Matthew D. Slater is a partner based in the Washington, D.C. office. Mr. Slater’s practice focuses on international investment-treaty and commercial arbitration. He also regularly represents clients in related international litigation and in a diverse range of matters in U.S. courts, including government regulatory and enforcement actions; constitutional law; commercial and securities law; and product liability litigation. Mr. Slater is also active in the firm’s pro bono practice, including pending litigation on behalf of a class of homeless people who have been denied the minimum wage for their work for evictions companies. In his international arbitration and litigation practice, Mr. Slater often represents foreign sovereign governments. Mr. Slater frequently writes and speaks on international litigation and arbitration issues. Recent publications include regular articles for The International Lawyer's annual year in review issue and authoring a chapter on the Energy Charter Treaty in Alternative Dispute Resolution in the Energy Sector, published by the Association for International Arbitration. In addition, Mr. Slater has addressed topics involving arbitration of complex energy disputes, enforcement of international arbitral awards, the Energy Charter Treaty, and investment treaty arbitration.

Mr. Slater joined the firm in 1985 and became a partner in 1992. In 1995, Mr. Slater was appointed Principal Deputy General Counsel of the Air Force, where he worked in government service until then rejoining the firm in 1999. Mr. Slater served as the Air Force’s dispute resolution specialist with responsibility for the department’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program, overseeing major litigation concerning national security information and the military and state secrets privilege, tort claims, environmental claims, major bid protests before the General Accounting Office and in the federal courts, major contract claims, and base closures. He also was responsible for a range of matters including acquisitions, civilian and military personnel law, international agreements, intelligence and law enforcement oversight, military justice, investigations, fiscal and administrative law, information and privacy law, congressional and media relations, and contractor suspension and debarment. Mr. Slater was awarded the Air Force Decoration for Exceptional Civilian Service.

Member, Members Consultative Group, Restatement Third, Project on The U.S. Law of International Commercial Arbitration, American Law Institute Former Member, ICC Task Force on Arbitration Involving States or State Entities Director, Washington Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs Trustee, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Mr. Slater received a J.D. degree, cum laude, in 1983 from the University of Chicago Law School, where he was Editor-in-Chief of The University of Chicago Law Review. He received an undergraduate degree, magna cum laude, from Harvard College in 1979. Mr. Slater served as law clerk to the late Judge Carl McGowan of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and also practiced with a plaintiffs litigation firm in Charleston, West Virginia.