Mathew J. Vande Wydeven

Mathew J. Vande Wydeven (“Matt”) is a Senior Associate practicing within the firm’s civil litigation, business and employment practices. Matt is a former partner of Wise Pearce Yocis & Smith, a civil litigation firm in Long Beach, California.

In 1985, Matt graduated as an Alumni Scholar from U.C.L.A. with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Economics. In 1988, Matt received his Juris Doctorate from Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. He is admitted to practice in all courts of the State of California; the United States District Court for the Central, Southern, Northern and Eastern Districts of California; and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2005, Matt was admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.

Matt has over twenty years of experience defending personal injury and wrongful death claims. He has been responsible for handling all aspects of civil cases from their inception through and including trial. He has successfully defended numerous cases involving tort liability in the hospitality, retail, cruise-line and construction industries. Over the years, he has handled many personal injury/products liability claims involving gas-fired appliance, materials handling equipment, construction machinery and safety equipment. He has defended numerous automobile, bus and truck accident cases. Matt has also defended employers in employment/wrongful termination cases, Labor Code §132a claims, DFEH/EEOC complaints and wage claims.

Matt has experience with accident investigation, civil discovery, depositions and law and motion. He has conducted and/or participated in numerous arbitrations and mediations, often in high-stakes cases. He has served as both lead and assistant counsel in court and jury trials.

Matt is a member of the Association of Southern California Defense Counsel; Los Angeles, Long Beach and Orange County Bar Associations; and the Joseph A. Ball/Clarence S. Hunt Inn of Court. He is a member of the Torts and Insurance Practice Section of the American Bar Association.

In addition to practicing law, Matt has served as a volunteer arbitrator, mediator and CRASH Settlement Officer for the Los Angeles Superior Court. He has been pro bono counsel to the Junior League of Long Beach, and has served as a hearing officer for the City of Long Beach. He was formerly on the Board of Governors of the Long Beach Bar Association where he served as Scholarship Committee Chair.