R. Matthew Rickman
Of Counsel
Legal Administrative Assistant Cathleen L. Lefebvre
Matthew Rickman focuses his practice in the areas of white-collar criminal defense and civil litigation.
Matt has successfully represented numerous clients at all levels of both state and federal court proceedings, from the initial stages of an investigation through trial. Drawing upon his experience as a former state prosecutor, Matt has defended individuals in Massachusetts district and superior courts on a wide range of criminal charges, including manslaughter, narcotics-related offenses, domestic abuse, major sexual offenses and rape allegations, felony motor vehicle offenses, civil rights violations, and numerous violent felonies. In federal court, Matt has represented individual professionals and corporate executives throughout criminal investigations and cases alleging health care fraud, public corruption, obstruction of justice, computer fraud, copyright infringement, and identification fraud. He has also handled multiple appellate matters before the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, the Massachusetts Court of Appeals, as well as the Court of Appeals for the First Circuit.
Matt has advised college and university students in the greater Boston area with respect to disciplinary proceedings arising out of alleged conduct violations, including undergraduate and graduate students from Harvard University, Boston University, Boston College, Northeastern University, and M.I.T. Often, Matt's representation of these students includes parallel disciplinary and criminal proceedings. Matt has also represented numerous victims in cases involving domestic abuse as well as stalking and harassment crimes, from the initial stages of an investigation and court hearings, through disposition of the underlying criminal matter.
In each year since 2011, Matt has been named a Super Lawyer by Super Lawyers, a joint publication of Boston magazine and Law & Politics. From 2006 through 2010, Matt was named a Rising Star in New England in the area of white-collar criminal defense. He is also a founder and former Co-Chair of the Boston Chapter of the American Bar Association White Collar Crime Committee Young Lawyers Subcommittee.
Prior to joining Mirick O’Connell, Matt was Counsel at Libby Hoopes Brooks & Mulvey. Matt also served as an Assistant District Attorney in Middlesex County, where he directed investigations, prosecuted a broad variety of criminal cases, in both district and superior courts, and supervised numerous other assistant district attorneys.
Bar & Court Admissions
- Massachusetts
- U.S. Court of Appeals, First Circuit
- U.S. District Court, Massachusetts
- Washington College of Law at American University JD, cum laude (1997)
- Emory University BA
- Secured a not guilty verdict for an individual client as co-counsel in a high-profile federal bribery case stemming from the nationwide “Varsity Blues” investigations.
- Secured a not guilty verdict for an individual client indicted in state Superior Court on rape and other sexual assault offenses.
- Represented a Harvard Medical School student in a federal criminal investigation involving computer fraud, copyright and trademark infringement; client was not charged.
- Successfully represented the President and CEO of a Boston-area medical device supplier in a state criminal investigation relating to computer fraud; all charges against the client were dismissed.
- Successfully represented the President of a Boston consulting firm in a federal criminal investigation involving money laundering and tax evasion; the client was not charged.
- Secured a not guilty verdict in a high-profile case for a client indicted in state Superior Court for alleged hate crimes.
- Successfully represented a Harvard Law School student in a complex Title IX disciplinary proceeding initiated by a fellow student, resulting in a Not Responsible finding for the client.
- Represented a senior corporate executive of a national pharmaceutical benefits management company in federal investigation relating to Medicare Fraud; the client was not charged.
- Successfully represented a former Lloyds of London underwriter in multiple national and international legal proceedings involving claims of reinsurance fraud and so-called "spiral" activities; the client was not charged.
- Represented the victim of a serious cyber stalking campaign by an unknown individual, resulting in a federal prosecution and lengthy prison sentence for the perpetrator.
- Obtained outright dismissals or "Pre-Trial Probation" (requiring no admission of guilt and leaving no permanent record) for clients charged in state District or Superior Court with various misdemeanor and felony offenses, including: Assault & Battery; Assault & Battery by Means of a Dangerous Weapon; Domestic Assault & Battery; Indecent Assault & Battery; Rape; Possession of a Controlled Substance (with Intent to Distribute); Operating Under the Influence; Operating to Endanger; and Illegal Possession of a Firearm.
- Co-counsel in successfully defending a national nursing home corporation against charges, brought by the Massachusetts Attorney General's Office, of involuntary manslaughter, neglect of a resident, and Medicaid fraud. This success came first in the form of a favorable decision in a preliminary appeal to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, on an issue of first impression regarding corporate criminal liability, and then later, before a jury, which returned a verdict of not guilty.
Professional / Community Affiliations
- Boston Bar Association
- American Bar Association
- Massachusetts Bar Association
- Massachusetts Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (MACDL)