Mathew T. Watson

Matt Watson is the chairperson of McGill’s litigation group. He has assembled a track record of success before judges, juries, and arbitrators through effective advocacy and a detailed approach to complex legal issues.

Commercial Litigation and Arbitration

Matt teams with McGill’s clients to find creative solutions to their business-related conflicts. He routinely defends and prosecutes business torts, as well as claims of fraud and breach of contract.  He has extensive experience navigating high-stakes post-acquisition disputes, special litigation committee matters, and lawsuits involving self-dealing and fiduciary misconduct by controlling stakeholders and executives in closely held companies.

Industries in which Matt has litigated or arbitrated claims include banking, construction, commercial real estate, property management, manufacturing, textiles, agriculture, mechanical systems, foodservice, long-term care, and health care.

Matt represents clients in mediation, arbitration, and before state and federal administrative agencies, trial courts, and appellate courts. He has appeared before state courts in Iowa and Nebraska, as well as the Nebraska Tax Equalization and Review Commission, the Nebraska Supreme Court, the Nebraska Court of Appeals, the United States District Courts for Nebraska, Southern District of Iowa, and Western District of Missouri, the Eighth Circuit Bankruptcy Appellate Panel, and the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Employment Litigation 

Matt also defends employers throughout the Midwest against employment discrimination charges before state and federal agencies and in court. This includes wrongful discharge, discrimination, and retaliation claims under Title VII, the ADA, the ADEA, and state fair employment practice acts.

Education

• University of Nebraska College of Law, J.D., with distinction (2006)
• University of Nebraska, B.S. (2002)

Memberships/Appointments

• Recognized, The Best Lawyers in America®, Commercial Litigation (2025, 2026)
• Fellow, Nebraska State Bar Foundation
• Fellow, Nebraska State Bar Association Leadership Academy
• Former Alternate Attorney Member, Judicial Nominating Commission for the Nebraska Court of Appeals (Third District)
• Court Appointed Special Advocate, Sarpy County CASA Program
• Member, Robert M. Spire American Inn of Court

Admissions

• Nebraska state and federal courts
• Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals

Practice Areas

• Commercial Litigation
• Employment Law