Matthew D. Brown is a partner in the Cooley Litigation Department and works in the San Francisco office. He has been with the Firm since 1998.
Mr. Brown is a member of Cooley's Commercial Litigation, Class Action Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation, and White Collar & Regulatory Defense practice groups, and is Vice Chair of the Privacy and Data Protection practice group. He has extensive experience defending companies in cases presenting novel issues arising from emerging technologies and business models, including many cases involving cutting-edge privacy and data-security issues.
Mr. Brown represents clients in a wide array of cases in state and federal courts across the country, as well as in alternative dispute resolution (ADR) proceedings. He has substantial experience in all major stages of litigation, including pre-trial, trial, and appeal.
Mr. Brown also provides counseling to companies that are seeking to assess and to manage potential liability risks. For example, he has advised companies developing new digital and web-based products and services, including those that allow for distribution of user-generated content, on managing the risk of copyright liability. He has also advised companies on privacy issues associated with their products and services, and on appropriate responses to subpoenas and other requests for disclosure of user information and content. Additionally, he has advised companies on available options and strategies when company-related information or potentially defamatory commentary appears on blogs, message boards, or other websites.
Earlier in his career, as part of a Cooley-sponsored program, Mr. Brown spent several months serving as an Assistant District Attorney for the City and County of San Francisco, prosecuting criminal cases such as sexual battery, child endangerment, burglary, carrying a concealed weapon, battery, hit-and-run, and driving under the influence.
In 2009, Mr. Brown was elected to The American Law Institute (ALI).
Mr. Brown received a JD, cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1998. He received an AB from Cornell University, College of Arts and Sciences, in 1992 with a major in Philosophy and concentration in Government. He graduated with distinction and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.
