As partner at Ford O'Brien Landy LLP, Matthew Aaron Ford litigates a wide variety of criminal and civil matters with an emphasis on white-collar criminal and regulatory defense as well as complex civil litigation, including securities and cyber-fraud matters.
Ford relies on a deep knowledge of both federal and state law along with an ability to distill intricate legal concepts into clear, powerful arguments to assist clients in obtaining the most favorable outcome possible.
Lawdragon Honors
| Honor | Year | Practice |
|---|---|---|
| The 2026 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2026 | White Collar, Investigations, Complex Civil Litigation |
| The 2025 Lawdragon 500 Leading Litigators in America | 2025 | White Collar, Investigations, Complex Civil Litigation |
Select Engagements:
- After nine-week jury trial, acquittal on all counts for Chief Financial Officer of hedge fund indicted on five counts of securities, investment adviser, and wire fraud.
- Successful appeal and reversal by New Jersey Supreme Court of administrative law judge denial of compensation under Spill Fund Act.
- Dismissal of a federal indictment charging a $17 million pump and dump scheme.
- Dismissal with prejudice of an SEC complaint alleging a $20 million securities fraud.
- Obtained vacatur by Second Circuit Court of Appeals of more than $7 million disgorgement award against CEO of public company accused by SEC of misappropriation of funds raised through private offerings
- Dismissal of federal securities fraud indictment charging retail trader and eight co-defendants with $114 million social media “pump and dump” conspiracy.
- Representation of individual accused of $147 million health care fraud and anti-kick back conspiracy.
- Representation of individual in SEC action accused of $229 million securities fraud in connection with real estate development projects funded in connection with EB-5 immigration program.
- Representation of a multi-billion-dollar company investigating and responding to multiple cyber-fraud incidents and CFAA violations.
- Representation of large institutional investors seeking to recover tens of millions of dollars of lost investments resulting from breaches of fiduciary duty and other civil breaches by real estate LLC manager.
- Representation of fund managers in SEC action alleging $17 million energy fund fraud and violations of Investment Advisers Act.
- Representation of founder, owner, and CEO of foreign broker-dealer in SEC action alleging unlawful solicitation of U.S. customers.
- Representation of fund CEO in SEC action alleging participation in an unlawful microcap scheme generating over $27 million in stock sales.
- Obtained vacatur of $4 million judgment based on claims of alleged securities fraud.