Eric Matzke

Trial lawyer and trusted advisor to manufacturers and business leaders

Eric Matzke is an experienced litigator who represents clients in state and federal courts throughout the United States. He serves as lead trial counsel in high-stakes, complex litigation, including matters attracting national media attention. Representing manufacturing clients as national counsel across a variety of industries — including aviation and aerospace, heavy industrial manufacturing, consumer products, recreational and commercial pool products, automotive, commercial construction, food manufacturing, agriculture and supply chain — he focuses on:

• High-stakes litigation
• Product liability litigation
• Outside general counsel support
• Product risk management
• Commercial litigation
• Contract negotiation

In addition to his experience as a litigator, clients appreciate Eric’s role as a problem solver and sounding board invested in their long-term business success. Serving as outside general counsel and a strategic legal advisor to a variety of clients, Eric manages multidisciplinary teams to address clients’ legal and business needs across a number of practice areas. This approach allows him to serve as a consistent point of contact for clients, identify the right team members with specialty expertise to assist and develop a comprehensive understanding of his client’s business to ensure the support they receive is custom-tailored to their business approach, risk tolerance and business goals.

• Representing clients in product liability lawsuits involving death and significant personal injury. Eric has defended manufacturers of motorcycles, heavy industrial machinery, mining equipment, cranes, recreational and commercial pool products, food products, aviation manufacturers and manufacturers of industrial valves, tanks and pressurized systems.
• Acts as national counsel for global manufacturers of recycling equipment, balers, dock levelers, vehicle restraints, residential and commercial pool products, warehouse equipment and forklifts.
• Working with an NFL franchise in a variety of fields, including preparation of special legislation, facility improvement and compliance, dispute resolution, accident investigation and contract negotiation.
• Representing clients across the aviation industry, including aircraft manufacturers, a major international airport and an aviation organization that hosts the largest annual airshow in the world.
• Preparing and deposing expert witnesses in a variety of technical fields, including mechanical engineering, product design, human factors, materials science, metallurgical and accident reconstruction experts.
• Advising on strategies for risk management, making products safer and other issues related to product liability, such as product design and modification, field issues, retrofits and indemnity.
• Advising on commercial disputes and negotiations, including supplier disputes, breach of contract, breach of warranty, breach of lease agreements and other commercial matters.

• Represented a vehicle manufacturer in a $50 million product liability trial in Phoenix and secured a full defense verdict.
• Represented a manufacturer in a $24 million product liability trial in California state court, resulting in a full defense verdict.
• Defended one of the largest airports in the world in federal court against alleged constitutional rights violations, resulting in a full dismissal.
• Represented a water tank manufacturer in a $12 million product liability trial in federal court in Louisiana, resulting in a defense verdict.
• Assisted TitletownTech, a technology venture fund launched by Microsoft and the Green Bay Packers, in launching multiple funds totaling $95 million and serves as chief legal advisor to TitletownTech.
• Obtained summary judgment in a federal court product liability case on behalf of a power tool manufacturer, which was affirmed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
• Advises a variety of manufacturers on commercial and supplier disputes.
• Obtained a dismissal on behalf of a mining equipment manufacturer in a traumatic brain injury case involving a portable rock crushing plant.
• Represented a manufacturer at a wrongful death trial involving a motorcycle helmet where the jury returned a defense verdict.
• Obtained a dismissal on behalf of a pump manufacturer in a wrongful death action arising from the explosion of a vertical slurry pump.
• Acts as national counsel representing manufacturers ranging from heavy industrial machinery to small consumer products and defends these manufacturers across the country in litigation.
• Represented a pro bono client in a jury trial involving a 42 U.S.C. § 1983 claim arising from alleged First Amendment retaliation.