Biography
Kelly Matayoshi represents a broad range of local and international companies to thoughtfully handle their complex business and employment litigation needs.
In her business litigation practice, Kelly focuses on products liability, contract disputes, breach of fiduciary duty, and other business disputes. She has a deep understanding of the consumer products industry, having many clients in this space. Kelly is national coordinating counsel for a flexible gas tubing manufacturer, where she handles every aspect of litigation, beginning with the notice letter that originates the case, through fact-gathering, working with experts, discovery, motion practice, negotiation, and settlement or trial.
Kelly also has extensive employment experience, effectively representing employers in state and federal court as well as numerous agencies on a range of causes of action including wrongful termination and class action wage and hour disputes. She has counseled clients through countless single plaintiff lawsuits, and aggressively defends them while always seeking opportunities to resolve them to her client’s benefit. She has represented employers in the transportation and sales industries concerning issues arising under a variety of employment statutes and regulations such as exemptions, split shifts, meal and rest breaks, overtime, vacation, wage statements, deductions, and commissions.
She currently serves as the firm’s Hiring Partner.
Distinctions
- Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under List - West (2025)
- 2024 Best Under 40 Award, National Asian Pacific American Bar Association (NAPABA)
- Lawyers on the Fast Track, 2024 California Legal Awards, Law.com / The Recorder
- 2022 Diversity Award, Barristers Club of the Bar Association of San Francisco
- 2021 Outstanding Barristers Award, Barristers Club of the Bar Association of San Francisco
- 2021 Minority Bar Coalition Unity Award, Barristers Club of the Bar Association of San Francisco
- The Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch in America - Commercial Litigation; Labor and Employment Law–Management; Product Liability Litigation–Defendants (2021-2023)
- Northern California Super Lawyers Rising Stars in Business Litigation (2015-2024)
- Laurie Miller Award for Public Service, ABA Section of Litigation (2018)
Memberships and Affiliations
- President (2025), President-Elect (2024), Director (2016-2023), Asian American Bar Association of the Greater Bay Area
- Managing Director (2023-2024), Managing Director Designate (2022-2023), Section of Litigation, American Bar Association
- Member, UC Law SF Foundation Board of Trustees (2022- present)
- Member, Advisory Board, UC Law SF Center for Litigation and Courts (2021- present)
- Member, Elimination of Bias Committee, San Francisco Superior Court (2021- present)
- President, Barristers Club, Bar Association of San Francisco (2020)
- President, UC Law SF Alumni Association Board of Governors (2019-2020)
- Committee Member, Membership & Marketing, Section of Litigation, American Bar Association (2020- present)
- Co-Chair, Labor and Employment Committee, Section of Litigation, American Bar Association (2017-2019)
- Co-Chair, Section of Litigation ABA Annual Meeting (2019)
- Member, San Francisco Leadership Team, Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, American Bar Association
- Member, Young Lawyer Leadership Program, American Bar Association