
    Strikes and Labor Disputes in the Early 21st Century, LA County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Meeting (2005)
    Employee Investigations, Discipline, and Terminations, Employment Law From A to Z in California (2005)

  • Education & Certifications
    Law School
    University of San Diego School of Law
    Class of 1994
    J.D.
    cum laude
    Other Education
    California State University, Hayward
    Class of 1984
    B.S.
    Business Administration

    Brundage & Zellman Award for Excellence in Labor Law

    Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers
    Class of 2004

    Warren Family Endowed Scholar

    Order of the Coif

    Executive Editor, San Diego Law Review
  • Personal Details & History
    Age
    Born in 1963
    Castro Valley, California, July 21, 1963

Contact Matthew T. Wakefield

Partner at Ballard Rosenberg Golper & Savitt LLP
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15760 Ventura Blvd., 18th FloorEncino, CA 91436U.S.A.

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Office Hours:
  • Monday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Tuesday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Wednesday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Thursday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Friday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Saturday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM
  • Sunday 08:00 AM - 05:30 PM

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Attorneys FAQs

  • Is this attorney admitted to the bar in more than one state?
    Yes, Matthew T. Wakefield is admitted to practice in California, District of Columbia and North Carolina.
  • Is this attorney admitted to practice in any U.S. Federal Courts?
    Matthew T. Wakefield is admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, United States District Court for the Central District of California, United States District Court for the Northern District of California and United States District Court for the Southern District of California.
  • What law school did this attorney attend?
    Matthew T. Wakefield attended University of San Diego School of Law.
  • Is this attorney listed in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers?
    Matthew T. Wakefield is listed in the Arbitration and Labor and Employment Law section of the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers.