Thomas W. Matthew II

Thomas W. Matthew is a lawyer in Bailey Glasser's Corporate Practice Group where his practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, entrepreneurial transactions, energy and natural resources transactions, commercial real estate transactions, and corporate finance.

Thomas brings a litigation‑informed perspective to drafting, negotiating, and evaluating agreements. He has a practical understanding of where and why agreements break down, which drafting choices create ambiguity, and how parties attempt to exploit gaps in agreements. This perspective helps clients to anticipate risks, strengthen commercial relationships, and avoid disputes before they arise.

Before joining the firm, Thomas assisted multinational corporate clients as they navigated their involvement in Chapter 11 Bankruptcy proceedings. Thomas also represented homeowners, contractors, and entrepreneurs seeking financial redress for business losses in Virginia courts. Thomas also represented multiple clients litigating claims sounding in Sections 1 and 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

Thomas has experience helping clients to navigate complex commercial relationships, determine ownership of co-created intellectual property, and analyze the economics of technology‑driven industries. His work has spanned federal district courts, bankruptcy court, and high‑stakes arbitrations before multiple AAA arbitrators. Thomas has experience representing criminal defendants in state and federal courts in Virginia, California, and Alaska. He has represented both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal courts. 

While in law school, Thomas represented criminal defendants facing the death penalty as part of Berkeley Law’s Death Penalty Clinic, investigating and litigating clients’ state and federal habeas claims. He represented clients appearing before the California Board of Parole Hearings, successfully advising them toward demonstrating fitness for release. He also held internships with the Alameda County Public Defender in Oakland, California and the Alaska Public Defender Agency in Fairbanks, Alaska.