Matthew Walsh concentrates his practice in complex litigation with particular emphasis in the areas of construction, commercial, employment, municipal, medical malpractice and religious institutions liability. He is an accomplished and experienced trial lawyer, having tried 28 jury trials to verdict.

His construction practice includes the representation of general contractors in tort, workers' compensation and employment litigation.

Mr. Walsh also represents police departments, law enforcement agencies, local units of government and state and local officials in tort and civil rights litigation in his capacity as a special Cook County State’s Attorney.

He represents numerous Illinois hospitals, doctors and religious organizations in complex litigation, and leads a team of attorneys who conduct internal investigations at hospitals, municipalities, religious organizations and companies to identify potential criminal and civil exposure.  

Additionally, Mr. Walsh is general counsel for several multimillion-dollar companies, where he manages, coordinates and directs all legal activities, including the drafting of contracts and the handling of commercial litigation, trademark and copyright issues and employment disputes.

In 2004, Mr. Walsh was named by the prestigious Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer magazine as one of the top "40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch." Throughout his career, Mr. Walsh has been involved in many high-profile jury trials. Several of his successful verdicts include:

• In January 2006, Mr. Walsh was one of the trial attorneys who obtained a favorable verdict for St. Mary’s of Nazareth Hospital following a two-week complex medical malpractice jury trial in which the plaintiffs were seeking $3.5 million in damages for the death of a psychiatric patient.
• In June 2005, Mr. Walsh was one of the trial attorneys successfully representing the Cook County Sheriff’s Office in the case of Fields v. Byrne, a high-profile civil rights case filed by four inmates housed in the Cook County Department of Corrections alleging excessive force by numerous correctional officers. After a three-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the Cook County Sheriff’s Office.
• In December 2004, Mr. Walsh was one of the trial attorneys successfully representing Northwest Community Hospital in the case of O’Donnell v. Northwest Community Hospital, a premises liability case where the plaintiffs were seeking more than $2 million in damages. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of the hospital.
• In June 2004, Mr. Walsh was one of the trial attorneys successfully representing an Assistant Cook County Public Defender in the case of Johnson v. Halloran, a case of first impression in Illinois involving a legal malpractice claim against an Assistant Public Defender for his representation of an individual who was convicted of sexual assault and sentenced to 36 years in prison. Four years later, he was pardoned by then Illinois Governor James Edgar based upon exculpatory DNA evidence. The plaintiff alleged that the Assistant Public Defender failed to investigate and present biological evidence at trial, and asked for $4 million in damages. After a two-week trial, the jury returned a verdict in favor of Cook County.

Mr. Walsh joined Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP as an associate in December 1999 and was quickly promoted to non-capital partner in July 2002. In July 2006, he was promoted to capital partner, making him one of the youngest capital partners in the firm. Mr. Walsh is a member of the firm’s Executive Committee.

Before joining Hinshaw, Mr. Walsh served as a prosecutor for more than seven years in the Cook County State’s Attorney’s office. While there, he tried more than 500 felony and misdemeanor cases, including more than 20 murder trials.

Additionally, Mr. Walsh was a Supervisor in the Felony Review Unit of the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office where he was responsible for a team of 10 Assistant State’s Attorneys who investigated, analyzed and approved felony cases throughout the city of Chicago. He was also the lead attorney in more than 300 felony investigations, including more than 40 murder investigations.

In January 2007, Mr. Walsh was appointed by the Supreme Court of the State of Illinois to a two-year term as a member of the Committee on Character and Fitness.

Mr. Walsh holds the CV® Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell for ethics and legal ability. Mr. Walsh has lectured on trial technique and strategy at DePaul University College of Law, John Marshall Law School, the American Bar Association and Hinshaw University's Trial Advocacy Program. His presentations have included, “Emerging Issues Confronting Public Employers, Including Section 1983,” at Hinshaw’s “Effectively Dealing with Current Labor & Employment Issues” seminar, in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, November 2007. Mr. Walsh is an active member of his community. In 2001, he was appointed Trustee for the Village of Indian Head Park, Illinois, and was re-elected to a second term in April 2003. In April 2007, he was re-elected to a third, four-year term. Mr. Walsh also serves as acting Mayor and was previously the co-chairman of the Village's Planning and Zoning Commission.