Matt Kaiser
Partner

mkaiser@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

“He is very reliable and is able to handle big litigations and complex matters with ease.”- Chambers USA, 2024

"Matt Kaiser is, quite simply, one of the best lawyers I know. His meticulous attention to detail, deep knowledge of complicated issues involving legal ethics, and his wonderful demeanor make him one of the most sought-after lawyers in the area."- The Legal 500

Matt Kaiser helps two kinds of clients: people who are facing a crisis that threatens their reputation, livelihood, or liberty; and lawyers, or their clients, who need counsel about issues involving professional responsibility or legal malpractice.

As a former assistant federal public defender, Matt has substantial litigation and courtroom experience. He also has substantial experience resolving cases or controversies outside of the courtroom. In both 2018 and 2019 he was named by Super Lawyers as one of the 100 top lawyers in Washington, D.C.  He has been recognized by Best Lawyers in America for his work in Ethics and Professional Responsibility, White-Collar Criminal Defense, and Civil Rights Law. He has been recognized by Chambers USA in White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Washington, DC.

Matt served for three years as the Chair of the District of Columbia Board on Professional Responsibility. He has been an adjunct professor of law at Georgetown University Law Center, where he taught professional responsibility. He consults regularly on legal ethics and professional responsibility and has lectured on the topic both locally, nationally, and internationally.

Matt is active in the legal community. Highlights include:

  • Vice-Chair, International Bar Association’s Criminal Law Committee
  • Adjunct Professor of Law, Georgetown University, 2013 to 2020
  • Member, ABA Standing Committee on the Federal Judiciary, 2018 to 2020
  • Chair and member of the District of Columbia Board on Professional Responsibility. (Member 2016-2022, Chair 2019-2022)
  • President of the Bar Association of DC, 2017-2018
  • Secretary of the D.C. Bar’s Board of Governors, 2014-2015
  • Permanent Member, Fourth Circuit Judicial Conference
  • Barrister, Edward Bennett Williams Inn of Court
  • Member, Barristers
  • Fellow, American Bar Foundation

Before founding Kaiser PLLC, Matt practiced at Williams & Connolly and Zuckerman Spaeder. After law school, he clerked for United States District Court Judge Catherine Blake.

Education
  • J.D., The Georgetown University Law Center, magna cum laude. Senior Articles Editor, The Georgetown Law Journal
  • M.A., Tulane University
  • B.A., The College of Wooster
Government Service
  • Assistant Federal Public Defender, Maryland Federal Public Defender's Office
  • Clerkship, The Honorable Catherine C. Blake, United States District Court for the District of Maryland

Matt Kaiser
Partner

mkaiser@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

Matt Kaiser Co-Authors Opinion for The Wall Street Journal: The White House Flunks a Test on Sexual Assault

Matt Kaiser
Partner

mkaiser@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

Media Coverage
Matt Kaiser Quoted In Bloomberg News Article

Matt Kaiser
Partner

mkaiser@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

What NOT to do if you’re involved in a federal criminal investigation. — Matt Kaiser

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How does immunity work in a federal criminal case? — Matt Kaiser

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Do I have to talk to a federal grand jury? — Matt Kaiser

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What are targets, subjects, and witnesses in federal investigations? — Matt Kaiser

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Can I get out of jail while my federal criminal appeal is pending? — Matt Kaiser

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What do I need in order to raise an ineffective assistance of counsel claim? — Matt Kaiser

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If I was served a federal grand jury subpoena, do I need a lawyer? — Matt Kaiser

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How long does an appeal in a federal criminal case take? — Matt Kaiser

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Should you talk to federal law enforcement as part of an investigation? — Matt Kaiser

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What are my options for challenging a federal criminal conviction? — Matt Kaiser

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What issues can you raise if you appeal federal criminal charges? — Matt Kaiser

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How Does Federal Sentencing Work? – Matt Kaiser

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Can you appeal a sentencing in a federal criminal case? — Matt Kaiser

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How do federal sentencing guidelines work in fraud cases? — Matt Kaiser

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What happens before a sentence is imposed in federal court? — Matt Kaiser

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Can you overturn a guilty verdict in a federal criminal appeal? — Matt Kaiser

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How does cooperating with federal law enforcement work? — Matt Kaiser

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How do federal conspiracy charges work? — Matt Kaiser

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I entered a guilty plea in a federal criminal case. Can I withdraw my plea? — Matt Kaiser

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What should you do if you’ve been convicted of a federal crime? — Matt Kaiser

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Do you have any advice for people facing federal criminal charges? — Matt Kaiser

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If I’m charged with a federal crime, should I plead or go to trial? — Matt Kaiser

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Will hiring a lawyer make me look guilty? – Matt Kaiser

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What happens in a federal grand jury proceeding? — Matt Kaiser

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How do sentencing guidelines work for federal crimes? — Matt Kaiser

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Should I sue my lawyer? — Matt Kaiser

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Somebody is threatening me with an embarrassing lawsuit. Do I really need a lawyer? — Matt Kaiser

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How long will a government investigation take? — Matt Kaiser

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Would a law firm I want to sue most likely want to settle, rather than go public? — Matt Kaiser

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What should I do while I’m under investigation? — Matt Kaiser

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Should I just explain what happened to the grand jury in my case? — Matt Kaiser

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Can I travel while I’m under investigation by the federal government? — Matt Kaiser

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Will fear of bad publicity pressure the other side to just settle? — Matt Kaiser

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Matt Kaiser
Partner

mkaiser@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850

Some of the matters that Mr. Kaiser has handled include:

  • Represented a key witness in the Special Counsel’s prosecution of Paul Manafort.
  • Sued the Georgia Secretary of State for violating the voting rights of Georgians.
  • Represented numerous high net worth people in discrete resolutions of varied kinds of alleged wrongdoing.
  • Represented attorneys in negotiations and litigation about law firm departures.
  • Represented lawyers and clients in fee disputes and legal malpractice litigation.
  • Represented a Congressional employee in connection with an investigation by the SEC and DOJ into possible insider trading charges on political intelligence.
  • Represented government officials in the executive and legislative branches in connection with investigations of potential. wrongdoing by the Department of Justice, Inspector General Offices, and congressional committees.
  • Represented a number of people in federal courts in connection with allegations of securities, commodities, tax, government contracting, bankruptcy, and health care fraud.
  • Served as an expert witness multiple times on varied issues of professional responsibility.

Matt Kaiser
Partner

mkaiser@kaiserlaw.com | P (202) 640-2850