Perspectiva General

Matthew J. Hank defends employers in, and counsels employers concerning, wage-and-hour class actions, discrimination and harassment cases, and actions regarding trade secrets and covenants not to compete. He approaches each matter with the judgment formed by over 16 years of employment practice and with the discipline he honed as both a lawyer and an Army officer.

Representative cases include these:

  • Joseph v. Quality Dining, Inc., 244 F. Supp. 3d 467 (E.D. Pa. 2017) and Cicero v. Quality Dining, Inc., No. 1–16–cv–05806, 2017 WL 1217132 (D.N.J., Apr. 03, 2017). Lead defense counsel for the employer in two hybrid collective and class actions regarding whether expediters could be in a valid tip pool under federal and state wage law. Successfully dismissed both lawsuits without prejudice to individual arbitration following removal (Joseph) and transfer of venue (Cicero).
  • Dickerson v. KeyPoint Government Solutions, Inc., No. 16–657, 2017 WL 5755099 (D. Del. Nov. 28, 2017). Lead counsel for the employer in case involving various theories of discrimination and common-law claims. Won summary judgment on the ground that plaintiff lacked evidence to support any of these theories.
  • Mazarki v. Bright Horizons Children’s Centers LLC, No. 3:16-1885, 2018 WL 3207379 (M.D. Pa. June 29, 2018). Lead counsel for the employer in an age-discrimination case. Won summary judgment on the ground that plaintiff lacked evidence of pretext.

Matthew has counseled employers on how to:

  • use payroll debit cards in compliance with state and federal law
  • reduce exposure to misclassification claims
  • reduce exposure to class actions
  • structure noncompetes and other post-employment restrictions

Previously, Matthew served as a law clerk for the Hon. Daniel Manion, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, and for the Hon. Paul V. Gadola, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.

Afiliaciones Profesionales y Comunitarias

Member

Executive Committee, Labor and Employment Group

Federalist Society

President

Philadelphia Lawyers Chapter

Federalist Society

Reconocimiento

Named, Rising Star in Employment Litigation

Pennsylvania

Super Lawyers

2008, 2010, and 2011

Recipient, Jacob Burns Award for Appellate Advocacy

Recipient, Minerva and Emil V. Novak Prize in Government and Law

News, Analysis & Press

Employers Paying Wages With Debit Cards Save Money But May Face Legal Hurdles

Bloomberg BNA Daily Labor Report

October 16, 2015

Recent Decision Provides Roadmap for Remedying Late CAFA Notices

Bloomberg BNA Class Action Litigation Report

May 10, 2013

FLSA Class Nixed In ManorCare Meal Break Suit

Law360.com

February 1, 2013

Speaking Engagements

Preparing the Groundwork to Enforce Non-Competes

ACC Webinar - Employment & Labor CLE Institute

February 23, 2021

Writing, Introducing and Enforcing Arbitration Agreements in Employment

Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA

April 2017

Implementing the New Overtime Rule - July 20, 2016

Philadelphia, PA

July 20, 2016

Implementing the New Overtime Rule - July 13, 2016

Philadelphia, PA

July 13, 2016

Age Discrimination: Understanding the Basics, Complying with the Law, and Knowing What To Do When You’ve Been Sued

Pennsylvania Bar Institute, Philadelphia, PA

April 2016

DOL’s Proposed Changes to the White Collar Regulations: What Should Employers Do Now?

Philadelphia, PA

July 21, 2015

Employee or Not? Independent Contractors and Interns

Association of Corporate Counsel, Greater Philadelphia Delaware Valley Chapter

February 12, 2015

Who's an Employee? Independent Contractors, Interns, Volunteers, and Intra-Corporate Transfers

Philadelphia, PA

September 25, 2013

Ethical Dilemmas for Corporate Counsel

Association of Corporate Counsel, Delaware Valley (DELVACCA) Chapter, Philadelphia, PA

August 8, 2013

Preparing The Groundwork To Enforce Non-competes

Philadelphia, PA

September 13, 2012

Drafting Restrictive Covenant Agreements

Pennsylvania Bar Institute

December 12, 2011

Post-Employment Restrictions and Protection of Trade Secrets in the New Economy: What You Need to Know

17th Annual Employment Law Institute - Pennsylvania Bar Institute

April 27, 2011

GINA: Everything You Wanted to Know But Were Afraid to Ask

Association of Corporate Counsel, Delaware Valley Chapter

April 7, 2011

Educación

  • J.D., George Washington University Law School, 2000With Honors
  • B.A., Lafayette College, 1993cum laude

Admisión de la barra

Pennsylvania
New Jersey

Cortes

  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 3rd Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 4th Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit
  • Pennsylvania Supreme Court
  • Superior Court of Pennsylvania
  • Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Middle District of Pennsylvania