About Matthew D.
Matthew D. Caplan earned his law degree from UCLA School of Law in 2008. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles, where he received a B.A. in Political Science in 2004. Those academic years anchored his entry into legal practice in California courts and federal jurisdictions across the state.
Early in his career he served as an associate at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP. At the firm he worked alongside litigators and corporate lawyers, gaining exposure to the rhythms of firm practice. The role placed him in large-team matters and day-to-day file management alike. He moved through the typical responsibilities of a junior lawyer, from research and drafting to courtroom preparation.
Caplan is admitted to practice in the State of California and before several federal courts. His federal admissions include the U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Southern and Central Districts of California. He is also admitted to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. Those credentials allow him to appear in both trial courts and appellate settings across the region.
Colleagues describe his courtroom presence as straightforward and prepared. He tends to approach cases by breaking complex issues into concrete questions. He emphasizes clear legal writing and thorough factual work. That practical orientation shows in how he drafts briefs and prepares witnesses. It also informs how he evaluates the risks and timing of litigation for clients and colleagues.
Outside the courtroom he has kept ties to the Los Angeles legal community where he studied and launched his career. His background in political science informs how he reads precedent and frames policy arguments. He has handled matters that required coordinated filings in multiple districts and has navigated the procedural differences among courts in California.
Today he continues to practice in California state and federal courts. His admitted jurisdictions — the four federal district courts in California and the Ninth Circuit — shape the contours of his work. He maintains a practice that concentrates on litigation matters in California state and federal courts.
