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Mateo de la Torre is a litigator whose practice involves civil and criminal disputes and government investigations.  He has represented clients in various sectors including finance, technology, energy, entertainment, and professional sports. Mateo has represented commercial clients in complex business disputes as plaintiffs and defendants from pretrial proceedings through appeal, and he has authored successful dispositive motions and appeals. His government-facing practice is similarly broad ranging, including enforcement actions, congressional investigations, and investigations by the DOJ, SEC, State Attorneys General, and state law enforcement authorities. 

Mateo maintains an active pro bono practice in which he has successfully represented indigent defendants facing serious criminal charges in state and federal courts.  In 2023, he represented the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation as amici curiae before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, in a case raising issues as to how a trial court should assess a potential juror's admitted explicit or implicit racial bias during jury selection.   

Before entering private practice, Mateo served as a law clerk to the Hon. Stephanie D. Thacker of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit and the Hon. Katherine Polk Failla of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

Mateo graduated magna cum laude from Cornell Law School, where he was elected Editor-in-Chief of the Cornell Law Review and served as a Lawyering Program Honors Fellow.  He was also a board member of the Latino American Law Student Association.

Full Bio

Credentials

B.A., Northern Arizona University

J.D., Cornell Law School, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif

California

New York

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Law Clerk, Hon. Katherine Polk Failla, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Law Clerk, Hon. Stephanie D. Thacker, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Appellate Litigation


2024

Close

Recognition

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Appellate Litigation


2024

Matters

Representing a private credit fund in assessing litigation strategy related to a $75 million term loan.

Representing a biotechnology company facing derivative claims stemming from a failed merger with a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

Representing a large financial institution in connection with government investigations into its ESG-related financing, investing, and advisory activity.

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Matters

Representing a private credit fund in assessing litigation strategy related to a $75 million term loan.

Representing a biotechnology company facing derivative claims stemming from a failed merger with a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

Representing a large financial institution in connection with government investigations into its ESG-related financing, investing, and advisory activity.

Representing an integrated oil and gas company in connection with government investigations related to a double-fatality at an oil refinery that the company acquired.

Defending an individual against civil securities fraud charges brought by the SEC in the Southern District of New York and a parallel class action in the District of New Jersey.

Defended a midstream natural gas company in a breach of contract action, obtaining a complete defense verdict at arbitration.

Represented a global live event and entertainment company in relation to government investigations and civil litigation stemming from a multiple-fatality incident at a music festival.

Defended a private equity and credit firm in an adversary proceeding in Delaware Bankruptcy court and obtained dismissal of all claims with prejudice.

Represented pro bono an indigent criminal defendant facing federal charges in the Southern District of New York, obtaining dismissal of all charges.

Represented pro bono an indigent criminal defendant who had pled guilty to federal charges in the Eastern District of New York; after presenting oral argument at sentencing, obtained a sentence substantially below the guidelines range.

Matters

Representing a private credit fund in assessing litigation strategy related to a $75 million term loan.

Representing a biotechnology company facing derivative claims stemming from a failed merger with a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

Representing a large financial institution in connection with government investigations into its ESG-related financing, investing, and advisory activity.

See more

Close

Matters

Representing a private credit fund in assessing litigation strategy related to a $75 million term loan.

Representing a biotechnology company facing derivative claims stemming from a failed merger with a company incorporated in the Cayman Islands.

Representing a large financial institution in connection with government investigations into its ESG-related financing, investing, and advisory activity.

Representing an integrated oil and gas company in connection with government investigations related to a double-fatality at an oil refinery that the company acquired.

Defending an individual against civil securities fraud charges brought by the SEC in the Southern District of New York and a parallel class action in the District of New Jersey.

Defended a midstream natural gas company in a breach of contract action, obtaining a complete defense verdict at arbitration.

Represented a global live event and entertainment company in relation to government investigations and civil litigation stemming from a multiple-fatality incident at a music festival.

Defended a private equity and credit firm in an adversary proceeding in Delaware Bankruptcy court and obtained dismissal of all claims with prejudice.

Represented pro bono an indigent criminal defendant facing federal charges in the Southern District of New York, obtaining dismissal of all charges.

Represented pro bono an indigent criminal defendant who had pled guilty to federal charges in the Eastern District of New York; after presenting oral argument at sentencing, obtained a sentence substantially below the guidelines range.

Credentials

B.A., Northern Arizona University

J.D., Cornell Law School, magna cum laude, Order of the Coif

California

New York

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit

U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Law Clerk, Hon. Katherine Polk Failla, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Law Clerk, Hon. Stephanie D. Thacker, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Appellate Litigation


2024

Close

Recognition

The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Appellate Litigation


2024