MATTHEW D. CHURCH

PARTNER

801-303-0045 | mchurch@mc2b.com

PRACTICE AREAS:
ERISA Litigation, Insurance Coverage, Municipal Defense, Commercial Litigation, and Local Counsel

Matt Church is a partner at Manning Curtis Bradshaw & Bednar in Salt Lake City. Matt defends ERISA benefit denial claims in the United States District Court for the District of Utah, represents Utah cities, counties, and special districts against constitutional, employment, and tort claims, and litigates commercial disputes for businesses across the state.

Matt’s commercial practice covers breach of contract, business divorce and partnership disputes, non-compete and non-solicitation agreements, fraud, tortious interference, unfair competition, trade secrets, and product liability. He also maintains an active insurance coverage practice covering declaratory judgment actions, coverage opinions, bad faith claims, and policy exclusions.

Matt serves as local counsel for firms outside Utah litigating in Utah state and federal courts, and sponsors out-of-state attorneys for pro hac vice admission under the Utah Supreme Court’s rules.

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

ERISA LITIGATION

Matt defends ERISA claims in the District of Utah, with particular focus on benefit denial claims under 29 U.S.C. § 1132(a)(1)(B) involving residential treatment, wilderness therapy, and behavioral health services. Utah’s concentration of treatment facilities makes the District of Utah a frequent venue for these cases, and Matt regularly works with out-of-state plan sponsors and national benefits counsel who need Utah trial counsel here.

Representative issues include medical necessity determinations and plan-defined level of care criteria; the scope and standard of administrative review; the effect of external review determinations on subsequent plan decisions; claims under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act; fiduciary status and delegation among plan sponsors, insurers, and third-party administrators; exhaustion of plan and state regulatory remedies; and allocation of exposure across successive plan years and successive administrators.

Matt represents plan sponsors, plan administrators, third-party administrators, and fiduciaries.

LOCAL COUNSEL FOR OUT-OF-STATE FIRMS

Matt appears as Utah counsel of record for firms outside the state, sponsors out-of-state attorneys for pro hac vice admission, and handles filing, local motion practice, hearing coverage, and depositions in Utah. The practice is not limited by subject matter. It most often arises in commercial and business disputes.

Engagements range from filing and appearance support to full participation in discovery, motion practice, and trial, depending on what lead counsel needs.

MUNICIPAL DEFENSE

One of Matt’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, Matt provides training to governmental entities and their officers regarding the Utah Governmental Immunity Act, Section 1983 claims, and other liability related topics.

LICENSES AND ADMISSIONS

  • Utah (2015)

  • United States District Court for the District of Utah

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

  • Prevent Child Abuse Utah (Current Board Member)

  • 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)

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.

SEMINARS, PRESENTATIONS, AND CORPORATE TRAININGS

  • Best Legal Practices (2026) - Six Counties Regional Growth Summit

  • How to Stay Out of Next Year’s Case Law Update (2026) - Utah Municipal Attorneys Association Conference

  • Lessons From the Trenches (2026) - Utah Risk Management Agency Conference

  • How to Avoid Lawsuits and Win the Lawsuits You Can’t Avoid (2025) - Utah Local Government Trust

  • Personal Liability (2025) - Utah League of Cities and Towns Fall Conference

  • What’s changed in Utah law? (2024) – Utah Local Government Trust

  • Best Legal Practices (2024) – Six Counties Regional Growth Summit

  • The Dos and Don’t with Development Agreements (2024) — Utah League of Cities and Towns Fall Conference

  • Using the Administrative Process to Your Advantage (2024) – Utah Risk Management Agency Summer Conference

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

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND ACTIVITIES

  • Utah Municipal Attorneys Association

  • Salt Lake County Bar Association

PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITIONS AND HONORS

  • Mountain States Super Lawyer®, Rising Star, Civil Litigation, General Litigation, Personal Injury, General: Defense, State, Local & Municipal, Appellate, Business Litigation (2018-2026)