Matthew A. Lopes, Jr. serves as a Special Master for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, overseeing prison reform and compliance. In his practice as a Special Master, Mr. Lopes often confronts complex constitutional law issues relating to the Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. As a Special Master, he has assisted in the implementation of mandatory mental health screening, and the diagnosis and treatment of prisoners throughout the California prison system. Mr. Lopes is a frequent lecturer on the subject of prison reform.
In addition to his practice as a Special Master, Mr. Lopes leads the firm's Government & Legislative Strategies Team and has over 20 years of government affairs and legislative advocacy experience. Mr. Lopes possesses a unique blend of legal and analytical skills, which he employs on a daily basis as a government relations expert and Special Master. He combines legal expertise with a common sense approach to problem-solving and has a loyal and long-standing client base in the government relations area of his practice which including representing clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to closely held businesses, including the industries of health care, telecommunications, transportation, pharmaceuticals and national nonprofit agencies.
Mr. Lopes earned his J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School and his undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College, and is admitted to practice law in Rhode Island.