Matthew Klebanoff counsels businesses and individuals in a broad array of commercial disputes and high-stakes litigation matters. Matt’s diverse practice includes representing insurers, technology companies, and other businesses in some of their most sensitive litigation and arbitration matters. Matt helps clients navigate risks and favorable resolutions prior to trial, but has the experience needed to litigate matters through trial and appeal when needed.
Matt is admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, and is routinely admitted pro hac vice in state and federal courts throughout the country to represent clients.
Matt has represented leading insurance industry clients in coverage, bad faith, and reinsurance disputes, including with regard to D&O, E&O, general liability, fiduciary liability, healthcare/managed care risk, and other lines and coverages. He has also represented managing general underwriters and other insurance industry clients in a variety of commercial disputes and arbitrations. Breach of contract, fraud, and other commercial matters make up a sizeable portion of Matt’s litigation practice. In addition, Matt represents technology companies in the defense of tort, personal injury, and other complex matters, including representing one of the world’s leading transportation network companies. Matt breaks down complicated issues and decisions into straightforward choices for his clients. He recognizes that while trial may be warranted and required in certain cases, in others an early resolution may be most favorable for his clients.
Matt volunteers as a pro bono attorney with the Support Center for Child Advocates, where he represents dependent children in the care of the Department of Human Services. His work has helped lead to successful adoptions of several children into loving and caring homes. He is also an active member of the American Bar Association, where he is a member of the Section of Litigation, and the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
Matt has been named a “Rising Star” by Pennsylvania Super Lawyers magazine every year since 2018, as the result of a statewide survey of attorneys. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a litigation associate for several years at an Am Law global-100 law firm. Matt earned his law degree, cum laude, from Villanova University School of Law, where he was Managing Editor of the Villanova Law Review. During law school, he interned with the Honorable Franklin S. Van Antwerpen of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Matt received his undergraduate degree in English, with honors, from Penn State University.
Representative Matters
- Connect America Holdings, LLC, et al. v. Arch Insurance Company (E.D. Pa.) – Secured jury verdict in favor of Arch in $5 million D&O coverage litigation arising from underlying trademark infringement actions. Phase two of the coverage litigation involving allegations of bad faith was never reached.
- Cigna Corporation v. Executive Risk Indemnity, Inc., et al. (Pa. Super. Ct.) – Successfully represented two insurers in coverage litigation arising from an ERISA dispute that reached the U.S. Supreme Court, in which Cigna Corp. sought $20 million in insurance coverage plus punitive damages for alleged bad faith. In a published opinion, the Pennsylvania Superior Court unanimously affirmed the summary judgment we obtained in favor of our clients in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. We then successfully opposed Cigna’s petition for appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.
- Massachusetts Bay Ins. Co. v. American Healthcare Services Association, et al. (N.H.) – Represented Insurer in the trial court and before the Supreme Court of New Hampshire in case involving a multi-million dollar healthcare insurance dispute stemming from dozens of patients contracting Hepatitis C while being treated at a New Hampshire area hospital, which ultimately led to a criminal prosecution.
- Represents three quota-share insurers and MGU under Reps & Warranties insurance policy in confidential arbitration of multi-million dollar dispute stemming from alleged breaches in connection with insured private equity firm’s acquisition of a company.
- United States Fire Insurance Co. v. Kelman Bottles, LLC (W.D. Pa.) – Represented CNA in coverage and bad faith action in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, with over $100 million in damages alleged. The case settled after jury selection – after we had already won summary judgment on all bad faith claims.
- Highmark Life Insurance Co. v. Elite Underwriting Services (Pa. Court of Common Pleas, Allegheny County) – Obtained $3.6 million award in arbitration in favor of Medical Stop Loss Insurance MGU in dispute concerning commissions, and then successfully litigated Pennsylvania state court action seeking vacature of the award.