Matthew Cohen is a counsel in the firm’s Washington, D.C. office, where he practices in the Mass Tort, Product, and Consumer Litigation and Advertising & Product Risk Management groups. Matthew’s practice focuses on litigating complex commercial, mass tort, and product-related disputes in both state and federal courts, and advising companies on consumer product compliance and enforcement issues before the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, U.S. Congress, the Federal Trade Commission, individual states, and Health Canada. In 2014, 2015, and 2016, Matthew was selected by his peers as a “Washington, D.C. Super Lawyers Rising Star” for business litigation.
Matthew counsels corporate and individual clients in complex business litigation in federal and state courts and before governmental agencies. He has extensive experience defending clients in mass tort, product liability, unfair/deceptive trade practices, trade secrets, and commercial contract disputes, among others.
In addition to his robust litigation practice, Matthew counsels clients regularly regarding compliance with consumer product safety statutes, regulations, and standards, including the Consumer Product Safety Act, Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, and Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Matthew has advised numerous companies navigate product safety reporting obligations, recalls and other corrective action plans, product safety investigations, civil penalties, internal compliance programs and trainings, FOIA requests, consumer reports filed on the CPSC’s safer products database, and other regulatory, enforcement, and litigation risk management issues stemming from consumer products. Matthew’s experience as a product safety lawyer includes representing manufacturers, importers, and retailers of many types of consumer products across many industries, including toys and other children’s products, apparel, office and school supplies, fitness equipment, boilers, electrical equipment and component parts, furniture, books, and promotional products.
Prior to joining the firm, Matthew practiced law at Mintz Levin Cohn Ferris Glovsky & Popeo, P.C. in the area of product safety, as well as general commercial litigation. Before attending law school, Matthew served as a legislative assistant at The American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), where he focused on national defense issues.
Matthew received his J.D. from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law in 2008, cum laude, and a B.A. with distinction in all subjects from Cornell University in 2003.
Affiliations
Admitted to practice: District of Columbia, New York, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
Recognitions
- JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards: a Top Author on product liability matters (2016 – 2017)
- Washington DC Super Lawyers: Rising Star – Business Litigation (2014 – 2016)
Speeches & Presentations
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"The Safety Agencies in Transition – What to Expect at FDA, CPSC, and NHTSA in the First 100 Days," Crowell & Moring Webinar
(March 30, 2017).
Presenters: Cheryl A. Falvey, John Fuson, Matthew Cohen, Scott L. Winkelman, Lauren Bell, Daniel T. Campbell, and Rebecca Baden Chaney.
Publications
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"CPSC Hears Rare Oral Argument in Zen Magnets Recall Litigation," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(June 13, 2017).
Authors: Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey, Matthew Cohen and Carolyn W. Wagner.
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"CPSC Withdraws Material Misrepresentation Claim against Michaels Stores in Shattered Vases Case," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(April 24, 2017).
Authors: Matthew Cohen, Rukiya Mohamed and Stephanie L. Crawford.
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"CPSC Announces Second Civil Penalty Of Year," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(April 14, 2017).
Authors: Cheryl A. Falvey and Matthew Cohen.
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"CPSC Acting Chair Buerkle Announces Top Priorities at Product Safety Conference," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(February 27, 2017).
Authors: Matthew Cohen and Carolyn W. Wagner.
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"Commissioner Ann Marie Buerkle Becomes Acting Chair at CPSC," Crowell & Moring's Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
(February 10, 2017).
Authors: Cheryl A. Falvey and Matthew Cohen.
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"Understanding The CPSC's Big Win Against Spectrum Brands," Law360
(December 16, 2016).
Co-Author: Matthew Cohen.
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"CPSC Civil Penalties: A Divide Along Party Lines," Law360
(June 14, 2016).
Co-Author: Matthew Cohen.
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"When Does A CPSC Late Reporting Violation First Accrue?" Law360
(May 12, 2016).
Co-Author: Matthew Cohen.
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"2 CPSC Consent Decrees Could Be Influential Outliers," Law360
(October 21, 2015).
Co-Author: Matthew Cohen.
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"Toy Safety Regulation Should Be Left To The Federal Gov't," Law360
(June 23, 2015).
Author: Matthew Cohen.
Client Alerts & Newsletters
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"CPSC Hears Rare Oral Argument in Zen Magnets Recall Litigation ,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(June 13, 2017).
Contacts: Rebecca Baden Chaney, Scott L. Winkelman, Cheryl A. Falvey, Matthew Cohen, Carolyn W. Wagner
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"Recent Happenings in Advertising & Product Risk Management – May 2017,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(May 17, 2017).
Contacts: Christopher A. Cole, Cheryl A. Falvey, John Fuson, Michelle Gillette, David Ervin, Lauren Aronson, Josh Thomas Foust, Carolyn W. Wagner, Matthew Cohen, Lauren Bell
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"Recent Happenings in Advertising & Product Risk Management – March 2017,"
Advertising & Product Risk Management Alert
(March 27, 2017).
Contacts: Christopher A. Cole, Cheryl A. Falvey, John Fuson, Michelle Gillette, David Ervin, Lauren Aronson, Josh Thomas Foust, Carolyn W. Wagner, Matthew Cohen, Lauren Bell, Brendan Sepulveda