Jordan
Matthews

Jordan Matthews, one of the preeminent entertainment litigation attorneys in the United States and recognized by the LA Times as a legal visionary and entertainment business visionary, is a business trial lawyer and litigator with broad experience in the entertainment industry and business sector. He was lead counsel against casino mogul, Steve Wynn, arising out of sexual misconduct allegations, leading to his resignation as Chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, $65 million in total fines, and his removal as an officer and executive in the gaming industry. The Nevada Gaming Control Board also changed its rules governing gaming licensees. Mr. Matthews currently serves as lead counsel on multiple matters throughout the country, litigating matters in California, Nevada, Massachusetts and Texas. He handles matters in federal and state court and also has experience handling administrative proceedings with the California Labor Commissioner. Mr. Matthews actively practices in the United States Supreme Court, has argued before the Ninth Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals and is involved in litigation covered by the Wall Street Journal, Fox News, CNN, CNBC, and the New York Times, among other publications.

 

With extensive experience in entertainment and media law, breach of contract, fraud and interference, sexual assault, employment (wrongful termination and discrimination), and business law, Mr. Matthews represents a wide range of clients including producers, directors, production companies, athletes, entrepreneurs, C-level executives and high-net-worth individuals in the entertainment industry and business sector. He is well-versed in handling bet-the-company litigation.

 

Mr. Matthews has substantial experience as a lawyer and prior executive. In 2010, he facilitated the litigation strategy regarding a breach of contract associated with $6 million in potential damages. The matter was resolved via mediation. He was also directly involved with a breach of contract matter over a multi-million-dollar international oil deal. He also has broad experience related to partnership disputes and resolution.

 

Mr. Matthews also handles corporate transactional matters, including entertainment finance and production, sports, venture capital, and corporate finance.

 

Prior to becoming a lawyer, Mr. Matthews spent nearly a decade as a film finance executive and producer. He raised the capital to fully finance his first feature film, which was then sold to a mini-major motion picture studio and licensed to various international distributors.

 

Subsequently, he managed a team of top entertainment executives and formed several slate financing arrangements with various motion picture studios. The deals were valued around $600 million. He interfaced with banking alliances regarding international closings valued in excess of $3 billion.

 

As an executive, Mr. Matthews also negotiated a $30 million prints and advertising arrangement with a publicly held company; evaluated a $15 million equity investment into a cable enterprise; and organized a 10-year lease on more than 20,000 square feet of class-A property, which included an assessment of build-out planning and scheduling.

 

Jordan is dedicated to understanding the personalized needs of his clients, while using his legal knowledge and business experience to provide comprehensive analysis and strategic advisory.

 

Practice Areas:

• Complex commercial litigation and trials
  • Entertainment and media litigation, business/complex commercial litigation, appellate litigation, antitrust litigation, real estate litigation, securities litigation, employment litigation
• Business transactions
  • Venture capital, corporate formation, outside general counsel

Representative Matters:

• Lead trial counsel in high-profile litigation matter against one of the most prominent resorts in the Nevada gaming industry and its former chief executive officer. The matter was litigated in various forums (including the U.S. Supreme Court, the Ninth Circuit; District Court; and Eighth Judicial District, Clark County, Nevada), involved investigations by gaming commissions in Nevada and Massachusetts, and led to a record $65 million-dollars in total fines.
• Represented a corporation and its chief executive officer against the plaintiff company’s former chief operating officer and successfully obtained a permanent injunction within days of trial. The matter concerned claims for trade secret misappropriation, fraud, conversion and injunctive relief and was litigated in Central District California.
• Co-lead trial counsel in civil RICO litigation arising out of alleged bribery scheme and gaming licenses for Wynn Resorts’ casino, Encore Boston Harbor.
• Co-lead trial counsel in international antitrust matter related to tariffs passed on imports of Spanish olives through findings from the International Trade Commission and Department of Commerce; and obtained favorable settlement within days of trial.
• Represented a business partner in a dispute over ownership in several multi-million-dollar commercial real estate properties; and won an arbitration award on virtually all claims.
• Represented high-profile CEO in litigation against hedge fund and obtained favorable settlement within days of trial.
• Represented and defended high-profile CEO in litigation against a former employee and won full dismissal at the pleadings stage.
• Represented and defended former executive against employment claims and won full dismissal after an evidentiary hearing.
• Represented employee in claims against former employer and secured favorable settlement after issuing a demand letter.
• Represented company in a mid-six figure dispute, defeating the defendant’s efforts to obtain a protective order on an emergency basis, and secured a favorable settlement after issuing crucial discovery requests.
• Represented partner in a business dispute, prevailing on all claims and secured a complete victory on a motion for attorneys’ fees.
• Represented an entrepreneur in a fraud action in the Central District of California, securing a judgment, where the client was awarded punitive damages equal to one hundred percent of the compensatory damages award.
• Represented and defended a well-known developer against former real estate broker in an arbitration and won full dismissal of claims.
• Represented a well-known marketing agency in claims against high-profile tequila company backed by A-list celebrity and secured a favorable settlement after issuing a demand letter.
• Represented reality television star against producers and successfully defeated producers’ efforts to dismiss claims.
• Represent producer of various critically acclaimed films in dispute with production company in connection with a high-profile film release, resulting in favorable settlement.
• Represent conservator of renowned entertainer’s estate in high-profile litigation against former manager.
• Represented entertainment executive in dispute against celebrity-backed technology company, obtaining a favorable settlement after filing a complaint.
• Represented production company in a fee dispute concerning the release of a high-profile film, and issued a response letter to the claimant resulting in the claim being dropped.
• Represent investor in dispute with production company over release of an A-list film, obtaining a favorable settlement after issuing a demand letter.
• Secured full recovery for a client in a dispute with an agency over commissions arising from multiple A-list film projects.
• Won unanimous jury verdict with the jury returning a favorable decision within hours of completing closing arguments.
• Secured multi-seven figure settlement for a client in a dispute with a top-level executive of a large public company.

• Selected, LA Times, Business of Law Legal Visionary, 2023
• Selected, LA Times’ The Envelope Magazine, Entertainment Business Legal Visionary, 2024
• Selected, LA Times, Consumer Attorney of Southern California Legal Visionary, 2024
• Selected, LA Times, Business of Law Legal Visionary, 2024
• Selected, LA Times, Law Firm Visionary, 2025

Publications:

• Quoted at law360.com on January 1, 2025 in the article On Tap In NY: Diddy, Trump, And A New Manhattan Top Cop
• ‘Supernatural’ & ’13 Reasons Why’ Actor Mark Pellegrino To Lead Series ‘A Motel’, Deadline Hollywood, Andreas Wiseman, May 29, 2024
• Quoted at law360.com on July 28, 2023 in the article Wynn Quits Nev. Gambling Industry After ‘Me Too’ Claims
• Quoted at CBS’ KLAS-TV on July 27, 2023 in the article Wynn manicurist’s lawyers pleased with $10 million fine against former casino mogul
• Quoted at law360.com on April 13, 2023 in the article Ex-Wynn Resorts Worker Seeks High Court Look at RICO Row 
• Quoted at US Bets on December 7, 2022 in the article Attorneys Clash On ‘Improper Influence’ Claims in Appeal Of RICO Charges Against Steve Wynn
• Quoted at Las Vegas Review-Journal on December 6, 2022 in the article Appeals court hears former Wynn salon manager’s suit against Steve Wynn
• Author, Failure: When You Have Nothing You Have Everything, New Degree Press, November 10, 2022.
• Quoted at Las Vegas Review-Journal on October 4, 2022 in the article Appeals court to hear racketeering complaint against Steve Wynn
• Quoted at Gambling Insider on July 21, 2022 in the article Exclusive — Jordan Matthews: Steve Wynn allegedly used “improper influence” from China to lobby Donald Trump
• Quoted at The Wrap on May 20, 2021 in the article HFPA Members Suggest Suing Attorneys for ‘Damaging Advice’ to Golden Globes Group
• Quoted at The Wrap on May 11, 2021 in the article What’s Next for the Canceled Golden Globes and Can the HFPA Recover?
• Quoted at law360.com on March 30, 2021 in the article Wynn Resorts, Ex-Counsel Try To Sink Bribery Case
• Quoted at law360.com on February 5, 2021 in the article Why an ExxonMobil-Chevron Merger Isn’t Unthinkable
• Wynn whistleblower argues she can’t get a fair shake in court, CNBC.com, March 11, 2020
• Quoted at law360.com on February 12, 2020 in the article Dead Razor Deal Shows Need For Precise Termination Clauses
• Quoted at washingtonpost.com on October 16, 2019 in the article Of course Jennifer Aniston joined Instagram and it probably wasn’t just to gift you ‘Friends’ selfies
• Quoted at latimes.com on September 29, 2019 in the article California has a new law for contract workers. But many businesses aren’t ready for change
• Quoted at law360.com on August 14, 2019 in the article CBS-Viacom Merger May See Challenges From Unlikely Places
• Quoted at latimes.com on August 13, 2019 in the article The Viacom-CBS dust has settled. But who is Shari Redstone?
• Quoted at latimes.com on August 13, 2019 in the article CBS and Viacom agree to merge, reuniting in $12-billion deal
• Disney/Fox Merger: Can The Plethora Of Profit Participation Litigation Be Mitigated Through The Threat Of Punitive Damages?, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property E-Publication, Volume 5, Number 1, Spring 2018
• Film Piracy: Surfing the Internet for Free Content Provides Little Bounty for the Collective Economy, Journal of Business, Entrepreneurship and the Law, Vol. X, Spring 2017
• Can the Implied Covenant of Good Faith Be Altered by Bargained for Discretion? A Historical Analysis and Modern Application, Los Angeles County Bar Association, Entertainment Law and Intellectual Property E-Publication, Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2016

• Association of Business Trial Lawyers
• California Lawyers Association — Litigation Section