Matthew H. Haverstick
Matt Haverstick is a managing partner at Kleinbard and member of the Firm’s Litigation Department. Widely recognized as one of Pennsylvania’s preeminent litigators, Matt represents government officials, private entities, political parties, and individuals in high-profile litigation and appeals in state and federal court.
A leading advocate on matters of state political law, Matt specializes in complex cases involving government officials, pressing issues of public policy, and grand jury practice. He routinely argues before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, where he recently represented the state Republican Senate Caucus in a lawsuit stemming from the impeachment of Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, and has argued upwards of 100 matters in Pennsylvania’s Commonwealth Court. Matt has also prevailed before the Supreme Court of the United States, recovering more than $10 million in unclaimed property funds on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury.
Referred to in media reports as the “counsel of choice for state Republicans in a number of recent policy fights,” Matt has a strong understanding of local, state, and federal governments, their stakeholders, and the media landscape. His team has represented elected officials at all levels of government in key, and often novel, legal fights – from petition challenges and ballot contests to disputes over redistricting, Medicaid funding and gubernatorial COVID-19 emergency orders. His government clients include several congressmen, the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus, SEPTA, the Pennsylvania Treasurer and candidates for statewide elected office.
Outside of the political arena, Matt’s career has been marked by several landmark cases, including the pivotal role he continues to play in the highly publicized and ongoing effort to recognize Pace-O-Matic’s skill games as legal games of skill in Pennsylvania. In 2023, the state Commonwealth Court ruled that Pace-O-Matic’s skill games do not constitute illegal gambling, setting a state-wide precedent and notching a significant legal victory for the skill game industry. Matt is also well-known for representing the Jehovah’s Witnesses in important litigation regarding religious freedoms and the successful representation of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg, both of which were included in the grand jury report on child sex abuse in Catholic churches.
Matt serves as a trusted advisor and counselor to his public- and private-sector clients. An effective communicator both in and out of the courtroom, Matt is comfortable managing media intensive matters and serving as a spokesperson on behalf of his clients. He is a well-known voice in the legal industry, and is regularly featured in local, national, and international press, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, The Los Angeles Times, NPR, Time, BBC, and more.
Representative Matters
- Defeated quo warranto challenge to sitting District Attorney’s right to hold office in matter involving interpretation of the County Code.
- Represents two Roman Catholic Dioceses in grand jury and civil investigations of child sexual abuse and related matters
- In Election Code challenge, sought and received court order removing lieutenant governor candidate from the ballot because of his ineligibility for office under the Pennsylvania Constitution
- Represented two State Senators in quo warranto action against county sheriff, resulting in sheriff’s resignation after injunction hearing.
- Successfully sought order from the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in its King’s Bench jurisdiction granting relief to the Pennsylvania Senate from a Court-ordered deadline.
- Represents Pennsylvania in litigation against Delaware pending in the United States Supreme Court’s original jurisdiction over multi-million dollar unclaimed property liability.
- Successfully represented Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus in amending constitutional ballot question.
- Successfully argued in Pennsylvania Supreme Court to reverse Gov. Tom Wolf’s firing of Office of Open Records Executive Director Erik Arneson.
- Represented Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman in successfully suing the NCAA to revoke the NCAA’s “Consent Decree” and all accompanying punishments on Penn State University, and in defending the constitutionality of a state law directing the NCAA’s unprecedented $60 million fine of Penn State fund child abuse programs in Pennsylvania.
- Represented, as outside litigation counsel, the Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority, the state agency that oversees the finances of the City of Pittsburgh.
- Represents multiple beer trade industry groups in litigation and regulatory matters, including before the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.
- Conducted internal investigation of the Coatesville Area School District and uncovered rampant theft, mismanagement and lack of effective governance at senior administrative and board level, which resulted in a several hundred page investigative report (publicly released) detailing the fraud and lack of internal controls and recommended sweeping overhaul of internal district policies.
- Represented Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission in state grand jury investigation and argued on behalf of the Turnpike Commission in Supreme Court on availability of state agencies to invoke attorney client privilege in grand jury investigations
- Headed a team of lawyers in representing the State Senate Republican Caucus and approximately 60 individuals in State House Democratic Caucus in connection with the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Bonusgate investigation.
- Represented the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission in defending the constitutionality of the State’s Marcellus Shale law, arguing as lead counsel before the Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court.
- Represented a prominent Philadelphia law firm in legal malpractice action involving a multi-million dollar construction project with a Commonwealth entity.
- Argued before Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on behalf of a charter school seeking relief from an imposed student enrollment cap.
- Argued before Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court on behalf of the State Senate on the Senate’s ability to invoke attorney-client privilege in response to a right-to-know law request.
- Represented the Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives in federal and state redistricting litigation.
- Ongoing representation of the Senate Republican Caucus in a wide variety of matters.
- Represented multiple charter schools involved in federal criminal investigations.
- Represented gaming company in grand jury investigation.
- Represented executive branch agency’s chief counsel in grand jury investigation.
- Represented state legislators in multiple criminal and civil rights matters.
Professional Associations
- Co-Chair, American Bar Association, Criminal Justice Section, White Collar Crime Committee, Public Corruption and Extortion Sub Committee
- Board Member, Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency
- Philadelphia Bar Association
Recognition & Accomplishments
- PA Power Law 100, City & State PA (2022)
- Chambers USA, Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations (2015-present)
- Pennsylvania Super Lawyers (2011-2023)
- Best Lawyers in America (2021-2023)