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Matthew A. Fontana
Partner
Overview
Matthew Fontana represents management in complex employment and labor matters, guiding employers through workplace challenges and litigation with a solutions-oriented approach. He advises clients across industries on union relations, collective bargaining, and employment disputes, and leads litigation teams defending clients in state and federal court. Representing public and private sector organizations, including health care systems, arts and entertainment entities, large utility companies, and manufacturers, Matthew provides responsive, tailored counsel to help clients manage day-to-day issues, adapt to workplace developments, and achieve strategic objectives in both litigation and at the negotiating table.
Comprehensive Labor Relations Counsel
Matthew handles a variety of traditional labor matters for both public and private sector clients under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), Labor Management Relations Act (LMRA) and Pennsylvania’s Public Employee Relations Act (PERA). Matthew counsels clients on day-to-day labor/management issues (including union organizing and strike issues), handles grievance/arbitration issues, litigates unfair labor practice charges and Section 301 actions in federal court, and leads collective bargaining negotiations. Matthew also has Railroad Labor Act (RLA) experience representing both railroad and airline clients.
Labor Relations Leadership for Health Care Organizations
Matthew has unique experience in labor relations in the health care sector. He represents health care systems and hospitals in wide variety of labor matters including elections, unfair labor practice proceedings, and collective bargaining negotiations. Matthew is currently negotiating multiple collective bargaining agreements involving resident and fellow physicians and acute care attending physicians. He has also negotiated several nursing contracts.
Federal, State, & Local Employment Litigation and Class Actions
Matthew defends wage-and-hour class actions involving state and federal law, including misclassification cases, tip-credit cases, and cases involving preliminary and postliminary activities. He also handles a broad range of employment matters under local, state, and federal laws, including: Title VII; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA); Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA); Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA); Pennsylvania Human Relations Act (PHRA); New Jersey Law Against Discrimination (NJLAD); Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA); whistleblower laws and OSHA investigations; and restrictive covenant, noncompetition, and trade secret issues.
Personal Interests
Outside of the office, Matthew is an active tennis player and an avid cook. Matthew and his wife split their time between Philadelphia, PA and New York.
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
New York
Court Admissions
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania
U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania
Clerkships
Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, Hon. Robert J. Mellon, 2010-2011
Education
Villanova University School of Law
J.D. cum laude (2010)
University of Richmond
B.A. (2007)
Insights & Events
Latest
Insights
Other Perspectives
- What If A Union Requests For Recognition?
Republished in Workforce Management Time & Attendance Excellence, December 22, 2023 - Non-Compete Agreement: What Employers Can Learn From NLRB’s First Case
Republished in HR Legal & Compliance Excellence, August 2, 2023 - A Closer Look At New York's Non-Compete Ban
Republished in HR Legal & Compliance Excellence, July 3, 2023 - National Labor Relations Board: Severance Pay Cannot Include Condition to Waive Rights Under National Labor Relations Act
Republished in Employee Benefit Plan Review, Vol. 77, No. 4, May 2023
Firm Blog Contributions
- LaborSphere – a resource providing coverage and insights on breaking cases, recently enacted legislation and a broad range of labor issues
- Spotlight on Benefits – a blog offering practical insight on legal developments which impact benefit plans
- CPRinsights – A blog providing practical insights on legal trends affecting retailers and consumer product manufacturers and distributors
Leadership & Community
Pro Bono
Matt maintains an active pro bono practice concerning voting rights and election issues. He's part of a pro bono team representing independent voters in a voting rights case before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court challenging the state's exclusion of independents from primary elections.
Professional Associations
- American Bar Association
- Philadelphia Bar Association — Young Lawyers Division, Criminal Record Expungement & Sealing Clinic, Site Leader
Civic Activities
- Children’s Village — Board of Directors
- Center City Residence Association — Board Member
- Ballot PA — Board Member
- National Tay-Sachs & Allied Disease Association — Board Member
- Philadelphia Bar Association — City Policy Committee, Co-Chair
Honors
- Chambers USA — Pennsylvania, Labor & Employment, “Up and Coming,” 2022-25
This award is conferred by Chambers & Partners. A description of the methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- The Legal Intelligencer – Lawyers on the Fast Track, Large Firm, 2024
This award is conferred by American Lawyer Media. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
- Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2020-25
This award is conferred by Faegre Drinker. A description of the selection methodology is available here. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey.
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.