Overview
With over 20 years of litigation experience, Matthew B. Champlin emphasizes pragmatism, cost-effectiveness, and innovative problem-solving to secure the best possible outcomes for his clients in complex litigation matters.
He focuses his practice on the defense of actions involving:
- catastrophic personal injury
- wrongful death
- products liability
Mr. Champlin has extensive experience handling litigation involving local governments, school districts, public utilities, construction companies, retailers, and security companies. He also handles real estate, consumer, and commercial litigation.
In addition, he's actively involved in pro bono initiatives and prioritizes assisting litigants with limited resources in obtaining justice. In recent years, he secured the appellate reversal of a criminal conviction involving a coerced jury verdict, established a guardianship for a mentally disabled adult, fought for the victims of construction repair fraud, pursued litigation involving an illegal contract for deed, and volunteered in the Madison County (Illinois) legal clinic.
Prior to joining HeplerBroom, Mr. Champlin served judicial clerkships with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and the Supreme Court of Missouri.
Education
- University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law, J.D., 2003
- Southeast Missouri State University, B.S. in Criminal Justice, cum laude, 2000
LAW SCHOOL HONORS/INVOLVEMENT
- Order of the Coif
- The Missouri Law Review
- Member and Note and Comment Editor
- Criminal Prosecution Clinic
- Recipient, International Academy of Trial Lawyers Award for Excellence in Advocacy
Admissions & Affiliations
- Illinois
- Missouri
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the
- 7th Circuit
- 8th Circuit
- U.S. District Courts for the
- Southern District of Illinois
- Eastern District of Missouri
- U.S. Court of Federal Claims
Professional Associations
- Appellate Lawyers Association
- Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
- Chair, Insurance Law Committee (2021-2024)
- Supreme Court Watch columnist, IDC Quarterly (2020-2022)
- Madison County (Illinois) Bar Association
Other Professional/Civic Involvement
- Arbitrator, Third Judicial Circuit Court (Madison County IL)
- Lewis and Clark Community College
- Paralegal Unified Advisory Board Committee
- Former Instructor, Legal Research and Writing
- Former Instructor, Litigation
- Municipal Adjudication Officer, Village of Glen Carbon IL
- Volunteer, Madison County Legal Clinic
Practices
Results
- People v. Thomas, 2020 IL App (1st) 190954
- Carver v. Illinois Power Company, 2014 IL App (5th) 130348-U
- Pocklington v. AmerenIP, 2012 IL App (4th) 110808-U
- Bell v. AmerenCIPS, No. 5-10-0129 (5th Dist., Feb. 25, 2011)
- Pocklington v. AmerenIP, No. 4-09-0914 (4th Dist., July 23, 2010)
- Wood v. Central Illinois Public Service Company, 5-08-0445 (5th Dist., Aug. 17, 2009)
- Wrote an amicus brief on behalf of the defendants in Thompson v. Gordon, 241 Ill. 2d 428 (2011); Illinois Supreme Court found in favor of defendants.
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Honors
Honors & Awards
- Illinois Leading Lawyers (2017-2024)
- Emerging Lawyer (2015-2016)
- Illinois Super Lawyers, Rising Star (2013-2018)
Insights
Events & Speaking Engagements
- “Third-Party Practice,” Illinois State Bar Association Civil Practice and Procedure Update, Bloomington, Illinois (2012).
Blog Posts
Publications
- "Navigating the Maze of Insurance Coverage Issues in Biometric Information Privacy Act Litigation," IDC Quarterly, Vol. 33, No. 2 (2023). (Co-author)
- "Supreme Court Watch Column," IDC Quarterly, Vols. 30-32 (2020-2022).
- “The Confidential Good-Faith Settlement Conundrum: The Case for Full Disclosure of Settlement Terms to Non-Settling Tortfeasors,” IDC Quarterly Vol. 23, No. 4 (2013).
