Matthew R. Koerner Counsel

Matt Koerner focuses on litigation, investigations, and disputes involving governments, white-collar matters, and technology. In both state and federal court and at both the trial and appellate level, he has worked on matters involving cryptocurrencies, Internet and app data, esports, elections, COVID-19, and asset forfeiture.

Through his government-related practice, Matt commonly represents governments and private parties in high-profile public disputes. He represents clients in litigation challenging or defending laws or governmental actions. He drafts and reviews legislation and ballot measures. And he helps private parties navigate the complexities when interacting with the government.

Through his white-collar practice, Matt frequently defends individuals and entities in criminal cases and governmental investigations. He represents clients through both state and federal criminal proceedings, including white-collar prosecutions, challenges to grand-jury proceedings, criminal sentencings, post-conviction proceedings, and forfeiture proceedings. Matt also works on governmental investigations like civil investigative demands (CIDs) and investigations by federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and the Arizona Attorney General.

Through his appellate and litigation practice, Matt represents clients in matters involving novel legal issues and appeals. He has briefed and argued cases before state and federal courts. He has worked on appellate matters—in courts around the country—involving issues of state or federal constitutional law, criminal law, contract law, property law, election law, or statutory interpretation. And he has successfully represented parties and amici in matters before numerous appellate courts, including the Arizona Court of Appeals and the Arizona Supreme Court.

Before joining Perkins Coie, Matt served as a law clerk to a U.S. district judge and a U.S. circuit judge. In those roles, he assisted with cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Third, Eighth, Ninth, and Eleventh Circuits, as well as an original jurisdiction matter before the U.S. Supreme Court. And before graduating from Duke University School of Law, Matt worked in Washington, D.C., at the DOJ, Criminal Division, Appellate Section. At Criminal Appellate, he assisted with cases before the Supreme Court and courts of appeals, including both deciding in which cases to seek further review and assisting on the merits.

Matt also maintains an active pro bono practice. He has represented a group of pretrial detainees in a class action relating to conditions of confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic.