— Director of Professional Programs for international insurer
— Partner, Atlanta Defense Law Firm
— Corporate Claims Representative
— One of America’s largest security companies
— One of America’s largest insurers
— Sr. Claims Specialist for national insurance company
— Risk Manager at a major corporation
— Director of Professional Programs for international insurer
Matt Moffett is an experienced, civil defense trial lawyer with an established track record of defense verdicts in numerous serious injury and death cases. One notable defense verdict occurred in a wrongful death case where the plaintiff attorney asked the jury to award $20 million, and another occurred in a serious injury case where the plaintiff attorney asked for an award of $9.7 million.
Matt is listed among the top 100 lawyers in Georgia and among the Legal Elite in Georgia, in various news publications. He is the past president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, and currently an instructor at the annual GDLA Trial Academy.
Over the last 10 years, Matt has presented as the keynote speaker during the annual meetings of many legal organizations. From Florida to New York, from Washington through Utah and back to Georgia, Matt has presented on effective and professional trial practice to defense lawyers and risk professionals. In 2023, the Defense Research Institute awarded Matt the DRI Fred H. Sievert Award for outstanding bar leadership.
Matt is a Charter Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a member of The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA) and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is a Fellow of the Atlanta Bar Foundation, which supports public service projects that assist youth, provides pro bono legal services, and promotes higher education through scholarships.
Married to his high school sweetheart for over 30 years, Matt and Diane have two daughters, one attending UGA in Athens and the other serving as a high school counselor in Chattanooga, TN. The family are longtime members of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where Matt has chaired the Administrative Board and now teaches in the adult education program while serving in the One Lamb Initiative founded by his wife Diane.
When not lawyering, you likely will find Matt water skiing on a Georgia mountain lake or snow skiing out west. He also is a certified SCUBA diver and has dived both wrecks and reefs all over the Caribbean.
DRI Honors GDLA Past President Matt Moffett with Outstanding Bar Leader Award
Georgia Defense Lawyer - Winter 2023Trucking Co. Wins Suit in Chatham With Rare Secondary Insuror
The Daily Report - August 2023Lawyers Find Virtual Voir Dire Worth Keeping for Reasons Beyond Concerns about COVID-19
The Daily Report - July 2022Justices Ponder Latin and Math for ‘Complicated and Import Case’
The Daily Report - June 2020Facing ‘The Reptile’ In The Courtroom
Law360 - February 2018And The Defense Wins
DRI, The Voice - December 2017Defense Wins in $20M Wrongful Death Suit for Pedestrian’s Life
The Daily Report - November 2017Professional Excellence – Distinguished Leaders
The Daily Report - June 2017Moffett Receives Daily Report’s Distinguished Leader Award
The Daily Report - May 2017Justices Rule 5-2 That Worker’s Comp Doesn’t Prevent Apportionment
The Daily Report - November 2015Georgia Justices’ Apportionment Ruling Gets Immediate Test
The Daily Report - July 2015New Defense Bar President
The Daily Report - June 2015GDLA Election Results
Georgia Bar Journal - August 2014Mr. Matthew Moffett to Speak at the 2014 CLM Construction & Environmental Conference
Press Release - 2014Student Sues Over Facebook Photos
The Daily Report - June 2013DRI: Defense-Favorable Resolution in Shooting Injury Case
DRI, The Voice - April 2013Judges Weigh Mistaken Charges
The Daily Report - March 2013Jury Agrees With Defense Valuation of Case
The Daily Report - March 2013Trial & Mediation Academy Chair, Faculty Spotlight
GDLA - January 2013Surprise Deal Ends Theater Trial
The Daily Report - December 2012Earns Certified Litigation Management Professional Certification
CLM Press Release - December 2012Victory in ‘Bullying’ Case
DRI, The Voice - August 2012Trial Academy: Training Tomorrow’s Leading Litigators
Georgia Defense Lawyer - July 2012Judge Throws Out Bully Case
The Daily Report - May 2012Role of Bullying in Teen Suicide Disputed
The Daily Report - April 2012Assigning Fault Heard on Appeal
The Daily Report - April 2012Featured Speaker – Litigation Counsel of America
Press Release - December 2011Switch Pays Off for Defense Lawyer
The Daily Report - June 2011Case Highlights Debate Over Apportionment
The Daily Report - June 2010Kia Defends Against Wrongful Death Suit
The Daily Report - June 2010Vassilieva v. Crowe
The Daily Report - April 2010Defense Uses ‘Reptile’ Strategy Against Keenan
The Daily Report - March 2010DRI Trial Academy
March 17-19, 2025
Philadelphia Marriot Downtown – Philadelphia PA
Trial of the Defense Case – Annual Meeting of the Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys
Technology at Trial – Annual Meeting of the South Dakota Defense Lawyers Association
Effective Trial Strategy for the Defense – Defense Association of New York
Preparing For and Countering The Reptile – Defense Association of New York
Professionalism after the Statewide Judicial Emergency Order
Georgia Supreme Court Chief Justice’s Commission on Professionalism
Trial of the Defense Case – South Carolina Defense Trial Attorneys’ Association
Georgia Verdicts and Jury Pools – CPCU I-Day
Strategic Trial Defense – New Jersey Defense Lawyers Association
Anti Reptile For the Defense – USLI
Apportionment: Now Bad for Georgia Business?” – Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Nuclear Verdicts – Why is this happening? – CPCU Society – Atlanta
Avoiding the ‘Reptile’ in Written Discovery and Depositions – 2019 Annual Meeting of the Virginia Association of Defense Attorneys
The Team Approach to the Most Efficient and Best Defense – Defense Research Institute – Retail and Hospitality – Annual Seminar
Orlando, FL
Prosecuting Your Defense at Trial – Defense Research Institute – Younger Lawyers Section – Annual Meeting
Nashville, TN
Effective Defense of the High Risk Case – Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association – Annual Meeting – Jackson, MS
Proving the Defense Case at Trail – Ohio Association of Civil Trial Attorneys – Annual Meeting – Columbus, Ohio
“Reptile” for the Defense – New Jersey Defense Association – Annual Meeting – Lake Placid, NY
Exposing “Reptile” tactics and protecting against jury manipulation – Arkansas Association of Defense Counsel – Annual Meeting – Fort Smith, AR
Effective Trial Strategy for the Defense – DRI Trucking Seminar, Chicago, IL
Countering the “Reptile” strategy – Mississippi Defense Lawyers Association – Annual Meeting, Jackson, MS
Opening Statement and Closing Argument – Georgia Defense Lawyers Association – Trial & Mediation Academy, Pine Mountain, GA
Countering the “Reptile” Strategy
Washington Defense Trial Lawyers – Annual Convention
Victoria, B.C.
Pretrial Strategy for the Defense
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association – Annual Meeting
Palm Beach, FL
FDCC Litigation Management College – Faculty Instructor, Emory University — Download Brochure
DRI 2017 Trucking Law Seminar – Chicago, IL
Atlanta Bar Family Law Trial Skills Seminar – State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association Trial Academy, Pine Mountain, GA
Caging Reptile Lawyers – Montana Defense Trial Lawyers Annual Meeting, Missoula, MT
Effective Trial Strategy for the Defense – Kentucky Defense Counsel Annual Meeting, Lexington, KY
Apportionment of Fault to a Non Party in a Negligent Security Case: Defense Perspective, Premises Liability Seminar – State Bar of Georgia, Atlanta, GA
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association – Annual Meeting, Amelia Island, FL
Litigation Management College – Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Defendants can provoke The Reptile! – Canadian Defence Lawyers Annual General Meeting & Conference, Toronto, Canada
Caging Reptile Lawyers – Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel Webinar
Bridging the Divide: Plaintiff and Defense Counsel, Ethics, Civility, and Mediation Summit (Ethics CLE) – ABA Tort Trial & Insurance Practice Section, 2016 ABA TIPS Section Conference, Atlanta, GA — Download Brochure
Effective Jury Selection, Defense Research Institute (DRI) – Trial Tactics Seminar, Phoenix, AZ
GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy – Pine Mountain, GA
Practical Professionalism 2.0, Zurich – Chicago, IL
Oregon Association of Defense Counsel – 2015 Annual Meeting, Sunriver, OR
Georgia Defense Lawyers Association – Annual Meeting, Palm Coast, FL
Massachusetts Defense Lawyers Association – 2015 Annual Meeting, Boston, MA
Utah Defense Lawyers Association – 2015 Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT
Catching and Caging Reptile Lawyers, Association of Defense Trial Attorneys – 2015 Annual Meeting, Ponte Vedra, FL
Technology for Lawyers, ICLE, Steamboat Springs, CO – Download Agenda
GDLA Trial & Mediation Academy, Pine Mountain, GA – Download Brochure
Preparing for Battle – Litigation Strategies and Tools, Michigan Defense Trial Counsel, Troy, MI – Download Brochure
Third Party Criminal Act Liability – Premises Liability Seminar, State Bar of Georgia, ICLE, Atlanta, GA
Practical Professionalism — Catholic Mutual Group, Omaha, NE
Controlling “Independent” Counsel Toward Resolution – CLM Regional Seminar, Boston, MA
Caging Reptile Lawyers — Connecticut Defense Lawyers Association
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance – Live Standards Training: Case Assessment and Evaluation, East Edmeston, NY
DRI Trial Tactics Seminar (Faculty)
Opening Statements at Mediation and Trial: Advancing Your Legal Position With Technology — State Bar of Georgia, Live Statewide Satellite Broadcast
Voir Dire/Jury Selection Strategy; Opening Statement – Faculty Demo & Discussion — Trial Academy of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Diffusing the “Reptilian Brain” Tactic, Webcast presented by DRI’s Trial Tactics Committee
The Reptile Revolution: Appeal to Juror’s Primitive Instincts – 21st Annual Industry Seminar, Trucking Industry Defense Association (TIDA), Orlando, Florida
Caging the Reptile: Defending against the latest trial tactic of the plaintiff’s bar – Kansas Healthcare Stabilization Fund
Defense of a Personal Injury Case: Effective Use of Technology at Trial – State Bar of Georgia
Convincing a Jury to Apportion Fault – State Bar of Georgia
Apportionment in a Post Tort Reform World – Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Defense of a Personal Injury Case – State Bar of Georgia
Instructor – Trial Academy of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association
Trying the Un-winnable Case – Effective Use of Technology in the Courtroom, Renaissance Symposium IV of the Litigation Counsel of America
Technology Killed the Dinosaur: How to Defeat the Plaintiffs’ Bars’ Latest Reptile Strategy, DRI Annual Meeting
Defending a Negligent Security Case – Preparing for Trial
Closing Argument: What We Can Learn From Our Younger Days of Show and Tell
Turning the Strategy of the Plaintiff to Your Advantage
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly of Emerging Technology – What You, Your Faculty & Staff Must Know to Keep Students Safe
Medicare’s New Mandatory Reporting
Yes We Can! Tendering Defense and Indemnity
Excluding Experts Under Daubert
Understanding the Implications of Thurman v. State Farm on Available UM/UIM Coverage Calculations in GA
Deal or No Deal: Defending the Bad Faith Case
How to Try and Lose Your Case in the Media
Mediation: Tips and Tools
Federal Removal Strategies
Third Party Indemnification
Premises Liability Seminar
Conducting an Effective Cross Examination in Georgia
Adjunct Professor of Law, Emory University School of Law
Creation and Existence of Agency Relationship (Georgia Jurisprudence: Employment and Labor), Co-Author, Lawyer’s Cooperative Publishing
Moot Court Success, Sum and Substance, West
Business & Commercial Litigation
Commercial Motor Vehicle
Insurance Coverage
Insurance Defense
Premises Liability
Product Liability
Public Sector Litigation
Matt Moffett is an experienced, civil defense trial lawyer with an established track record of defense verdicts in numerous serious injury and death cases. One notable defense verdict occurred in a wrongful death case where the plaintiff attorney asked the jury to award $20 million, and another occurred in a serious injury case where the plaintiff attorney asked for an award of $9.7 million.
Matt is listed among the top 100 lawyers in Georgia and among the Legal Elite in Georgia, in various news publications. He is the past president of the Georgia Defense Lawyers Association, and currently an instructor at the annual GDLA Trial Academy.
Over the last 10 years, Matt has presented as the keynote speaker during the annual meetings of many legal organizations. From Florida to New York, from Washington through Utah and back to Georgia, Matt has presented on effective and professional trial practice to defense lawyers and risk professionals. In 2023, the Defense Research Institute awarded Matt the DRI Fred H. Sievert Award for outstanding bar leadership.
Matt is a Charter Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, a member of The Federation of Defense & Corporate Counsel (FDCC), Association of Defense Trial Attorneys (ADTA) and member of the American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA). He is a Fellow of the Atlanta Bar Foundation, which supports public service projects that assist youth, provides pro bono legal services, and promotes higher education through scholarships.
Married to his high school sweetheart for over 30 years, Matt and Diane have two daughters, one attending UGA in Athens and the other serving as a high school counselor in Chattanooga, TN. The family are longtime members of Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, where Matt has chaired the Administrative Board and now teaches in the adult education program while serving in the One Lamb Initiative founded by his wife Diane.
When not lawyering, you likely will find Matt water skiing on a Georgia mountain lake or snow skiing out west. He also is a certified SCUBA diver and has dived both wrecks and reefs all over the Caribbean.
Emory University School of Law
Atlanta, Georgia
1990 J.D.
Honors: Order of the Barristers
Honors: Emory Moot Court Society
1988-1990, Outstanding Member, 1990
Honors: Best Oralist
Georgia Intrastate Moot Court Competition, 1989
Honors: Best Oralist
Regional Rounds, 40th Annual National Moot Court Comp., 1989
Honors: Winner and Best Advocate
40th Annual National Moot Court Competition, 1990
Honors: Recipient
International Academy of Trial Lawyers Litigation Award
University of Georgia
Athens, Georgia
1987 A.B.J.
Honors: Cum Laude
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa
Bar Admissions
1990 | Georgia
1991 | U.S. District Court Middle District of Georgia
1990 | U.S. District Court Northern District of Georgia
1990 | Georgia Court of Appeals
1990 | U.S. Court of Appeals 11th Circuit
1990 | Supreme Court of Georgia
2013 | United States Supreme Court
2018 |U.S. District Court Southern District of Georgia
-Corporate Claims Representative
-Complex Claims Manager – National Insurer
-National Complex Claims Director
-Juror
-Staff Attorney for State Court trial judge
-Mediator #3
-Mediator #2
-Mediator #1
-Juror in recent serious injury case
-Lawyer peer
-Former lawyer-client
-Adverse counsel testimonial
-Lawyer peer
-Claims manager for self insured corporation
-Director of liability claims for national insurer
-Senior claims examiner for national insurer
-Claims examiner for national insurer
-Senior vice president of national insurer
-Insurer client
-Claims examiner for national insurer
-Claims supervisor for national insurer
-Sr. Claims Specialist, Errors & Omissions Claims Dept., national insurer
-Home office claims supervisor, national insurer
-Regional claims manager, national insurer, 2013 Judgment for the Defense in Wrongful Death Case
-Sr. Litigation Examiner for national insurer, Defense Verdict in Neck Surgery Case
-Trial Tactics Committee, DRI
-Chairman of the Board, national insurance company
-Post mediation comments by Claims Manager of national insurer
-Litigation Examiner for national insurer, following defense verdict in serious injury (neck surgery/impairment) case
-Claims Director for national insurer
-Risk Manager for Fortune 1000 company
-Senior Claim Account Manager for national insurer
-Director of Professional Programs for international insurer
-Risk Manager at a major corporation
-Sr. Claims Specialist for national insurance company
-One of America’s largest insurers
-One of America’s largest security companies
-Corporate Claims Representative
“Don’t take my word for it – this is a “must attend” seminar for sure! Can’t wait to see Matthew G. Moffett, Dick Willis, Nick Polavin, Ph.D. and others lead a master class on mock trials!”
— Partner, Atlanta Defense Law Firm
“Thank you for excellent strategy and execution. You’re the one who suggested and got it to the point of a meeting with [plaintiff’s counsel], then a mediation with the perfect mediator. You’re the one who put the number of $XX out there. You did an excellent job handling all the insurers and the insured’s interests and not letting it get in the way of strategically pacing discussions. I think the timeline was very effective yesterday.
Frankly, this is the most incredible result I’ve seen in any case I’ve handled.
You’ve given us a lot to think about.”
— Corporate Claims Representative
“We absolutely love working with Matt and his team. He is our #1 pick for counsel in Georgia.”
— One of America’s largest security companies
“As we all know Matt is a rock star in the courtroom. I have forwarded this to several managers so that they can see this result.”
— One of America’s largest insurers
“Matt – Thanks to you and your firm. First rate job.”
— Sr. Claims Specialist for national insurance company
“Thanks Jeff, it’s a true pleasure working with you, Matt and the rest of your team on our auto liability claims.”
— Risk Manager at a major corporation
“After you left another adjuster said that today’s presentation was the best Ethics class they’ve had. She liked the interaction and that you kept the focus on ethics. Often our presenters spend a lot of time telling us about their cases which are interesting to a point but it then becomes about them and not the topic. Thank you again.”
— Director of Professional Programs for international insurer
“Thanks for all the work you and Matt did on this case. Nice to have this one concluded.”
— Senior Claim Account Manager for national insurer
“You are all true professionals and it was a pleasure working with all of you through this ‘interesting’ matter.”
— Risk Manager for Fortune 1000 company
“Thanks for all of your help and hard work! Nice job!”
— Claims Director for national insurer
“Congratulations Matt! Many thanks to you and your staff for all of your hard work on this case.”
— Litigation Examiner for national insurer, following defense verdict in serious injury (neck surgery/impairment) case
“I wanted to thank you for the excellent work by you and Jennifer that allowed us to negotiate from a position of strength.”
— Post mediation comments by Claims Manager of national insurer
“Matt, You have been a delight to work with and you are a phenomenal lawyer. I appreciate all you did for us.”
— Chairman of the Board, national insurance company
“Matt, we had a total of 80 registrants. That is an all-time record for the webcasts I’ve done. The presentation was outstanding! On behalf of the Trial Tactics Committee, thank you for your good work.
If our clients need counsel in Atlanta, you are the man we are calling.”
— Trial Tactics Committee, DRI
“Congratulations Matt! Many thanks to you and your staff for all of your hard work on this case.”
— Sr. Litigation Examiner for national insurer, Defense Verdict in Neck Surgery Case
“That is great news Matt, thanks for all your efforts.”
— Regional claims manager, national insurer, 2013 Judgment for the Defense in Wrongful Death Case
“Matt,
You continue to remain our go to firm in Georgia!
Thank you.”
— Home office claims supervisor, national insurer
“Thanks for all your great efforts on this. Great job and great team.”
— Sr. Claims Specialist, Errors & Omissions Claims Dept., national insurer
“Matt, I wanted to pass along my congratulations to you for the result on this case and the appreciation of our insured. I have shared a letter sent to me from the insured with our management here. It expresses appreciation for the professionalism and skill demonstrated by all involved in this case, including the legal representation your firm provided. Thank you for your efforts as our panel counsel.”
— Claims supervisor for national insurer
“Matt, Thank you. It was a great verdict and I am sure the insured individual is in a better state of mind now. You did an excellent job in the defense of this case.”
— Claims examiner for national insurer
“Nice work Matt, you are batting a thousand this year.”
— Insurer client
“Matt, I enjoyed watching you ‘do your thing’ and I appreciate you sharing. I look forward to seeing what decision the court renders. Thank you for all you do for us and our industry.”
— Senior vice president of national insurer
“I want to thank you for all of your hard work and the great job you did preparing and trying the case. I heard along the way what a good job you both did during trial, and several colleagues asked me to pass along their respects for a job well done. I just got off the phone with the insured and he couldn’t say enough about what great lawyers you both are and how much he appreciated how well you treated him. His wife used words like “superb” and “fantastic,” and said that she couldn’t have hand picked better attorneys. They both felt a great sense of relief getting what they called vindication. I think this will help them move on after almost five years. Thanks again for your hard work.”
— Claims examiner for national insurer
“Congratulations on the decision. Thank you for your great work! You guys are developing almost a mythic reputation for your positive results. I am glad you are working on our side.”
— Senior claims examiner for national insurer
“Michael & Matt, This is an excellent result in a case with significant injuries! Thank you for your long, enduring effective job protecting our insured.”
— Director of liability claims for national insurer
“Matt, I finally got around to reading the case summaries {Daily Report}. While these were older claims, my understanding is that to try 4 claims in one year would be a lot; much less to have done so within 3 months. I note the high/low agreement as to the pedestrian claim. Very impressive!”
— Claims manager for self insured corporation
“I have personally witnessed Matt in action and he is an exceptional lawyer with an excellent moral compass.”
— Lawyer peer
“Matt Moffett is an honest and straightforward lawyer with excellent trial skills. He is highly regarded by his professional colleagues.”
— Adverse counsel testimonial
“To Matthew Moffett:
A tough case with such a sympathetic plaintiff, well done sir, I’d have you as my lawyer any time!”
— Former lawyer-client
“Matt, congratulations to you on yet another jury trial victory this year. You and Mike Rust have had great jury trial victories this year.”
— Lawyer peer
“I was juror #3 in the jury selection for the ______ trial. Please let Mr. Moffett know that his ipad skills were impressive – I didn’t know it could be used for anything other than cool apps. What I was most impressed by was his question – does any one feel they may be biased …. I was one of 3 people that admitted to being biased. I didn’t make the jury … he absolutely asked the right question.”
— Juror in recent serious injury case
“Matt, congrats on another win. You have my nomination for the Defense Lawyer of your generation. No doubt you are separating yourself from the pack. Keep up the good work.”
— Mediator #1
“Matt, let me join the parade of people offering their congratulations. Great article. The article had you holding your own before a barrage of questions. I must admit I am not surprised. Your intellect, drive and work ethic are unsurpassed. The article in the FCDR is terrific. You can’t buy publicity like that.”
— Mediator #2
“Great result. Another Matt Moffett verdict that will become a standard part of my mediator shtick.”
— Mediator #3
“You just keep knocking them out of the park. Am I ever going to read the FCDR and not see your picture under the title Big Defense Win?”
— Staff Attorney for State Court trial judge
“A friend of mine was a juror in one of your cases a few years ago and she respected you and your work. This is why I am contacting you. I would love to speak with you at your convenience.”
— Juror
“It was a pleasure working with you and Matt through this mess. I appreciate the professionalism provided by both of you and your firm. I hope I will not need you in the future but it is nice to know you are available. If you need anything else, reach out anytime.”
— President, commercial vehicle accident recovery corporation
“This is a fantastic result given the case the 4 of us inherited. No way we get this result without you guys.”
- AVP, national excess insurer
