Matthew S. DeAntonio

Listed in The Best Lawyers in America®      Commercial Litigation, 2021-2024   Franchise Law, 2024 Listed in WTR 1000, Silver Band, 2023 North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2019-2020, 2022 Defended a regional restaurant chain in a copyright infringement action brought by a commercial photographer. The trial court dismissed nearly all of the photographer’s claims pursuant to the statute of limitations. Represented a national home-healthcare franchisor in litigation against a franchisee who continued operations after its franchise agreement expired. The trial court first issued a temporary restraining order to allow the franchisor to enforce its repurchase rights. The trial court then issued a consent judgment prohibiting the franchisee from violating its post-expiration obligations. Defended national manufacturer in a wrongful termination dispute brought by local dealer. The trial court granted the manufacturer’s motion to compel arbitration. Defended an emerging, regional auto-service franchisor in a termination proceeding against three former franchisees. The trial court entered a preliminary injunction enjoining the franchisees from infringing the franchisor’s trademarks and violating their post-termination obligations. The case proceeded to arbitration and, at the franchisor’s request, the trial court confirmed a confidential arbitration award. Represented runoff insurer in trademark infringement action against a hedge fund with a confusingly similar name. The trial court granted partial summary judgment, finding the insurer owned valid trademarks. Following that order, the case settled on confidential terms. Represented education consulting company in trademark infringement action against national consulting company. The trial court entered a preliminary injunction enjoining the national consulting company’s use of a hashtag that was confusingly similar to our client’s trademark. Defended a national restaurant franchisor in a lawsuit brought by a local franchisee alleging breach of the franchise agreement, breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing, constructive termination, and unfair and deceptive trade practices. The trial court entered a directed verdict in favor of the franchisor, issued a declaratory judgment allowing the franchisor to terminate the franchisee, and awarded the franchisor its attorneys’ fees. The appellate court dismissed the franchisee’s appeal. Represented a national television network in a dispute with its former programming provider, which sought to declare the parties’ contractual relationship a “partnership” and to recover half of the network’s assets. The North Carolina Business Court dismissed the programmer’s claims, holding as a matter of law that there was no partnership. Represented a commercial shopping center developer in a lawsuit against the owners of its former tenant; jury returned a verdict in favor of the developer and awarded the owners $0 for their counterclaims. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed the jury verdict. Defended a large regional employer in a proposed class action lawsuit alleging systematic racial discrimination; trial court dismissed the case during the discovery phase and awarded the plaintiffs nothing. Represented a media client that filed a First Amendment challenge seeking access to court proceedings and sealed documents. Trial court ordered the proceedings to be open and the documents to be unsealed, and an appellate court affirmed the decision. Defended a contractor against claims brought by the owner of a chemical manufacturing facility who sought nearly $20 million for breach of warranty and delay damages. After a nearly year-long arbitration, the arbitrators rendered a decision in favor of the contractor.