Matthew Forsgren

Work Highlights

Business Disputes

In his commercial-litigation practice, Matt represents clients in a variety of high-stakes business disputes. He routinely defends and prosecutes claims of civil fraud and other business torts, including mass torts and class actions. Matt has extensive and unique experience in representing clients in securities-fraud matters, FINRA arbitrations, shareholder-derivative actions, and closely held corporate disputes, including in cases involving Special Litigation Committees. He represents parties in cases involving claims of misappropriation of trade secrets and confidential information, as well as non-compete and non-solicitation agreements.

Internal Investigations

Matt has unparalleled experience heading internal investigations, including in the most consequential circumstances that clients face. Representing public and private companies alike, Matt has conducted internal investigations throughout his 25-year career, and he has assembled teams of attorneys and professionals from various disciplines to handle complex assignments in such matters. He has handled a wide variety of investigations involving allegations of workplace misconduct, political and business corruption, banking violations, financial improprieties, corporate-governance deficiencies, and numerous other topics. Matt teaches principles of internal investigations at the law-school level as well as to fellow lawyers. Matt also represents individuals who are the subject of internal investigations or witnesses in such matters.

Criminal and Regulatory-Enforcement Defense

In his criminal practice, Matt has tried and obtained numerous acquittals in federal and state court. He has handled cases involving allegations of complex financial fraud and other business crimes. In addition to his success in trials, Matt has had notable success in pre-trial proceedings to secure dismissals based on legal challenges, including successful challenges to the constitutionality of criminal legislation. He also has obtained reversals of convictions in appellate courts and has been retained specifically to represent clients in contested sentencing proceedings. Matt’s defense work also has proved valuable in advising and taking action on behalf of corporate and individual victims of financial crimes, such as embezzlement scenarios.

Expert in these Jurisdictions

Matt and his firm handle cases in federal and state court in Minnesota and around the country.

Practice Areas

Business Disputes

Internal Investigations

Criminal & Regulatory-Enforcement Defense

Career

Matt Forsgren is an accomplished commercial litigator, internal investigator, and white-collar criminal defense attorney with national and international experience. For 30 years, he has represented clients in complex civil, administrative, and criminal proceedings.

Matt’s practice has included a remarkable array of high-profile and challenging cases. A skilled courtroom advocate, Matt has tried and arbitrated over 50 civil and criminal matters and conducted numerous evidentiary and injunction hearings in state and federal courts throughout the country. Inside and outside the courtroom, Matt works to achieve favorable results by immersing himself in his cases and communicating complex information in a persuasive, understandable, and engaging way.

Outside the practice of law, Matt enjoys the wilderness and nature photography. He is a long-time supporter of Liverpool Football Club and has held season tickets to Minnesota United FC since its inaugural season. Matt loves golf even if the sentiment is not mutual.

Professional Memberships

Minnesota State Bar Association

Federal Bar Association

Federal Bar Association, District of Minnesota Chapter, Board of Directors

Federal Practice Committee for the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota

National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Minnesota Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers

Publications

- Author, Hearsay Definition and Exclusionary Rule, Minnesota Courtroom Handbook (2023)

- Adjunct Professor of Law, University of St. Thomas Law School (Internal Investigations) (2014-present)

- Guest Lecturer, Mitchell Hamline School of Law (Internal Investigations) (2016-present)

- Speaker, Human Rights Advocacy at the United Nations (2017)

- Panelist, Investigations into Corporate Embezzlement, Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter (2017)

- Internal Investigations, Hennepin County Bar Association (2015)

- Moderator, The Minnesota Tobacco Litigation: Taking on Goliath, University of St. Thomas School of Law (2015)

- Keys to Successful Direct and Cross-Examination, Minnesota CLE (2014)

- Trends in Civil and Criminal Securities Enforcement, American Bar Association, Section of Litigation (2013)

- Investigative Accounting, Hennepin County Bar Association (2011)

- Fraud in the Construction Industry, seminar sponsored by Minnesota construction trade association (2009)

- Recent Developments in Anti-Money-Laundering Enforcement, seminar sponsored by Minnesota AML group (2007)

- The Outer Edge of the Envelope: Disqualification of White Collar Criminal Defense Attorneys under the Joint Defense Doctrine, 78 Minn. L. Rev. 1219 (1994) (one of 13 articles selected nationally for reprint in 1995 Crim. L. Rev. 217)

Experience

Briggs & Morgan, partner

Greene Espel, partner

Education

Awards