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  1. Professionals

A. Matthew Durkin

Associate

Chicago

+1 312-558-3726

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  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Credentials
  • Insights & News

Matt focuses his practice on government investigations, white collar defense, internal investigations, and assisting clients with compliance issues in a variety of industries. Matt also represents both corporations and individuals in complex business disputes and commercial litigation.

Matt represents corporate and individual clients in a variety of government investigations and white collar defense matters involving allegations of bribery/kickbacks, wire fraud, and health care fraud. Matt has also represented executives facing high-profile public corruption investigations, both at the federal and state level, and is currently representing a former executive charged in a major public corruption case in Ohio. In his defense work, Matt has secured favorable outcomes for clients facing governmental and regulatory scrutiny, securing declinations of charges and non-prosecution agreements. 

Matt also represents businesses and executives in complex commercial litigation. As a litigator, Matt has experience on both the plaintiff and defense side and has been part of numerous commercial litigation trial teams. He also counsels clients in an effort to solve complex business disputes and avoid litigation.

In addition to his litigation work, Matt routinely assists clients with internal investigations into misconduct, including allegations of fraud and bribery. Matt also advises companies on best practices to build and improve compliance programs and policies.       

From 2020 to 2024, Matt served as Deputy Special Prosecutor in Cook County, Illinois in the high-profile matter of People of the State of Illinois v. Jussie Smollett. He maintains an active pro bono practice, with a particular focus on criminal pro bono matters.

Prior to joining Winston, Matt clerked for the Honorable William J. Bauer on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.

Key Matters

  • Defending an individual in state and federal criminal proceedings relating to alleged bribery. 
  • Defending a company in connection with a DOJ investigation into alleged fraud.
  • Represented multiple executives in a sprawling DOJ investigation of alleged bribery of a public official.
  • Represented company and executives in a DOJ investigation into alleged health care fraud, securing non-prosecution agreements for executives and favorable outcome for company.
  • Represented a company and executive in a DOJ investigation relating to sports memorabilia fraud.
  • Represented multiple clients in internal investigations stemming from whistleblower allegations of accounting fraud and bribery of public officials.
  • Represented companies in governmental and internal investigations concerning potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations.
  • Represented law firm in a qui tam defense and secured complete dismissal at the motion to dismiss stage. 
  • Represented company in mass tort defense involving allegations false arrest and malicious prosecution.
  • Brought claims on behalf of a client in arbitration and secured favorable outcome following multi-week evidentiary hearing.
  • Member of a trial team for a client in a major commercial dispute with a business partner.
  • Represented both companies and executives in non-compete litigation.  

Capabilities

Litigation/Trials
Appellate & Critical Motions
Government Investigations, Enforcement & Compliance
Commercial Litigation & Disputes
Public Companies

Key Matters

  • Defending an individual in state and federal criminal proceedings relating to alleged bribery. 
  • Defending a company in connection with a DOJ investigation into alleged fraud.
  • Represented multiple executives in a sprawling DOJ investigation of alleged bribery of a public official.
  • Represented company and executives in a DOJ investigation into alleged health care fraud, securing non-prosecution agreements for executives and favorable outcome for company.
  • Represented a company and executive in a DOJ investigation relating to sports memorabilia fraud.
  • Represented multiple clients in internal investigations stemming from whistleblower allegations of accounting fraud and bribery of public officials.
  • Represented companies in governmental and internal investigations concerning potential Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) violations.
  • Represented law firm in a qui tam defense and secured complete dismissal at the motion to dismiss stage. 
  • Represented company in mass tort defense involving allegations false arrest and malicious prosecution.
  • Brought claims on behalf of a client in arbitration and secured favorable outcome following multi-week evidentiary hearing.
  • Member of a trial team for a client in a major commercial dispute with a business partner.
  • Represented both companies and executives in non-compete litigation.  

Credentials

Education

Matt received his J.D., magna cum laude, from Loyola in 2017, where he served as a Student Articles Editor for the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal, and was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu Honors Society. He received his B.A., cum laude, in political science and history from the University of Notre Dame in 2010. Upon graduating, Matt taught at a grammar school on the West Side of Chicago and continued to teach there while attending Loyola University School of Law’s evening program.

    Admissions
    • Illinois
    Clerkships
    • USCA - Seventh Circuit for the Honorable William J. Bauer
    • USCA - Seventh Circuit for the Honorable William J. Bauer

    Related Insights & News

    Recognitions
    Winston Team Led by Bill O’Neil Recognized in Litigator of the Week

    April 8, 2025

    Client Success
    Serving as Special Prosecutor for the State of Illinois, Won Conviction of Jussie Smollett on Five Felony Counts for Falsely Reporting a Hate Crime

    December 1, 2023

    Recognitions
    Dan Webb Named The American Lawyer’s Litigator of the Week

    December 17, 2021

    View All Insights & News

    Capabilities

    Litigation/Trials
    Appellate & Critical Motions
    Government Investigations, Enforcement & Compliance
    Commercial Litigation & Disputes
    Public Companies
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