LEARN
MORE
LCW
Liebert Cassidy Whitmore is California’s premier labor, education, and employment law firm. We provide training, education, and legal representation to hundreds of public agencies, educational institutions and nonprofit organizations across the state of California. LCW also provides expert and cost-effective investigation services to California businesses.
WORK WITH US

Matthew Nakano

Associate
415.512.3000 | mnakano@lcw.wpxnew.riefmedia.com

Matthew Nakano advises and represents LCW’s public and private sector clients in all aspects of labor, employment and education law.

Matt has advised and represented a number of cities, counties, special districts, public school and community college districts in cases involving leave issues, employee discipline and termination, layoffs, and general personnel matters. He has defended agencies and districts against unfair labor practice charges filed under the Meyers-Milias-Brown Act (MMBA) and Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA). Matt is also experienced in advising clients on the disability interactive process, reasonable accommodations, employee grievances, investigations, employee performance improvement plans, and retirement issues.

Matt also regularly counsels independent schools, universities, and non-profit organizations on various employment and student issues, including employment agreements, employee handbooks, enrollment agreements, student and family handbooks, student discipline, student disability accommodations, wage and hour law, and employee terminations.

Professional and Community Involvement

Matt is a member of the California Council of School Attorneys (CCSA).

Recognitions

Matt was selected as a Northern California Super Lawyers’ Rising Star in 2019 and 2020.

Photo team member

Expertise

Education

JD, University of San Francisco School of Law

BS, University of Southern California

Did You Know

Matt is an avid traveler and studied abroad during law school in Budapest and Prague. Some of his most memorable travel experiences include skydiving over the Swiss Alps and climbing Mt. Fuji.

Police Officer v. City (2022) – Convinced a hearing officer to uphold a police officer’s termination for failing to take police reports and “below standards” performance evaluations on basic skills.  The Hearing Officer agreed the officer’s testimony was not credible and that he lacked the integrity to perform his job.

Employee v. Agency (2018) – Prevailed in an appeal before an arbitrator which upheld the suspension of an employee for making racist statements in the workplace and termination of an employee for chronic poor performance.

Employee v. Agency (2015) – Prevailed in an appeal before a committee of the Board of Trustees which upheld employee separation due to inability to reasonably accommodate employee.

Galos v. City of Sunnyvale (2013) – Obtained summary judgment in favor of City on Plaintiff’s claims that he was denied a reasonable accommodation of his disability and harassed based on his disability. He also claimed that he was retaliated against for complaining to the City’s Human Resources Department and the DFEH.

SEIU, Local 1021 v. County of Calaveras (2015) – Represented the County in unfair labor practice proceedings before a Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) administrative law judge. Successfully defended the County against allegations of discrimination/retaliation, interference, and failure to meet and confer in good faith relating to the County’s assignment of employees’ work site locations. The PERB ALJ determined that the County did not violate the MMBA and dismissed SEIU’s complaint and underlying unfair practice charge in its entirety.

No Publications

Connect with Matthew

MESSAGE