Practice Areas
Bar Admissions
North Carolina
Education
Duke University, J.D. and LL.M., with honors, 1989; Order of the Coif; Duke Law Journal, Editor-in-Chief
Harvard College, A.B., cum laude, 1984
Profile
Matt Sawchak focuses his practice on complex litigation, antitrust and appeals. He has argued at all levels of the federal and North Carolina court systems, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
Clients often retain Matt as new or additional counsel on appeal. He has handled a number of cases with stakes greater than a billion dollars.
Matt uses strategic approaches to handle complex cases efficiently. Many cases turn on the resolution of one central issue. Matt works to identify that issue early and get it decided in the client's favor.
Before joining Robinson Bradshaw, Matt served as solicitor general of North Carolina from 2017 to 2020. He acted as lead counsel in the state's highest-stakes civil appeals. In private practice as well, Matt has handled many cases involving government agencies — both as opponents and as clients.
Matt is a thought leader on the law of unfair and deceptive trade practices. Federal and state courts have relied on his articles in this area.
Honors & Awards
- Chambers USA, antitrust, 2009-16, 2021-24; appellate, 2022-24; litigation, 2022-24
- The Best Lawyers in America, antitrust, appellate, bet-the-company litigation, commercial litigation, litigation - antitrust, 2003-25; Raleigh Litigation - Antitrust Lawyer of the Year, 2012, 2015, 2024; Raleigh Appellate Practice Lawyer of the Year, 2014, 2016, 2024; Raleigh Antitrust Law Lawyer of the Year, 2025
- North Carolina Super Lawyers, business litigation, 2006-18, 2021; appellate, 2022-24; Top 25 Raleigh Super Lawyer, 2013-17; Top 100 North Carolina Super Lawyer, 2007-17
- Business North Carolina, Legal Elite Hall of Fame, antitrust and appellate
- Benchmark Litigation, Litigation Star, 2013-16, 2022-25
- North Carolina Lawyers Weekly, Leaders in the Law Award, 2023
- North Carolina Pro Bono Honor Society, 2020-21
- Martindale-Hubbell, AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rated
Clerkships
- Law Clerk, The Honorable Clarence Thomas, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia Circuit