MATTHEW D. CHURCH

PARTNER

801-303-0045 | mchurch@mc2b.com

PRACTICE AREAS:
Commercial Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Municipal Government Defense, and Personal Injury

Matthew D. Church is a partner at Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar. His legal practice focuses on many different aspects of commercial litigation, business law, and municipal government defense. Matt also works with business clients in the areas of effective business planning and formation. Matt uses his active litigation practice to give business owners and municipalities a unique perspective on pre-litigation issues.

Matt has represented clients in a wide range of commercial litigation matters, including breach of contract, fraud, tortious interference, and unfair competition. He has also handled disputes involving intellectual property, trade secrets, and product liability. Matt focuses on strategic thinking and creative problem-solving, which allows him to craft innovative solutions to complex legal issues. He understands that litigation can be time-consuming and expensive and works diligently to resolve disputes as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible.

In addition to traditional commercial litigation, Matt focuses on insurance related claims, including; subrogation, coverage questions, bad faith claims, policy exclusions and ERISA cases. Matt has broad experience in insurance law, having represented both insurance companies and policy holders.

One of Mr. Church's primary practice areas is civil rights claims and government defense. He has successfully defended municipalities and their employees against: Constitutional claims, employment disputes, personal injury accidents, land-use appeals, and premises liability claims ("slip and fall"). In addition, Mr. Church provides training to governmental entities and their officers regarding the Utah Governmental Immunity Act, Section 1983 claims, and other liability related topics.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Church was a Shareholder with Plant, Christensen & Kanell, Legal Intern at Intermountain Healthcare, and a law clerk at Blaisdell & Church.

APPELLATE CASES

Matt has experience representing clients in appellate proceedings in both state and federal courts. He has successfully briefed and argued numerous appeals on a wide range of issues, including commercial disputes, insurance coverage, and government defense.

• Brown v. City of Fruit Heights, 2023 UT App 39

• Zilleruelo v. Commodity Transporters, Inc., 2022 UT 1, 506 P.3d 509

• Sheppard v Geneva Rock, 2021 UT 31, 493 P.3d 632

• Zemlicka v. W. Jordan City, 2019 UT App 22, 438 P.3d 1036, cert. denied, 455 P.3d 1052 (Utah 2019)

• Luna v. Luna, 2019 UT App 57, 442 P.3d 1155, rev’d Luna v. Luna, 2020 UT 63, 473 P.3d 966

• Galindo v. City of Flagstaff, 2019 UT 67, 452 P.3d 1185

SEMINARS, PRESENTATIONS, AND CORPORATE TRAININGS

• Land Use Development and Claims (2023) - Utah City Managers Association Fall Conference

• Using the Administrative Process to Your Advantage (2023) - Utah Risk Management Agency Summer Conference

• Contractual Risk Transfer (2023) - Utah Local Government Trust Summer Webinar

• Nuclear Verdicts Panel (2023) - Risk & Insurance Management Society Utah Spring Conference

• How to Avoid Lawsuits and Win the Lawsuits You Can’t Avoid (2023) - Utah Local Government Trust

• Workplace Ethics (2023) - Rural Water Association of Utah Spring Conference

• Annual Liability Update and Nuclear Verdict Training (2022) - Utah Local Government Trust

• Damage Claims and Lawsuits—How do you Prepare? (2022) - American Public Works Association Fall Conference

• Sidewalks & Trip and Fall Lawsuits (2022) - South Jordan City

• Trip & Fall Lawsuits, changes to Open & Obvious (2022) - Utah Risk Management Agency

• Police Liability Training (2020) - Ogden City

• Lawsuits Happen—Are you Immune? (2017) - Utah League of Cities and Towns Fall Conference

LICENSES AND ADMISSIONS

• Utah (2015)

• United States District Court for the District of Utah

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

• Utah Municipal Attorneys Association

• Salt Lake County Bar Association

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITIONS AND HONORS

• Mountain States Super Lawyer®, Rising Star (2018-2023)

EDUCATION

• J.D., University of Utah S.J. Quinney College of Law (2015)

  • New York City Bar Association Finalist (National Moot Court Competition)

• B.S., University of Utah, Public Speaking & Speech Communication (2012)

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

• Foster Families of Utah (Former Board Member)

• Urban Indian Center of Salt Lake (Pro Bono Legal Services)

• The Family Support Center (Pro Bono Legal Services)