Joshua Matz is a partner at Hecker Fink LLP. Joshua works closely with clients as a strategic counselor, trial and appellate litigator, and advisor in responding to congressional and state attorney general investigations. He has litigated cases at every level of the federal judiciary and specializes in working with clients facing high stakes issues that call for comprehensive, trustworthy legal support.
Joshua’s practice features a strong focus on democracy and elections. In 2020, he successfully represented Pennsylvania in defending its certification of the presidential election results. In 2021, he secured the dismissal of a case against a non-profit—and subsequently secured sanctions—where plaintiffs asserted claims related to the 2020 election. And in 2022, he successfully represented the Governors of Wisconsin and Pennsylvania in defending their states’ congressional districting maps against challenges at the U.S Supreme Court. Alongside these litigation matters, Joshua has represented numerous clients in connection with state and congressional investigations. He has also provided state-by-state strategic and compliance advice to democracy-oriented non-profits, worked with clients to ensure their preparedness for election cycle challenges, and advised clients on questions concerning the administration and certification of elections
Joshua also maintains an active civil litigation practice—and is most often consulted when cases involve high complexity constitutional or statutory issues, or where clients seek the involvement of appellate-experienced counsel in trial-level strategic planning. He has litigated a diverse set of commercial cases, ranging from contract, fraud, and trade secrets disputes to consumer protection and sex discrimination matters. He has represented Brown and Columbia Universities in Title IX litigation. He has worked with leading businesses to shape national litigation strategies and structure cutting-edge lawsuits. And he has advised both private and public actors on litigating, appealing, and settling substantial cases.
Joshua is also an experienced defamation litigator. He was part of the legal team that successfully represented writer E. Jean Carroll in two suits against Donald Trump, securing jury verdicts of $5 million and $83.3 million. In those proceedings, Joshua successfully argued three appeals before the Second Circuit and another before the en banc D.C. Court of Appeals. He successfully obtained the dismissal of two state court brought by Rep. Devin Nunes against Liz Mair for her political criticism. And in 2020, he represented Stanford Medical School faculty who were threatened with a defamation suit for scientific criticism of policies advocated by former White House Coronavirus Advisor Dr. Scott Atlas.
In that same vein, Joshua maintains a substantial civil rights and constitutional practice. These matters have encompassed LGBTQ rights, religious liberty, freedom of speech, privacy rights, racial justice, prisoners’ rights, firearm regulation, criminal defendants’ rights, and the separation of powers. While many of these representations have involved litigation—or the filing of amicus briefs—Joshua has also worked on civil rights issues in counseling or confidential settings.
Joshua holds a JD (magna cum laude) from Harvard Law School. He clerked for Judge J. Paul Oetken (SDNY), Judge Stephen Reinhardt (Ninth Circuit), and Justice Anthony Kennedy (U.S. Supreme Court).
Updated Oct 2024
