Matthew H. Haverstick
Matt Haverstick is the Managing Partner of Kleinbard and a member of the Firm’s Litigation Department. He is one of Pennsylvania’s preeminent appellate and trial lawyers, representing government officials, public entities, political parties, private companies, and individuals in high-stakes litigation and appeals in state and federal courts.
Matt is a leading advocate in Pennsylvania political and election law, with deep experience in matters involving public officials, urgent questions of public policy, and grand jury practice. He has appeared before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and Commonwealth Court hundreds of times, routinely litigating cases that shape statewide governance and election administration. His election work spans the full range of disputes—from nomination petition challenges and ballot litigation to issues involving election procedures, certification, and post-election contests.
Matt also has a significant national appellate record. He helped secure a major victory on behalf of the Pennsylvania Department of Treasury in an original-jurisdiction matter before the Supreme Court of the United States, recovering more than $10 million in unclaimed property funds for the Commonwealth.
In recent years, Matt’s been recognized as a go-to litigator for elected officials and legislative clients in consequential legal disputes. Chief among his representations has been the Pennsylvania Senate Republican Caucus in litigation arising from attempted impeachment proceedings involving Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner, a matter that drew statewide attention and was ultimately resolved by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court on procedural grounds. He also represented America PAC in separate high-profile litigation involving District Attorney Krasner, as well as the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority defending it against a constitutional challenge by Krasner against a law appointing a special prosecutor for crimes on SEPTA.
Outside the election and political arena, Matt has handled high-profile litigation involving Pennsylvania “skill games,” serving as lead counsel for Pace-O-Matic in Pennsylvania, including litigation that has been the subject of extensive public coverage and appellate review. In 2023, the Commonwealth Court held that Pace-O-Matic’s games do not constitute illegal gambling under Pennsylvania law, a decision that significantly affected the industry statewide. Matt has an active civil practice adverse to such public agencies as the State Ethics Commission, the Gaming Control Board, the Attorney General’s Office and the Liquor Control Board, and he also represents high-level staff from many of those agencies in various litigation matters.
Rounding out his key matters have been constitutional litigation involving charter schools, the Jehovah’s Witnesses, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Greensburg.
Referred to in media coverage as a “counsel of choice” for state Republican clients in major policy fights, Matt is trusted for his command of Pennsylvania government and appellate courts—and for delivering results in matters where the legal issues, the public attention, and the stakes are all high. Matt has also earned the honor of being named in Ranked in Chambers USA Guide, in the area of Litigation: White-Collar Crime & Government Investigations in Pennsylvania since 2015.
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
- Supreme Court of Pennsylvania Historical Commission
- 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 (2011-2025)
- Best Lawyers in America (2021-2027)
- Legal 500, Elite City Focus – Philadelphia – White Collar Crime (2026)