Matthew B. Barbara

Matt is a business litigator representing clients in diverse industries in matters in state and federal court, and before administrative tribunals. His experience extends to contract disputes, class action claims, public utility disputes, intellectual property litigation, and First Amendment issues, among others. In addition to his litigation practice, Matt assists in managing regulatory investigations and counsels regulated companies on implementing business strategies.

He received his law degree from the Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he graduated cum laude, Order of the Coif and was the recipient of the Arthur E. Petersilge Award. He also served as an editor for Health Matrix: The Journal of Law-Medicine, a journal of legal scholarship focusing on the intersection of law, ethics, medicine and policy. Matt received his B.A., cum laude, from Davidson College.

Matt was selected for the Greater Cleveland Partnership’s LEAD (Link. Engage. Advocate. Develop.) Program in 2019, which develops emerging leaders who have an interest in economic development and engaging in work that impacts the region.  

Prior to joining Calfee in 2020, Matt was a litigator in the Cleveland, Ohio, office of a full-service regional law firm. He also has experience with the federal Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) in Washington, D.C., where he assisted in developing standards for the implementation and meaningful use of electronic health records.

Honors & Recognitions

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Appellate Practice, and Commercial Litigation (2023-2024)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Rising Stars, Business Litigation (2022-2023)
• Anna Marie Murphy New Partner Service Award Honoree, New Partners of Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center (2023)
• CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for Wills, Trusts, and Future Interests, and Core 3: Transactions, Writing & Skills
• Arthur E. Petersilge Award for Excellence in the Study of Wills and Trusts

Education

J.D., cum laude, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 2015

• Order of the Coif
• Health Matrix: Journal of Law-Medicine, Associate Editor

B.A., cum laude, Davidson College, 2012

Professional & Community

• New Partners of the Cleveland Hearing and Speech Center, Associate Board Member (2018-Present)
• Case Western Reserve University School of Law Mentoring Alumni Program (2019-Present)
• Greater Cleveland Partnership LEAD (Link. Engage. Advocate. Develop.) Participant (2019)

Presentations & Publications

Presentations

• “Ohio Supreme Court Mentoring Training,” Supreme Court of Ohio, Cleveland, OH, Guest Panelist (January 2017 and February 2019)

• “Strategies for Success on the Ohio Bar Examination,” Case Western Reserve University School of Law, Cleveland, OH, Guest Panelist (March 2016)

Publications

• "Tort Reform, Apportionment and Immunity," Ohio Lawyer, Vol. 30 No. 5 (September 2016)