Matthew Withiam-Leitch
Associate
Buffalo, NY
Practice Areas
Property Insurance Litigation
about me
credentials & achievements
professional Focus
affiliations
significant matters
media
insights
About Me
“Success is 20% skills and 80% strategy.”
Ever since Matt was a child, he has always enjoyed strategizing. Whether it was board games with the family or trying to plan the perfect day during summer vacation, he always took pride in formulating a strategy and executing it. Now, he uses his love of strategizing to benefit our clients. In his practice, he takes a holistic approach to identifying issues and creating a strategy to accomplish our clients’ goals.
Credentials & Achievements
Education:
Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, J.D.
The Ohio State University, BSBA
Admissions:
New York
United States District Court for the Western District of New York
United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of New York
Missouri
Professional Focus
Capabilities:
First-party insurance disputes
- Litigation
- Discovery
- Motion Practice
- Trial
Industries Served:
- Insurance
Affiliations
- Erie County Bar Association
Significant Matters
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Obtained a $1.2 million award plus attorney’s fees after a full arbitration hearing on behalf of an international professional services firm.
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Secured payment on behalf of a biotech company for $500,000, representing 100% of the client’s pre-suit demand.
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Defeated summary judgment in a high-profile lawsuit brought alleging fraud.
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Obtained a key summary judgment ruling piercing the corporate veil.
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Successfully defended an American Arbitration Association arbitration involving claims for $60 million.
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Obtained rare pre-hearing dismissal on a dispositive motion in an American Arbitration Association arbitration.
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Obtained dismissal with prejudice on a motion to dismiss filed in federal court, eliminating $1 million exposure on behalf of client.
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Helped defeat U.S. jurisdiction over a foreign government in a precedential decision interpreting the Anti-Terrorism Clarification Act of 2018.
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In litigation arising out of the Second Intifada, helped obtain reversal of a $655.5 million judgment against a foreign government by establishing the absence of personal jurisdiction.
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Obtained reversal of a summary judgment ruling on appeal in a $30 million fraud case.
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Helped establish key appellate precedent confirming that a foreign government is entitled to due process protections.