Matthew Linsley Named Most Promising Newcomer in The Recorder’s 2025 California Legal Awards
Munger, Tolles & Olson Associate Matthew Linsley was honored as The Recorder’s Most Promising Newcomer in the 2025 California Legal Awards. In an interview with the publication, Matthew reflected on his time as a Navy submarine officer, his advice for new attorneys and what law firms should do to attract talent.
Matthew is a graduate of the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program and a qualified Nuclear Engineer Officer. While on active duty, he deployed extensively throughout the western Pacific as an officer onboard USS Oklahoma City (SSN-723). “In transitioning from serving onboard a submarine to practicing law, I have been more struck by the similarities than the differences between a successful case team and a high-functioning submarine crew. Much of what I loved about submarine life—working closely on tight-knit teams with exceptional colleagues—has been equally true at Munger, Tolles & Olson. The Navy taught me to trust my teammates, execute my responsibilities with precision, and always keep the broader mission in mind. That experience has been invaluable in my first years as a lawyer.”
Matthew was part of the MTO team representing Hawaiian Electric Industries and Hawaiian Electric Company in securing a historic settlement resolving litigation related to the devastating 2023 Maui wildfires. He shared that his “work—the investigation and evidence preservation component—was just one part of a coordinated team effort. But the same tools of communication, teamwork, and autonomy, proved equally useful in the operation of a nuclear reactor as in the investigation and litigation of a devastating wildfire.”
For new attorneys, he emphasizes the importance of seeking opportunities to own projects and problems. “Learning how to take ownership of a workstream, no matter how small, develops the important skills of problem identification and definition, triage, and execution.”
Lastly, to attract strong talent, Matthew believes law firms should focus on hiring excellent attorneys and fostering a culture of mentorship and collaboration. “A highlight of my time at Munger Tolles has been the uniform excellence of my colleagues—ranging from my fellow newer attorneys to our senior partners who are legends in their fields. The opportunity to work alongside and learn from such exceptional attorneys is a gift, and I am frequently astonished by the competence and fierce intellect of my colleagues…Law is best practiced socially, and the excellent peers at MTO have made my first few years as a lawyer truly special.”