Matthew W. Claman
Counsel to the Firm
clamanm@lanepowell.com
907.264.3311
Area of Practice
Matt Claman joined Lane Powell’s Anchorage office as Counsel to the Firm on November 1, 2007.
West Anchorage voters elected Matt to the Alaska House of Representative in 2014, where he has
served since January 2015. Matt also served the Municipality of Anchorage as its first Acting Mayor
from January to June 2009. He brings his diverse experience as State Legislator, the Chief Executive
of Alaska’s largest city, President of the Alaska Bar Association and as a trial attorney to the Firm’s
Commercial Litigation Practice Group. With extensive experience in alternative dispute resolution,
Matt is also available as an arbitrator, mediator, and hearing officer.
Matt has managed his own firm, worked with Preston Gates & Ellis, worked for the Alaska Public
Defender Agency, taught at the University of Alaska Anchorage and clerked for a federal district
judge. In addition to his work as mayor, Matt served on the Anchorage Municipal Assembly, of
which he is Past Chairman.
Professional Experience
Alaska State House of Representatives, West Anchorage Representative
Municipality of Anchorage, Acting Mayor, Assembly Chair and Assembly Member
Claman Law Firm, Attorney
Preston, Gates & Ellis
University of Alaska Anchorage, Adjunct Professor
Alaska Public Defender Agency
Admitted to Practice
Alaska
U.S. District Court, District of Alaska
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
U.S. Supreme Court
Academics
University of Texas Law School (J.D., cum laude)
Honor Grades: Contracts, Civil Procedure, Property, Business Associations, Evidence, Federal Courts, Federal Appellate Advocacy, Labor Law and Conflicts of Law
Texas International Law Journal, Articles Editor and Member
Colorado College, Colorado Springs (B.A., History)
National Outdoor Leadership School (Lander, Wyo.)
Practice Group and Specialty Team Memberships
Litigation
TV/Radio Interviews
“A-1 Timber Could Resume Chiniak Logging by Next Week,” Interviewed by KMXT Radio (June 8, 2011)
Publications
“No Need for Anchorage to Rush Into Woronzof Land Swap,” Alaska Dispatch News (July 22, 2015)
“Compass: Airport Planning Gets Much Better With Community Involvement,” Anchorage Daily News (December 11, 2013)
“Letter: Negotiation Over Litigation,” Alaska Dispatch (November 29, 2013)
“Hold Your Nose and Vote ‘Yes’ for State Transportation Bonds,” Alaska Dispatch
(November 5, 2012)
“Independence Day: Time Also to Celebrate Fair and Impartial Courts,” Alaska Dispatch (July 4, 2012)
“Parnell Should Veto Plan to Bulldoze Two Anchorage Athletic Fields,” Alaska Dispatch
(May 5, 2012)
“Special Anchorage Election Investigator Must Have Broad Mandate,” Alaska Dispatch (April 21, 2012)
“Rover’s Run Trail is a Lawsuit Waiting to Happen,” Alaska Dispatch (June 26, 2010)
“Our View: Claman,” Anchorage Daily News, Featured (June 29, 2009)
Awards and Honors
Bryan P. Timbers Pro Bono Award, Alaska Bar Association (2016)
Professional and Community Activities
Alaska State Legislature
Representative, West Anchorage (HD21) (2015-Present)
Alaska Bar Association
President (2007-2008)
Member, Board of Governors (2002-2008)
Municipality of Anchorage
Acting Mayor (2009)
Assembly Chairman (2008-2009)
Assembly Member (2007-2010)
Anchorage Youth Symphony Association
President (2011-2012)
Board of Directors (2010-2012)
Anchorage Downtown Rotary Club
Board of Directors (2013-Present)
Maritime Law Association
American Bar Association
Chair, Anchorage Airport Communications Committee (2009-2013)
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