Matthew Reilly Plain

Matt concentrates his practice in labor and employment, professional liability, general liability, contract drafting and disputes, and administrative law. He devotes a considerable portion of his practice to serving clients in the nonprofit and education communities.

Serving as general counsel for several nonprofits, Matt provides advice on incorporation, governance, employment, contracts and contract disputes, liability, and regulatory compliance, as well as representation before state administrative agencies and state/federal courts.

Matt also maintains a significant education law practice, advising school boards and administrators on a myriad of education law issues, including special education, employment, student/staff discipline, government relations, contract law and constitutional law. In addition to representing numerous schools in a variety of matters before state administrative agencies and state/federal courts, Matt also serves as outside general counsel to the Massachusetts Charter Public Schools Association and the Rhode Island League of Charter Schools. He serves on the National Litigation Council for the National Alliance of Public Charter Schools and regularly presents substantive seminars on legal issues affecting charter schools.

Prior to law school, Matt taught 7th and 8th Grade in the North Carolina public schools for four years and has an Advanced Competencies Teaching License for Social Studies Education (Grades 6–12).

Representative Accomplishments
Persuaded the Rhode Island Supreme Court to order a local school district to reimburse the firm’s client, a local independent public charter school, for tuition payments the district had wrongfully withheld under a mistaken interpretation of state law.
Obtained a Superior Court Judgment in favor of a career and technical school regarding school funding.
Successfully defended in administrative appeals two schools facing closure by the Rhode Island Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Successfully defended a local education agency in an administrative hearing regarding school choice.
Successfully defended a local education agency in an administrative hearing regarding school funding.
Successfully defended local education agencies in special education due process hearings.
Successfully defended local education agencies and nonprofits before the Department of Labor and Training.
Successfully defended schools and nonprofit organizations in administrative hearings before the Commission for Human Rights.
He served as one of the primary drafters of the current Rhode Island Charter Public Schools Act.
Contributed to revisions to the Rhode Island Regulations Governing the Education of Children with Disabilities, current technical education.
Contributed to the RI regulations governing career and technical education.
Obtained a $1.2 million settlement on behalf of a client who suffered catastrophic spinal cord injuries while being transported in a wheelchair van to a medical appointment.
Obtained a $200,000 settlement for Plaintiff in a case involving bad faith insurance practices.
Obtained a $1,300,000 jury verdict for Plaintiffs in a wrongful death case against a municipality.
Education
Roger Williams University School of Law (J.D., 2005) Roger Williams University Law Review; Notes and Comments Editor, 2004–2005; Staff Member 2003–2004
University of North Carolina at Greensboro (M.Ed., 2002)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (B.A., 1998)
Bar Admissions
Rhode Island
Massachusetts
Connecticut
U.S. District Court, Massachusetts
U.S. District Court, Rhode Island