Practice areas: Securities Litigation, Business Litigation, White Collar Crimes; view more
Licensed in Texas since: 2020
Education: St. John's University School of Law
Selected to Rising Stars: 2024 Call today:
512-829-7840
Ford O’Brien Landy LLP
3700 Ranch Road 620 SouthSuite B
Austin, TX 78738 Visit website
Matthew Aaron Ford, a partner at Ford O’Brien Landy LLP, works out of their office in Austin, Texas, with exceptional litigation skills in both criminal and civil matters. With a focus on white collar criminal and regulatory defense, as well as complex civil litigation, Mr. Ford has a formidable track record in securities and cyberfraud cases. His profound understanding of federal and state law, coupled with his talent for simplifying complex legal issues into persuasive arguments, has consistently led to achieving favorable results for his clients.
Mr. Ford's dedication to his clients is evident through his notable engagements. He secured an acquittal on all counts for a CFO of a hedge fund after a grueling nine-week jury trial. His prowess in appellate advocacy is highlighted by a successful appeal to the Supreme Court of New Jersey that overturned a Spill Compensation and Control Act compensation denial. He has also achieved the dismissal of a federal indictment involving a $17 million scheme and a Securities Exchange Commission complaint alleging a $20 million securities fraud.
Prior to his current role, Mr. Ford honed his litigation skills at another law firm, where he was part of a team that obtained a favorable multimillion-dollar settlement for a multinational corporation and worked closely in arbitration resulting in a significant settlement for a former COO of an international firm. He also contributed to the dismissal of several substantial securities fraud cases.
An alumnus of The Evergreen State College with a dual focus in philosophy and economics, Mr. Ford graduated cum laude from St. John's University School of Law, where he served on the school’s law review. Admitted to practice across numerous jurisdictions, including the Supreme Court of the United States, his bar admissions span the U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York, the federal district courts of Texas, and the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd, 5th and 11th Circuits.
Practice areas
Securities Litigation, Business Litigation, Criminal Defense: White Collar, Civil Litigation: PlaintiffFocus areas
Criminal Law - Federal, Non-Compete Agreements, Trade Secret, White Collar Crime
- 50% Securities Litigation
- 20% Business Litigation
- 20% Criminal Defense: White Collar
- 10% Civil Litigation: Plaintiff
First Admitted: 2009, New York
Professional Webpage: https://www.fordobrien.com/attorney/matthew-aaron-ford/
Bar / Professional Activity
- New York
- U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit
- U.S. Supreme Court
- U.S. District Court Southern District of Texas
- U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 2nd Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
- U.S. District Court Northern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Western District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of Texas
- U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
- U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York
- Texas
Representative Clients
- Austin Community College Matthew Ford represents the Austin Community College District (“ACC”) in a breach of contract action against XL Insurance America, Inc. (“XL”) in the United States District Court of the Southern District of New York. The dispute arises from XL’s refusal to fully compensate ACC under an all-risk commercial property policy for over $11.4 million in losses sustained during Winter Storm Uri in February 2021. Despite ACC’s timely notice and documentation, XL paid only $500,000 and later offered a limited settlement of $1,105,453.95, arguing a $1,000,000 “Course of Construction” sublimit related to temperature change and construction defects. The firm contends that XL’s reliance on those provisions is legally fallible, particularly due to fallicies such as how the damaged buildings of ACC preexisted and were not under construction, and how where the pipes at ACC bursted, the damage was caused by water pressure, not temperature extremes, as covered in the sublimits. XL has denied all liability. The case is pending, and ACC seeks full indemnity plus consequential damages under New York law. , 2025
- USA v. KABILAFKAS et al A protective order was issued by the Court and this case is still in discovery. This case is pending in the Southern District of New York before Judge McMahon. Mattew Ford represents Kalistratos Kabilafkas in both a civil proceeding brought by the SEC and in a criminal proceeding conducted by the DOJ for securities fraud. The client and the Simi Valley Company is being charged with securities fraud charges, and is accused of a “pump and dump” scheme to secretly amass shares in the company and see them at prices inflated by a false advertising campaign. , 2025
Honors
- 500 LEADING LITIGATORS IN AMERICA, https://www.fordobrien.com/blog/2025/09/lawdragon-names-8-ford-obrien-landy-attorneys-to-500-leading-litigators-in-america-list/, 2025
- "Rising Stars" by Super Lawyers, Selected To "Rising Stars" by Super Lawyers: 2020 - 2023, 2024
Educational Background
- Evergreen State College, B.A. in Philosophy & Economics
White Papers
- SEC Atty Broke Shutdown Protocol With Subpoena, Suit Says, SEC Atty Broke Shutdown Protocol With Subpoena, Suit Says, 2025
Scholarly Lectures / Writings
- White-Collar Crime, Social Harm, and Punishment: A Critique and Modification of the Sixth Circuit’s Ruling in United States v. Davis (St. John’s Law Review Winter 2008)
- Kelo v. New London (NYSBA Environmental Law Journal, Winter 2005)
- Connecticut v. American Electric Power Co. (NYSBA Environmental Law Journal, Fall 2006)
- Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency (NYSBA Environmental Law Journal, Summer 2007)
- Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen's Ass'ns v. U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (NYSBA Environmental Law Journal, Winter 2008)
Office location for Matthew Aaron Ford
3700 Ranch Road 620 South
Suite B
Austin, TX 78738
Phone: 512-829-7840
Selections
- Rising Stars: 2024
