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Matt Woolf

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Matt Woolf is the chair of Baker Donelson's Complex Litigation and Class Actions Group and the former chair of the New Litigator Group. He concentrates his practice on commercial disputes and insurance defense.

Featured Experience


Extensive representation of national insurance companies in class, mass, and individual first-party property claims in the wake of Hurricanes Cindy, Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.
Obtained a $3.5 million summary judgment on behalf of seven plaintiffs in securities fraud litigation.
Obtained the dismissal of a $2.9 million lawsuit arising out of the sale of securities.

Professional Biography


Mr. Woolf has considerable experience defending class and mass actions against the insurance industry, as well as administrating, managing and defending large volumes of individual claims and lawsuits over a broad geographic region.

His experience includes numerous lines of private and commercial property, life, and liability insurance, bad faith, coverage, regulatory and third-party defense. Mr. Woolf also represents clients in a wide variety of commercial litigation matters, with particular experience representing both plaintiffs and defendants in securities fraud litigation, complex corporate class and mass action litigation, and a variety of contractual, fiduciary and business tort litigation. 

  • Extensive representation of national insurance companies in class, mass, and individual first-party property claims in the wake of Hurricanes Cindy, Katrina, Rita, Gustav and Ike.
  • Obtained a $3.5 million summary judgment on behalf of seven plaintiffs in securities fraud litigation.
  • Obtained the dismissal of a $2.9 million lawsuit arising out of the sale of securities.
  • Successfully defended four lawsuits, an ICC arbitration, and two appeals to the U.S. Fourth Circuit in securing confirmation of an international arbitral award on behalf of an international petroleum company, which resulted in the dismissal of more than $100 million in claims, and ordered reimbursement to the client of over $730,000 in attorneys' fees and arbitration costs.

  • Represented a state oil company in ICC arbitration and confirmation proceedings arising out of the sale of multiple shipments of gasoline where the claims asserted exceeded $150 million.
  • Represented a state oil company in ICC arbitration and confirmation proceedings arising out of the sale of multiple shipments of crude oil and related antitrust litigation.
  • Defended a Fortune 100 retailer from company owned life insurance class actions in state and federal court.
  • Successfully defended a nationwide retail chain in an eviction lawsuit in a federal district court trial conducted via zoom, securing a judgment that eviction was not warranted. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit affirmed the judgment.

  • Represented a leading national title insurance carrier in a lawsuit filed by a local bank, alleging a title agent misappropriated escrow funds in multiple commercial transactions. Addressed claims by other insurance carriers and financial institutions.

  • Listed in Louisiana Super Lawyers in Business Litigation (2014 – 2024)
  • Listed as a Louisiana Rising Star by Louisiana Super Lawyers (2012, 2013) 
  • Listed in The Best Lawyers in America® for Commercial Litigation and Insurance Law (2013 – 2025); Insurance Litigation (2021 – 2025)
  • Named to the Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America (2024, 2025)
  • Recognized as a "Top Lawyer" by New Orleans Magazine in Insurance Law (2018, 2019, 2022 –  2024)
  • Member – Louisiana State Bar Association
  • Member – New Orleans Bar Association
  • Member – American Bar Association
    • Co-Chair of the Property Subcommittee, ABA Section of Litigation Insurance Coverage Litigation Committee
  • Member – Federal Bar Association
  • Tulane Law Review (1998 – 2000), Managing Editor (1999)
  • Co-presenter – "What to Do When Hurricanes Affect Your Business and Property: Property Insurance and Business Interruption Coverage for Hurricanes," ABA CLE Webinar (October 2017)
  • "What to Do in the Event of a Hurricane – Attending to Insurance Issues," ABA Section of Litigation Roundtable (December 2016)

Education

  • Tulane University, J.D., 2000, cum laude
  • Duke University, B.A., 1997

Admissions

  • Louisiana, 2000
  • U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Middle and Western Districts of Louisiana
  • U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals
  • U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals

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