Matt Banocy is a trial lawyer who represents employers in labor and employment disputes in federal and state courts, arbitration proceedings, and before administrative agencies.
Matt has served as first and second chair in multiple trials and arbitrations and has taken more than 100 fact and expert depositions. He draws on his extensive litigation experience to identify critical issues early, develop strategies tailored to each client’s needs, and effectively execute those strategies. He has secured favorable verdicts, arbitration awards, and rulings on dispositive motions, with several decisions affirmed on appeal.
Matt regularly defends employers against claims under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Family and Medical Leave Act, and related state laws, as well as wage and hour and employee misclassification claims. He also represents employers in disputes over non-compete, non-solicitation, confidentiality, and arbitration agreements. His traditional labor practice includes unfair labor practice charges and labor arbitrations.
Outside the courtroom, Matt gives employers practical, day-to-day guidance on discipline and termination decisions, wage and hour compliance, reductions in force, and complaints involving discrimination, harassment, and retaliation.
Before joining Thompson Coburn, Matt was a partner at a national labor and employment law firm and, most recently, counsel at an international law firm.
- First chaired a bench trial for a municipality and five members of its Board of Aldermen in a state court action by the former police chief alleging wrongful removal under the Missouri Administrative Procedures Act; the judge returned a defense verdict on all seven claims.
- Represented an interstate compact employer in a Title VII case alleging race and gender discrimination, hostile work environment, and retaliation; the Eastern District of Missouri dismissed all four claims with prejudice, and the Eighth Circuit affirmed.
- Represented a hospital in a union’s breach of contract action under Section 301 of the Labor Management Relations Act over a refusal to arbitrate a grievance; the District of Kansas granted summary judgment for the hospital, and the Tenth Circuit affirmed.
- Represented a global manufacturer and individual defendants in a former employee’s disability discrimination, retaliation, and co-employee gross negligence case; the Iowa District Court granted summary judgment for the employer on the discrimination and retaliation claims, and the Iowa Court of Appeals affirmed.
- Represented an employer in a Missouri Human Rights Act age discrimination case; the circuit court granted summary judgment for the employer, and the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, affirmed.
- Represented an auto manufacturer in an unfair labor practice charge alleging discrimination and retaliation under the National Labor Relations Act; the NLRB Regional Director dismissed the charge, and the General Counsel affirmed on appeal.
- Represented a global petrochemical and polymer manufacturer in a Title VII race discrimination, retaliation, and hostile work environment case in the District of Kansas; the court dismissed the case for failure to prosecute and ordered the plaintiff to pay the employer’s attorneys’ fees and expenses.
- Represented an auto dealer in an Illinois wrongful termination lawsuit; after compelling the dispute to arbitration, secured dismissal with prejudice.
- Represented a global information technology services company in an Illinois state court suit by a former employee alleging tortious interference with a prospective economic advantage; the court granted summary judgment for the employer.
- Represented a regional airline as plaintiff in a breach of contract action against a former pilot in Illinois state court; the court dismissed the pilot’s counterclaim for intentional infliction of emotional distress with prejudice.
- American Bar Association
- Missouri Bar Association
- Illinois Bar Association
- Managing the Modern Workplace: Tips and Trends for Labor and Employment Law Compliance (2019, 2021, 2024)
- High Times: Recreational/Medical Marijuana and Impact on the Workforce (2022)
- Employment Law Series: What Employers Need to Know About Revised ADA and FMLA Regulations (2019)
- Best Lawyers in America, Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2027; Ones to Watch, Labor and Employment Law – Management; Litigation – Labor and Employment, 2022-2025
- Super Lawyers “Missouri Rising Stars,” 2018-2026
Outside the office, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our two boys and playing golf.