matt.rowan@wilsonelser.com

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Matt Rowan is a civil litigation attorney with extensive statewide experience in health law, corporate litigation, oil and gas litigation, employment law, eminent domain pipeline condemnation litigation, intellectual property litigation and probate matters. Matt has tried more than 20 cases to juries and before judges in the state of Texas, argued appellate briefs before the Tenth and Twelfth Courts of Appeals in Texas, and briefed arguments to the Texas Supreme Court. Matt has significant experience in trial work, corporate governance, medical negligence litigation, personal injury defense and transportation cases. 

Matt has tried several cases involving the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), defending businesses, manufacturers, and wholesalers in product defect cases, warranty of merchantability cases, and construction defect matters. For example, he successfully defended a limousine customization company in a case involving allegations of defective lighting that caused a fire in a vehicle that injured passengers; a manufacturer of modular and movable walls against claims that their walls were improperly manufactured or installed; and a grocery store client against allegations that a gas nozzle at the attached gas station was faulty, causing the nozzle to stay open and causing injury to the consumer.

While in law school, Matt demonstrated his competitive spirit as a member of the Baylor University Mock Trial Team, placing first in the Southwest Region and third in the nation at National Trial Competition (NTC). He also was the recipient of the Evidence Award in the Baylor Practice Court in 2001 and captured top awards in two law firm–sponsored moot court competitions.

Areas of Focus

Civil Litigation
Matt leverages his extensive trial experience to represent clients and resolve claims quickly and efficiently, as he continues to grow his civil litigation practice in Texas and within the federal court system. He regularly accesses the firm’s centralized resources and firmwide talent to provide innovative and cost-effective solutions to clients’ most complex legal issues.

Commercial Litigation / Transportation
Matt defends transportation and other commercial clients in potential litigation with a continual focus on a high-quality and efficient defense. He provides clients with innovative and timely strategic counsel to help them make better-informed decisions, resolve complex legal challenges and achieve specific business goals.

    Education

    • Baylor University School of Law (J.D., 2001)
      • Fulbright & Jaworski Advocacy Award; Order of the Barristers, 1999–2001
    • Baylor University (B.A. Political Science, 1998)
      • Recipient of Four-Year National Merit Scholarship; Outstanding Student in Political Science, 1997–1998

    Bar Admissions

    • Texas

    Court Admissions

    • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
    • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Texas
    • U.S. Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of Texas

    Professional Affiliations

    • Smith County Bar Association
    • Smith County Bar Foundation
    • Texas Bar Foundation, Life Fellow
    • Texas Association of Defense Counsel
    • Leadership Tyler – Class 18, Tyler and Smith Counties, Texas
    • Board Member, Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.
    • Board Member, City of Tyler Historical Preservation Board

    Awards & Honors

    • Selected for inclusion in Texas Rising Stars, Thomson Reuters, 2009–2016
    • Outstanding Young Lawyer, Smith County, 2010

Matt Rowan

Matt Rowan is a civil litigation attorney with extensive statewide experience in health law, corporate litigation, oil and gas litigation, employment law, eminent domain pipeline condemnation litigation, intellectual property litigation and probate matters. Matt has tried more than 20 cases to juries and before judges in the state of Texas, argued appellate briefs before the Tenth and Twelfth Courts of Appeals in Texas, and briefed arguments to the Texas Supreme Court. Matt has significant experience in trial work, corporate governance, medical negligence litigation, personal injury defense and transportation cases. 

Matt has tried several cases involving the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), defending businesses, manufacturers, and wholesalers in product defect cases, warranty of merchantability cases, and construction defect matters. For example, he successfully defended a limousine customization company in a case involving allegations of defective lighting that caused a fire in a vehicle that injured passengers; a manufacturer of modular and movable walls against claims that their walls were improperly manufactured or installed; and a grocery store client against allegations that a gas nozzle at the attached gas station was faulty, causing the nozzle to stay open and causing injury to the consumer.

While in law school, Matt demonstrated his competitive spirit as a member of the Baylor University Mock Trial Team, placing first in the Southwest Region and third in the nation at National Trial Competition (NTC). He also was the recipient of the Evidence Award in the Baylor Practice Court in 2001 and captured top awards in two law firm–sponsored moot court competitions.

Matt Rowan

Rowan & Wood Successfully Defend Insured in Stipulated Liability Case

Matt Rowan (Partner-Tyler, TX) and Morgan Wood (Of Counsel-Tyler, TX) defended the insured (a farm truck driver) in a stipulated liability case involving a motor vehicle accident where the driver impacted the plaintiff’s vehicle while delivering a load of stone to a local distributor in inclement weather. The plaintiff claimed a traumatic brain injury and significant damages from the accident and alleged gross negligence. The plaintiff was demanding $7.3 million in damages.  The defense disputed the amount of damages as the evidence did not show such an extent of damage to the plaintiff, and disputed gross negligence. After a four-day trial in Denton County, Texas, wherein the plaintiff only sought non-economic damages (physical pain, mental anguish and physical impairment) in the amount of $7.3 million, the jury returned a verdict awarding only $44,500 in damages to the plaintiff (which was even less than the defense asked for in their closing argument) and denying gross negligence in full.  This was a big win for the insured.

Matt Rowan and Morgan Wood

Rowan and Wood Uphold Covenant Not to Compete

Matt Rowan (Of Counsel-Dallas, TX) and Morgan Wood (Associate-Dallas, TX) successfully defended their client, a utility line services repair company, in a lawsuit brought by a former employee for tortious interference with a contract and declaratory judgment after the employee went to work with a direct competitor in violation of the covenant not to compete. After a three-day bench trial, the court found that the covenant not to compete and nonsolicitation agreement was valid and enforceable against the former employee, that the employee had breached the agreement by going to work immediately with a direct competitor and that the subsequent firing of the plaintiff by the competitor was not due to interference by our client. The court ordered that the plaintiff take nothing from the suit and the covenant not to compete was valid and enforceable under Texas law.

Matt Rowan and Morgan Wood

Events

Matt Rowan is a civil litigation attorney with extensive statewide experience in health law, corporate litigation, oil and gas litigation, employment law, eminent domain pipeline condemnation litigation, intellectual property litigation and probate matters. Matt has tried more than 20 cases to juries and before judges in the state of Texas, argued appellate briefs before the Tenth and Twelfth Courts of Appeals in Texas, and briefed arguments to the Texas Supreme Court. Matt has significant experience in trial work, corporate governance, medical negligence litigation, personal injury defense and transportation cases. 

Matt has tried several cases involving the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA), defending businesses, manufacturers, and wholesalers in product defect cases, warranty of merchantability cases, and construction defect matters. For example, he successfully defended a limousine customization company in a case involving allegations of defective lighting that caused a fire in a vehicle that injured passengers; a manufacturer of modular and movable walls against claims that their walls were improperly manufactured or installed; and a grocery store client against allegations that a gas nozzle at the attached gas station was faulty, causing the nozzle to stay open and causing injury to the consumer.

While in law school, Matt demonstrated his competitive spirit as a member of the Baylor University Mock Trial Team, placing first in the Southwest Region and third in the nation at National Trial Competition (NTC). He also was the recipient of the Evidence Award in the Baylor Practice Court in 2001 and captured top awards in two law firm–sponsored moot court competitions.