matthew elias

Matthew
Elias

  • Senior Member

Biography

Matthew is a Senior Member at The Cavanagh Law Firm. He is an experienced litigator who specializes in insurance defense, personal injury, and commercial litigation.

Prior to joining the Cavanagh Law Firm, Matthew practiced commercial litigation at a small civil firm, and previously worked as a prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, the Pima County Attorney’s Office, and the La Paz County Attorney’s Office.

Matthew has handled thousands of cases and conducted forty-five (45) jury trials. In the course of his practice, he regularly appears in court, takes depositions, litigates contested discovery disputes, negotiates in settlement conferences, and reviews business and medical records. Also, he has extensive experience researching legal issues, drafting motions, and drafting other legal and business documents. Additionally, he has experience creating and leading trainings for attorneys, judges, law enforcement, and government agencies.

In March of 2021, Matthew was appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court Task Force on Jury Data Collection, Practices, and Procedures. In that role, he led the project to increase juror pay, and worked on proposals to increase juror participation and revise the jury selection process in Arizona in the wake of the elimination of peremptory challenges.

Matthew received his law degree from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa in 2008. While in law school, he was a semi-finalist in the C. Edwin Moore Oral Argument Competition and a member of the Student Advancement and Alumni Outreach Committee. Matthew received his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona in 2004.

While not practicing law, Matthew enjoys golf, running, exercising, cooking, traveling, and spending time with his wife, two kids, and Portuguese Water Dog. He is also a huge sports fan and enjoys cheering on his favorite teams: the Arizona Wildcats, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers, Real Salt Lake, Borussia Dortmund, and Manchester City.


Education

  • Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
    • J.D. - 2008
    • Honors: Semi-Finalist, C. Edwin Moore Oral Argument Competition (Fall 2005)
    • Honors: Student Advancement and Alumni Outreach Committee Member
  • The University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona
    • B.A. - 2004
    • Major: Political Science

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • U.S. District Court District of Arizona
  • U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit

Professional Associations

  • State Bar of Arizona
  • Maricopa County Bar Association
  • American Bar Association
  • Thurgood Marshall Inn of Court
  • The Sports Lawyers Association