Matthew W. Moran
Trammell Crow Center
2001 Ross Avenue
Suite 3900
Dallas, Texas 75201
One of the best parts of my job is getting to work alongside an excellent team of lawyers at V&E to deliver great results for our clients. Matt Moran is an accomplished trial lawyer who represents plaintiffs and defendants in a wide array of complex commercial disputes. He serves as head of V&E’s Restructuring Litigation Practice Group and Co-Head of V&E’s Professional Liability practice.
Matt is highly experienced in representing debtors and creditors in bankruptcy matters, as well as defending attorneys against professional liability claims. Matt also represents financial institutions, private equity firms, and private equity portfolio companies involved in complex litigation.
A formidable advocate, Matt was drawn to a career as a litigator because he enjoys tackling new issues and finding solutions for clients both inside and outside the courtroom.
He is the recipient of multiple accolades from such sources as Chambers USA, Legal 500 U.S. and Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation.
Experience Highlights
Secured summary judgment dismissing legal malpractice suit in Dallas County State District Court; the court found that our client’s alleged conduct did not result in an invalid foreclosure and thus could not have caused any of plaintiffs’ alleged damages
Successfully defended an international bank in Dallas County State District Court in a breach of contract lawsuit brought by two hedge funds relating to various swap transactions; V&E defeated motions for summary judgment and succeeded in obtaining a partial summary judgment, after which the case settled
One of lead litigators representing four individuals in an ICDR arbitration against a private equity fund; after a full hearing on the merits, obtained a take-nothing award in favor of V&E’s clients, defeating all arguments by the private equity fund that the individuals owed millions of euros under various limited partnership agreements
Obtained a multimillion dollar (net) arbitration award on behalf of a bank client against various obligors and guarantors
(11th Cir.); (M.D. Fla.); (Bankr. M.D. Fla.); (D.D.C.) – Defended District Court litigation brought by two United Mine Workers of America funds that sought to recover Coal Act liabilities by reopening decades old bankruptcy case to argue that all Coal Act liabilities had previously been discharged; on appeal to Eleventh Circuit, obtained favorable ruling that all Coal Act liabilities had been discharged in prior bankruptcy
(Tex. Dist. – Fort Bend Cnty.) – Obtained favorable settlement on behalf of bank in lender liability lawsuit based on embezzlement by bank customer’s employee
Obtained summary judgment in the Northern District of Texas on behalf of a bank client against borrowers, and defeated attempts by borrowers to bring lender-liability counterclaims against the bank
Obtained judgment in Dallas County State District Court after a trial on behalf of a private equity fund against the principal guarantor of loans made to a radio station operating company
Defended a private equity fund in a lawsuit in the Eastern District of Texas involving claims of fraud, negligent misrepresentation, breach of fiduciary duty, tortious interference, and breach of contract
Defended a bank and its chief executive officer in a lawsuit in Ector County State District Court brought by borrowers alleging claims of fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of fiduciary duty
Represented a bank in the Northern District of Texas in prosecution of its claims against guarantors, and defended the bank against lender liability counterclaims brought by guarantors
(N.D. Tex.) — Defended a law firm and several individual lawyers against professional malpractice claims brought by a litigation trustee in the Northern District of Texas
Represented various mortgage companies and other financial institutions as both plaintiffs and defendants in numerous cases involving mortgage fraud
Part of team that defended a stock transfer agent in a case in the Northern District of Texas involving claims of fraud, negligence, and breach of fiduciary duty
Part of team that successfully defended a local church, on a pro bono basis, in a case in County Court at Law of Dallas County alleging breach of a right of first refusal
Along with other V&E attorneys, represented Energy XXI Ltd., a publicly-traded offshore energy E&P company in connection with its chapter 11 cases
Along with other V&E attorneys, represented senior secured lender in complex chapter 11 proceeding in W.D. Louisiana
Along with other V&E attorneys, represented Crusader Energy Group, Inc. and affiliates, an energy exploration and production company, as debtors in possession in their chapter 11 cases filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas
A municipal hospital district as debtor in a chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy; confirmed plan of adjustment (540 B.R. 229)
Along with members of V&E’s restructuring and reorganization section, defended a grocery store against more than $100 million of preference and fraudulent transfer claims brought in the Bankruptcy Court for the District of South Carolina by the liquidating trustee of a former affiliated grocery store
Along with members of V&E’s restructuring and reorganization section, defended a global investment banking firm in the District Court and the Bankruptcy Court for the Northern District of Texas against claims brought by a litigation trustee related to make whole payment
Along with other V&E attorneys, represented a national bank in numerous contested matters in main bankruptcy case and related adversary proceedings in the Northern District of Texas
Credentials
- University of Texas School of Law, J.D. with honors, 1997 (Order of the Coif)
- Texas A & M University, B.A. summa cum laude, 1994
- Chambers USA, Litigation: General Commercial (Dallas/Ft. Worth), 2023 and 2024
- Legal 500 U.S., Dispute Resolution: General Commercial Disputes, 2018, 2021, and 2022
- The Best Lawyers in America© (BL Rankings, LLC), Commercial Litigation (Dallas), 2024 and 2025
- Benchmark Litigation, 2025
- Euromoney’s Benchmark Litigation, “Future Star” in Texas, 2012−2018
- Selected to the Texas Rising Stars list, Super Lawyers (Thomson Reuters), 2004–2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2012
- Member: American Bar Association; Dallas Bar Association; Dallas Area Young Lawyers; Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas in recognition of pro bono legal services provided to low-income Texans, 2003–2004
- Texas
- all federal courts in Texas
- Rankings & AwardsNovember 1, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsJune 6, 2024
- Rankings & AwardsAugust 21, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 1, 2023
- Rankings & AwardsJune 16, 2022
- “Top Ten Ways to Avoid Claims and Ethical Problems,” Annual In-House Symposium 2018, April 27, 2018 (speaker)