Matt is an experienced trial attorney who has successfully tried close to one hundred cases to jury verdict in counties throughout the state. Matt is also an experienced appellate lawyer having argued before the Illinois Supreme Court in 2009 and twelve additional cases in various Illinois Appellate Courts.

Matt concentrates his practice in the areas of hospitality law including premises liability, security, and liquor liability cases. In addition, Matt has extensive experience working with clients on construction cases and food poisoning cases. Matt brings a unique perspective and skill set to personal injury matters. He worked at a prestigious large defense firm prior to joining his brother at Heineke Burke LLC in 2001. He has also, on select plaintiff’s cases, recovered over $20 million dollars in verdicts and settlements over the years.

Matt believes that successful representation in a personal injury case involves locating weaknesses in your adversary’s case and exposing those weaknesses by distilling those issues in a manner that a jury will easily embrace.

Matt is a lifelong resident of the Beverly neighborhood in Chicago with his wife and three children. He is a volunteer for all manner of sports, school, and parish activities.

Honors & Awards

In 2004, Matt was honored as one of the “40 Illinois Attorneys Under 40 to Watch” by the Chicago Law Bulletin. While working and attending The John Marshall Law School, he interned with Judge Harry Leinenweber of the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois and the Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office.

Professional Associations

  • Matt is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Illinois State Bar Association, the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, and The Society of Trial Lawyers. He served five (5) years on the Judicial Evaluation Committee of the Chicago Bar Association and is a frequent lecturer at continuing legal education seminars.
  • Matt previously taught as an adjunct professor at The John Marshall Law School teaching legal writing skills classes. He has also routinely lectured the defense perspective in Pretrial Litigation Strategy class at DePaul University School of Law and he has coached the John Marshall Trial Team in competition on several occasions.