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General Liability and Casualty Defense
Cargo, Trucking and Logistics
Commercial Litigation
Construction Litigation and Construction Defect
Insurance Coverage Analysis and Litigation
Large Catastrophic "CAT" Loss
Motor Vehicle Liability
Personal Injury Defense
Illinois
Iowa
United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois (Trial Bar)
United States District Court for the Southern District of Illinois
United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana
United States District Court for the Southern District of Iowa
United States District Court for the Northern District of Iowa
United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
Southern Illinois University School of Law
J.D., 1989
Bradley University
B.S., 1984
Matthew Hefflefinger is a partner in Chartwell Law’s Peoria office. He is an accomplished trial lawyer who focuses on the transportation and construction industries. He represents businesses, large self-insured organizations, insurance carriers, and employers in state and federal courts throughout the midwestern United States.
Matt’s effectiveness in dealing with catastrophic losses is well-known throughout the trucking industry, as he is frequently contacted immediately after catastrophic losses to visit accident scenes and develop strategies with an eye toward successful resolutions in potential litigations.
In 2000, "InterBusiness Issues," a leading publication in central Illinois, named Matt one of its "40 Leaders Under 40." He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated lawyer and frequent speaker on cutting edge trucking-related litigation topics.
Before joining Chartwell Law, Matt was a partner in the Peoria office of a regional law firm.
Abraham Lincoln Court (Past President)
American Bar Association (Vice Chair, TIPS Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee)
Defense Research Institute (National Director; Trucking Law Committee Chair, 2018-2020; Vice Chair, 2016-2018; Membership Chair, 2014-2016)
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois Trucking Association
Iowa Motor Truck Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Peoria County Bar Association
Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)
Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers® (2024)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. (Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named as Leading Lawyers.)
40 Leaders Under 40 - Peoria, 2000
Abraham Lincoln American Inn of Court (President 2005-2006)
“Man, I Sure Do Miss Spending Time Together,” DRI, The Voice, Volume 20, Issue 3 (2021)
“Dakter v. Cavallino: An Anomaly or the New Normal?” DRI, For The Defense (2015)
“Supreme Court Limits the Scope of Personal Jurisdiction” DRI, The Voice, Volume 14, Issue 30 (2015)
“Evidentiary Issues Involving Grief, Sorrow and Mental Suffering,” DRI, In Transit - The Newsletter for the Trucking Law Committee (2014)
“Review of Broker Liability,” DRI, For The Defense (2014)
“Punitive Damages in Trucking Litigation: Recognizing Risk and Assessing Exposure,” DRI, In Transit - The Newsletter for the Trucking Law Committee (2012)
“The Mythical Elevated Standard of Care and Defeating the Reptile,” Iowa Motor Truck Association Safety Conference (2022)
“Expectations of Panel Counsel: Do's and Don'ts,” DRI Annual Meeting (2022)
“The Mythical Elevated Standard of Care and Defeating the Reptile,” International Warehouse Logistics Association Safety & Risk Conference (2022)
“Juries & Nuclear Verdicts,” IDC / MODL Defense Seminar (2022)
“A Primer on the Newest Area in Trucking Litigation: Collision Mitigation Systems,” ATA Litigation Center Trucking Legal Forum (2022)
“When your Trucking Case Turns into a Products Case,” DRI Trucking Seminar (2022)
“Pitfalls of CDL and Training Manuals,” Trucking Boot Camp for the Claims Professional XIV Seminars (2022)
“Driver Handbooks, CDL Manuals and Driver Training Resources: Strategies in Handling Plaintiffs’ Use of these Materials, Defeating the Reptile and Avoiding the Nuclear Verdict,” American Trucking Association (2021)
“Driver Handbooks, CDL Manuals and Driver Training Resources: Strategies in Handling Plaintiffs’ Use of These Materials, Defeating the Reptile and Avoiding the Nuclear Verdict,” Iowa Motor Truck Association (2020)
“Nuclear Verdicts and How to Avoid Them,” Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show (2020)
“Effective Team Building Strategies That Drive Results,” DRI National Leadership Meeting (2020)
“Driver Handbooks, CDL Manuals & Driver Training Resources: Effective Challenges and Strategies to Plaintiffs’ Use of These Materials,” Arkansas Trucking Seminar (2019)
“Nuclear Verdicts and How to Avoid Them,” Cottingham & Butler Transportation Safety Workshop (2019)
“Disability Litigation,” NFHS' Legal Meeting (2017, 2018 & 2019)
“Large Verdicts: Is Hindsight 20/20?” ABA Transportation Megaconference XIII (2017)
“Collision Mitigation Systems: State of the Technology and Impact Upon the Trucking Industry,” DRI Trucking Law Seminar (2016)
“CYA 101: When Do I Contact a Lawyer – After the Accident? Work Comp Claim? Problem Employee?” Moderator, Mid-West Truck & Trailer Show, Peoria (2016)
Matthew Hefflefinger is a partner in Chartwell Law’s Peoria office. He is an accomplished trial lawyer who focuses on the transportation and construction industries. He represents businesses, large self-insured organizations, insurance carriers, and employers in state and federal courts throughout the midwestern United States.
Matt’s effectiveness in dealing with catastrophic losses is well-known throughout the trucking industry, as he is frequently contacted immediately after catastrophic losses to visit accident scenes and develop strategies with an eye toward successful resolutions in potential litigations.
In 2000, "InterBusiness Issues," a leading publication in central Illinois, named Matt one of its "40 Leaders Under 40." He is a Martindale-Hubbell AV rated lawyer and frequent speaker on cutting edge trucking-related litigation topics.
Before joining Chartwell Law, Matt was a partner in the Peoria office of a regional law firm.
Abraham Lincoln Court (Past President)
American Bar Association (Vice Chair, TIPS Commercial Transportation Litigation Committee)
Defense Research Institute (National Director; Trucking Law Committee Chair, 2018-2020; Vice Chair, 2016-2018; Membership Chair, 2014-2016)
Illinois Association of Defense Trial Counsel
Illinois State Bar Association
Illinois Trucking Association
Iowa Motor Truck Association
Iowa State Bar Association
Peoria County Bar Association
Transportation Lawyers Association (TLA)
Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA)
Selected to Illinois Super Lawyers® (2024)
Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent
Selected as a Leading Lawyer in Illinois. (Only five percent of lawyers in the state are named as Leading Lawyers.)
40 Leaders Under 40 - Peoria, 2000
Abraham Lincoln American Inn of Court (President 2005-2006)
“Man, I Sure Do Miss Spending Time Together,” DRI, The Voice, Volume 20, Issue 3 (2021)
“Dakter v. Cavallino: An Anomaly or the New Normal?” DRI, For The Defense (2015)
“Supreme Court Limits the Scope of Personal Jurisdiction” DRI, The Voice, Volume 14, Issue 30 (2015)
“Evidentiary Issues Involving Grief, Sorrow and Mental Suffering,” DRI, In Transit - The Newsletter for the Trucking Law Committee (2014)
“Review of Broker Liability,” DRI, For The Defense (2014)
“Punitive Damages in Trucking Litigation: Recognizing Risk and Assessing Exposure,” DRI, In Transit - The Newsletter for the Trucking Law Committee (2012)
