Jeff Matura |
Jeff Matura is a founding shareholder of Barrett | Matura. His practice emphasizes commercial litigation, municipal and governmental law, cannabis law, and insurance law. He is AV-Rated by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest peer-review rating an individual lawyer can receive. He has also received the Super Lawyer designation and is recognized as a Top Rated Business Litigation Attorney in Arizona. Mr. Matura is also often hired as a mediator to help parties resolve their disputes.
In his commercial litigation practice, Mr. Matura represents private and public companies in a variety of matters, including contract disputes, fraud claims, employment issues, insurance disputes, and other business-related issues. Mr. Matura works closely with in-house counsel on all business matters, and often serves as the first person to call when a company lacks its own established in-house legal department. Mr. Matura is also the head of the firm’s cannabis law practice group. In this capacity, he advises licensed entities, dispensaries, cultivators, operators, individuals, investors, publicly-traded companies, and others regarding compliance with the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, the Adult Use Marijuana Program, and other rules and regulations regarding the medical and adult use of cannabis. He also provides counseling on mergers and acquisitions, corporate structures, contracts, policies and procedures, and licensing issues that arise with the growing, production, and sale of medical and adult use cannabis. With respect to mergers and acquisitions, Mr. Matura has advised local, national, and international clients in transactions totaling more than $1 billion. When disputes arise, Mr. Matura also handles litigation and administrative matters involving all aspects of cannabis disputes, including issues that arise with the Arizona Department of Health Services. In his municipal and governmental law practice, Mr. Matura represents towns, cities, counties, fire districts, water districts, and other special taxing districts throughout Arizona. Mr. Matura defends these municipalities against civil rights claims, employment disputes, housing matters, discrimination and retaliation claims, police enforcement issues, and other contested actions. Mr. Matura serves as the town or city attorney for several municipalities, works closely with a Town or City Manager, and often appears before a Town or City Council to provide advice on pending matters and updates on important laws. Mr. Matura also has specialized knowledge and experience regarding the Civil Rights Act, the Arizona and Federal Fair Housing Acts, reasonable accommodation requests, law enforcement disputes, and public records requests. Mr. Matura also testifies before the Arizona State Legislature to provide input on behalf of clients on proposed legislation that could impact municipalities. In his insurance law practice, Mr. Matura represents international and national life insurance companies, property and casualty companies, and other insurers. He often represents these insurers against first-party breach of contract and bad faith lawsuits, analyzes claims and medical payment issues, and advises insurers on their business needs and compliance with Arizona insurance laws. As a mediator, Mr. Matura has successfully helped parties resolve their disputes and avoid further protracted and expensive litigation. Mr. Matura has served as a mediator in a wide variety of legal disputes, including those involving contracts, tort claims, fiduciary responsibilities, and cannabis issues. Mr. Matura handles disputes from their inception through trial. He has completed numerous jury trials in federal and state courts. He has also completed more than 50 administrative trials before various regulatory and administrative bodies throughout Arizona. Mr. Matura has also presented arguments and assisted on appeals before the United States Supreme Court, the Arizona Supreme Court, the Arizona Court of Appeals, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. |
Education
Community Involvement
Honors and Awards
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Professional Memberships
Court Admissions
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Presentations
- "Medical Marijuana Concentrates Illegal in Arizona?" Article published in national industry magazine analyzing changes in Arizona law, including the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act.
- "Cannabis and Business Litigation." Presented at the U.S. Cannabis Conference to discuss how cannabis-related businesses can avoid legal disputes, litigation strategies for cannabis-related businesses, and new trends in cannabis and business law.
- "Marijuana and Workers' Compensation." Presented at national conference to discuss how state marijuana laws impact workers' compensation laws and claims for workers' compensation benefits.
- "Federal Responses to Medical Marijuana Laws." Presented to attorneys and others involved in the medical marijuana industry. Discussed the federal government's response to state medical marijuana laws, including the Controlled Substances Act and conflicting guidance from the Department of Justice, consequences under federal law for using or possessing medical marijuana, and the impact of medical marijuana laws upon state agencies that receive federal funding.
- "Interplay Between Federal and State Laws Regarding Marijuana Issues." Presented at national conference to discuss the interplay between federal law and state laws with respect to medical and recreational marijuana use."
- "Compliance with Arizona and Federal Fair Housing Acts." Presented to Town Councils, municipal employees, and other governmental representatives to ensure compliance with the Arizona and Federal Fair Housing Acts.
- “Legal and Financial Aspects of Your Cannabis Business: Best Practices.” Presented at the Southwest Cannabis Conference & Expo to discuss legal issues, trends, and best practices for individuals and businesses involved in the legal cannabis industry.
- “Title VII Discrimination – How to Avoid Workplace Claims.” Presented to employers throughout Arizona to highlight new developments in state and federal discrimination laws, and to advise employers how to avoid discrimination, harassment, and wrongful termination claims.
- “Arizona Open Meeting Laws.” Presented to fire districts, government councils, and other public bodies to review compliance with Arizona’s Open Meeting Laws, including public sessions, executive sessions, and investigations by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.
- “You Consented to What? Consent Judgments and Coverage”: Contributed to articles and presentations at the State Bar of Arizona 2002 convention to discuss how insurers can avoid liability when confronted with consent judgments
- “Presentation on Products Liability”: Presented in 2001 to pharmaceutical, medical and other product manufacturers to provide an overview of products liability law, including common theories, current trends and how to avoid litigation
- “New Developments in ERISA Law”: Three-part lecture series presented in 2000 to educate hospitals, doctors and other healthcare professionals about ERISA
- “When Will It Stop? The Use of the Death Penalty for Non-Homicide Crimes”
