Atty. Matthew T. Wakefield

Atty. Matthew T. Wakefield

Matt regularly provides counsel to employers concerning all areas of employment and labor law, including human resources decisions, union organizing, employee communications, employment and labor policies, wage and hour challenges, employee investigations, and compliance with state and federal employment and labor laws. Matt has successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements for employers throughout the United States and its territories.

Encino Encino 32 yrs experience 32 year
Call (704) 765-1469 Book Appointment

Profile Summary

About Matthew T. Wakefield at a glance

Matthew T. Wakefield is a Partner based in Encino, California, practicing at Ballard Rosenberg Golper And Savitt Llp. They have 32+ years of legal experience, licensed to practice since 1994. Their practice focuses on employment, m&a, wage & hour, and government. Admitted to practice in California (1994), District of Columbia (2009), and North Carolina United States Courts of Appeals Fourth Circuit Ninth Circuit D.C. Circuit United Stat (2010). Educated at University of San Diego School of Law (J.D., 1994) and California State University, Hayward (B.S. Business, 1984). Active member of 2013) • Collective Bargaining Challenges , Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Conference, Denver, Colorado (2010) • Labor-Management Strategies in the Economic Crisis: Allies or Adversaries in Responding to Plant Closings, RIFs, and Layoffs , O, Professional Activities Speaking Engagements • The National Labor Relations Board: A New Agenda for Union and Non-Union Workplaces , Beverly Hills Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section. Serands clients in Encino, CA and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Matt regularly provides counsel to employers concerning all areas of employment and labor law, including human resources decisions, union organizing, employee communications, employment and labor policies, wage and hour challenges, employee investigations, and compliance with state and federal employment and labor laws
  • Matt has successfully negotiated collective bargaining agreements for employers throughout the United States and its territories
  • He has successfully represented employers in over 80% of the National Labor Relations Board regions, as well as before the Board itself
  • Experience Matt has a wealth of experience navigating clients through all forms of difficult labor and employment environments, including: •Negotiating collective bargaining agreements
  • •Boycotts, corporate campaigns, media and political pressure, strikes, and other economic weapons or organized labor
  • •Arbitration of union grievances concerning employee discipline/discharges and contract interpretation disputes
  • •Discrimination and retaliation charges
  • •Labor and employment issues in asset and stock purchases/sales, including withdrawal liability and ERISA section 4204 transactions
  • •Defending unfair labor practice charges
  • •Union representation petitions and organizing campaigns
  • •Wage and hour claims
  • and •Layoffs, restructurings, employee terminations, and other sensitive human resources matters
  • Publications •California Wage and Hour Law and Litigation, Payment of Wages, Regular Rate and Overtime - California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB)(Annually updated book) •Advising California Employers and Employees, Wage and Hour Laws - California Continuing Education of the Bar (CEB) (Annually updated book) •Applying the Federal Labor-Management Law - Valley Lawyer Magazine (SFVBA) 2012 •Labor Insignia Battle Decided in San Diego - Hotel & Motel Management 2007 •Employers Must Handle Issues Before Unions Do - Hotel & Motel Management, 2006 •Flip-Flop on Weingarten Rights for Non-Union Employees - Los Angeles Daily Journal 2004 Professional Activities & Recognition Speaking Engagements •What Every Non-Labor Lawyer Needs to Know About Labor Law, Mecklenburg County Bar Annual Employment Law CLE Program (2018) •The National Labor Relations Board: Preemption, Employer Rules, and Changes under the New Administration, Los Angeles County Bar Association 37th Annual Labor & Employment Law Symposium (2017) •The National Labor Relations Board: A New Agenda for Union and Non-Union Workplaces, Beverly Hills Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section (2013) •Collective Bargaining Challenges, Hospitality Asset Managers Association (HAMA) Conference, Denver, Colorado (2010) •Labor-Management Strategies in the Economic Crisis: Allies or Adversaries in Responding to Plant Closings, RIFs, and Layoffs, OC LERA Dinner Meeting (2008) •A Full Board and a New General Counsel at the NLRB: A Future Remarkable or Predictable? 24th Annual Labor and Employment Law Conference (2006) •Strikes and Labor Disputes in the Early 21st Century, LA County Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Section Meeting (2005) •Employee Investigations, Discipline, and Terminations, Employment Law From A to Z in California (2005) Honors •Southern California Rising Star, Super Lawyers

Practice Areas Explained

Matthew T. Wakefield's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases Matthew T. Wakefield handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Employment Law

Employment lawyers represent workers in wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, wage & hour disputes, and severance negotiations.

Matthew T. Wakefield is one of 169,120 employment attorneys indexed nationally. Browse employment attorneys in California →

Mergers & Acquisitions

Matthew T. Wakefield is one of 49,731 m&a attorneys indexed nationally. Browse m&a attorneys in California →

Wage & Hour Disputes

Matthew T. Wakefield is one of 4,935 wage & hour attorneys indexed nationally. Browse wage & hour attorneys in California →

Government & Administrative Law

Attorneys for administrative law, agency hearings, government contracts, licensing, and public benefits.

Matthew T. Wakefield is one of 132,225 government attorneys indexed nationally. Browse government attorneys in California →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in California

Practicing law in California. Legal matters in California are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Encino are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate California state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in California brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in California courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional California attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Encino or all attorneys in California.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about Matthew T. Wakefield

Where is Matthew T. Wakefield's law office located?
Matthew T. Wakefield's law practice is located in Encino, California. The firm is Ballard Rosenberg Golper And Savitt Llp. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does Matthew T. Wakefield handle?
Matthew T. Wakefield focuses on employment, m&a, wage & hour, government. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in California.
How long has Matthew T. Wakefield practiced law?
Matthew T. Wakefield has 32+ years of legal experience and has been licensed since 1994.
Where did Matthew T. Wakefield go to law school?
Matthew T. Wakefield earned their education at (J.D., 1994); (B.S. Business, 1984).
How can I contact Matthew T. Wakefield for a consultation?
You can contact Matthew T. Wakefield directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.

Education

J.D.
University of San Diego School of Law
- 1994
B.S. Business
California State University, Hayward
- 1984

Bar Admissions

California
Admitted: 1994
District of Columbia
Admitted: 2009
North Carolina United States Courts of Appeals Fourth Circuit Ninth Circuit D.C. Circuit United Stat
Admitted: 2010

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