Matthew D. Gurbach is a diversified trial attorney that represents individuals and corporations in complex business litigation and product liability disputes across a variety of industries. He has extensive experience litigating high-stakes matters for both plaintiffs and defendants involving alleged trade secret misappropriation, intellectual property disputes, business torts, covenants not to compete, as well as claims related to breaches of contract, transportation and logistics, and product liability. His product liability cases have involved a wide variety of products including, industrial machinery, recreational products, consumer products, and toxic torts.

Domestic and international clients rely upon Matthew’s pragmatism and innovative solutions to resolve business-related disputes in federal and state courtrooms throughout the United States. As an accomplished first-chair trial lawyer, he has been first chair trial counsel in over 25 jury trials and binding arbitrations, served as lead counsel in scores of mediations, appeared regularly in courts of appeal and guided countless disputes to a negotiated resolution.

Matthew is a member of the steering committee of the Defense Research Institute (DRI)’s Product Liability Committee, which includes 18 Specialized Litigation Groups and 3,200 members. He regularly lectures on trade secret protection, alternative dispute resolution, evidence, e-discovery, and trial tactics.

Education

Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., Concentration in Litigation (2003)

Distinctions

Listed, The Best Lawyers in America® – Commercial Litigation (2024)

Listed, Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters® – Ohio, Business Litigation; Personal Injury - Products: Defense; General Litigation (2018–2022)

Rising Star, Super Lawyers®, part of Thomson Reuters® – Ohio, Business Litigation; Personal Injury - Products: Defense; General Litigation (2005, 2009, 2010, 2013–2017)

Graduated, Leadership Mahoning Valley

Inducted, The Order of Barristers (2003)

Professional Activities

Member, Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Board of Trustees, (2017–Present)

Member, Federal Bar Association Board of Directors - Northern District of Ohio Chapter (2015–2018)

Member, American Bar Association

Member, Ohio State Bar Association

News

Speaking Engagements

Additional Items

• Speaker, “Demonstrative Evidence: Winning Hearts and Minds,” Ohio State Bar Association, Trial Evidence for the Ohio Practitioner, December 2021
• Speaker, “LMGTFY (Let Me Google That For You): The Best Things in Life are Free,” Ohio State Bar Association Webinar, September 2021
• Speaker, “Outside the Courtroom: Technology and Advocacy,” DRI, Product Liability Conference, August 2021
• Speaker, “ADR and Settlement,” Ohio State Bar Association Webinar, Litigation Basics, June 2021
• Speaker, "Pandemic-Era Litigators: Adjusting to the New Abnormal," Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation Section Meeting Winter 2021
• Speaker, "ADR and Settlement," Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation Basics, June 2019
• Moderator, "Greet the Judges CLE: Pitfalls and Pointers from the Bench," Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Half-Day CLE, May 2019
• Speaker, "Conversation on Conditions at Cuyahoga County Jail," Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association - Hot Talks, December 2018
• Speaker, "The Best Things in Life are Free: Low Cost or Free Web-Based Resources," DRI, The Voice of the Defense Bar's Product Liability Conference, February 2018
• Speaker, "Demonstrative Exhibits and Documentary Evidence," The Ohio State Bar Association, Trial Evidence for the Ohio Practitioner Seminar, December 2017
• Speaker, "Protecting Your Trade Secrets: Beyond the Basics," Cleveland Society of Human Resource Management Legal Affairs Conference, December 2017
• Speaker, "ADR and Settlement," The Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation Skills Seminar, September 2017
• Speaker, "Win Your Case in Voir Dire," The Ohio State Bar Association, All Ohio Legal Forum, August 2017
• Speaker, "Introduction to Alternative Dispute Resolution," The Ohio State Bar Association, Litigation Skills Seminar, September 2016
• Speaker, "Introducing Your Case: Strategies for an Impactful and Effective Opening Statement," The Ohio State Bar Association, All Ohio Legal Forum, April 2016