Matthew L. Vicari is a Member of the firm and Chair of the firm’s White Collar Practice Group including Government Investigations, Criminal Law and Fraud & Embezzlement Recovery Practice Groups.  His practice is focused on representing business entities, executives, healthcare, medical and other professionals, and other individuals in commercial and complex civil disputes, as well as criminal and investigatory matters involving a wide range of corporate, government and individual crimes. He also is experienced in alternative dispute resolution including arbitration and mediation.

Commercial Disputes and Litigation

Mr. Vicari represents business owners, shareholders, sales representatives, tradespersons, siblings, and other individuals involved in business related disputes.  As an example, Mr. Vicari has extensive experience resolving shareholder suppression, unfair competition, non-compete agreement and trade secret/confidentiality claims.  He has represented companies and brokerage firms seeking to protect their trade secrets and other intellectual capital as a result of employee departures.  In other matters, he has sought injunctive relief or enforcement of non-compete and confidentiality agreements.  In one case, Mr. Vicari represented a material handling company alleged to have raided employees and unfairly interfered with a competitor.  In other cases, Mr. Vicari represented a food service company against a state agency involving a truck regulatory matter and a minority shareholder in a suppression lawsuit.

Mr. Vicari is Chairperson of the firm’s Fraud and Embezzlement Recovery Practice Group which specializes in investigating financial fraud by employees, third parties, vendors, and other insiders. Mr. Vicari also represents employers and other organizations in lawsuits involving claims of harassment, retaliation, whistleblowers, and intentional injury, as well as companies and individuals in a wide array of regulatory, antitrust, grand jury and other federal and state investigations and criminal matters.  He also represents companies, school districts and municipalities conducting investigations concerning fraud, compliance with internal policies and procedures, and related matters.

Mr. Vicari has experience in representing businesses and health care and other organizations that contract work with the government against false claims of fraud.  Mr. Vicari represented and successfully defended a national retailer in a class action and qui tam case brought by various relators alleging that national pharmacies were retaining savings in the sale of generic drugs that should have been passed on to consumers.  The case involved allegations of violations of the Health Care False Claim Act and the Medicaid False Claim Act. The case began in circuit court and worked its way through the court system until it was ultimately decided by the Michigan Supreme Court in favor of the national retailers.

Mr. Vicari also represents employers and individuals in matters of privacy and cybersecurity involving investigations and litigation related to potential information loss and data breaches.  His experience with government agencies and processes is valuable in prevention and response protocols.

Professional Affiliations, Activities and Honors

Mr. Vicari is a member of the University of Detroit Mercy Law School Alumni Board of Directors. He is a former trustee and was the President of the Grand Rapids Bar Association for the 2008-2009 term.  He is past President of the Gerald R. Ford Chapter of the American Inns of Court.  He previously served on the Legal Aid of West Michigan Advisory Committee, and is a member of the Federal Bar Association; the American Bar Association; the State Bar of Michigan; and the Catholic Lawyers Association of Western Michigan, where he is a Past President.  He also is a member of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.  He serves as the chair of Miller Johnson’s Mentor/Mentee program and is former chair of Miller Johnson’s litigation section.  Mr. Vicari has also been a faculty member with the Hillman Advocacy Program for the U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan.

Mr. Vicari was the recipient of the President’s Award from the Grand Rapids Bar Association (GRBA) in 2010. He is listed in Best Lawyers in America for General Commercial Litigation as well as Personal Injury Litigation. He is also recognized as a Super Lawyer for Business Litigation. In 2017, Mr. Vicari was named as Best Lawyers Grand Rapids Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation.  Mr. Vicari has the highest possible Preeminent AV® rating by Martindale-Hubbell – Judicial Edition (The Legal Ability Ratings of A indicates Very High to Preeminent and a General Ethical Standards Rating of V indicates Very High).

Community Activities

Mr. Vicari is involved in various community activities in western Michigan. He currently is a member of the Endowment Board of Directors for the Grand Rapids Civic Theatre, and served as Board Chair from 2017-2019.  Mr. Vicari is on the Board of Directors of the Killgoar Education Foundation, and he also previously served as a youth football coach for the Immaculate Heart of Mary School.

Mr. Vicari has served on the Opera Grand Rapids Board of Directors and the American Heart Association of Michigan, Kent County Division Board of Directors, where he also served as President, and as Vice President of Development.

He has served on the Finance Council for the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church.  Mr. Vicari has also served on the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of Junior Achievement of the Michigan Great Lakes (Grand Rapids) and has also served as Secretary and Movie Premiere Chairperson.

Education

Mr. Vicari received his law degree, cum laude, from the University of Detroit School of Law in 1990, where he was “Senior of the Year,” and his undergraduate degree in 1987, cum laude, from Alma College where he was Captain and a four- year starter on the Scot football team. He is admitted to practice in Michigan.