Member

Matthew W. Breetz

mbreetz@stites.com

Mr. Breetz has a sophisticated trial practice and regularly appears in courtrooms across Kentucky, Tennessee, and upon occasion, Southern Indiana. He is co-leader of the firm's Torts & Insurance Practice Service Group.

Matt defends numerous professionals, including lawyers, insurance agents and brokers, accountants, debt collectors, engineers, title agents, architects and home inspectors in professional malpractice suits throughout the region. Mr. Breetz has a robust practice representing nurses, nursing homes and a variety of allied health professionals in actions alleging significant personal injury or death. Mr. Breetz has a significant premises liability practice, in the past defending a national chain of restaurants throughout the states of Kentucky and Tennessee. He has comprehensive experience in coordinating the defense of hundreds of complex toxic tort cases throughout the country, working as national counsel for one company in asbestos litigation; in addition, Matt has been included in three asbestos jury trials within the past few years. At any given time, Mr. Breetz will also have cases involving motor carrier litigation.

Mr. Breetz is very well versed in both insurance coverage work as well as bad faith litigation, regularly counseling carriers on such issues and defending such clients as necessary.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

Slow Death of the Tripartite Relationship

Spring 2025 National Legal Malpractice Conference, Charlotte, NC, April 2-4, 2025

Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Moderator, 2024 DRI Professional Liability Seminar, New York City, NY, December 5, 2024

Ethical Issues for Today’s Litigator

speaker, 2024 Applied Financial Lines Lawyers Forum, Las Vegas, NV, October 3, 2024

Legal Ethics for In-House Counsel

Kentucky Bar Association In-House Counsel, February 20, 2024

Suits (Not the TV Show). What to Do

Speaker, Kentucky Association of Health Care Facilities (KAHCF) 2023 Annual Meeting, Louisville, Ky., November 14-16, 2023

Recent Assignments
Bar Admissions
Kentucky
Tennessee
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky
U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky
U.S. Supreme Court
Firm Leadership

Torts & Insurance Practice Group, Co-Chair

Professional Liability Practice Group, Team Leader

Ethics Committee, Former Chair

Memberships
American Bar Association, Professional Liability Litigation Committee, member
Kentucky Bar Association
Louisville Bar Association
Kentucky Defense Counsel, Former President
Federal Bar Association, Former President of Kentucky Chapter
Defense Research Institute, Professional Liability Committee, Past Chairman
Claims & Litigation Management Alliance, Member; Insurance Coverage Litigation, Insurance Bad Faith and Professional Liability Committees
American Board of Trial Advocates
Professional Liability Underwriting Society
Association of Professional Responsibility Lawyers
Community Involvement

Southeast American Board of Trial Advocates, Board of Directors

Citizens for Better Judges, Steering Committee (2022-present)

Education
More Than Stites & Harbison

Mr. Breetz lives and dies University of Kentucky football, when his wife and eleven children give him the opportunity. He formerly coached middle school girl's lacrosse and announced high school field hockey and lacrosse games. Mr. Breetz is also an advocate for international adoptions, as his family has been blessed with three children from Ethiopia and two children from China. Mr. Breetz is a member of the Board of Directors for Southeast American Board of Trial Advocates and is a member of the Prichard Committee on Academic Excellence.

Accolades

Martindale-Hubbell® AV-Preeminent® Peer Review Rated

Best Lawyers in America®, Personal Injury Litigation - Defendants; Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2015-25)

Benchmark Litigation magazine, Litigation Star (2020-25)

Kentucky Super Lawyers® (2009-25)

Louisville Magazine's "Top Lawyers" for Professional Malpractice - Defense (2013, 2014, 2016)

MH PR AV 300 - 2025
Breetz M Best Lawyers 2025
Litigation Star 4x
Breetzmsuperlaw
See more related to Matthew W. Breetz
Presentation Mikael Kristenson 242070 Unsplash
Events

Spring 2025 National Legal Malpractice Conference

Date: 4/2/25 - 4/4/25

Omni Charlotte Hotel, 132 East Trade Street, Charlotte, NC 28202-2131

Stites & Harbison attorneys Matt Breetz and Jennifer Guerra will be speakers at the Spring 2025 National Legal Malpractice Conference in Charlotte, NC April 2-4, 2025.

Matthew W. Breetz and Jennifer M. Guerra March 19, 2025
Awards ariel besagar 497034 unsplash
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 47 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2025

The 2025 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 47 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 34 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 13 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC December 27, 2024
Stites & Harbison Logo
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2025 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

The 2025 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky. The guide honors the firms and attorneys who have demonstrated the ability to consistently handle complex, high-stakes cases in multiple jurisdictions.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 09, 2024
Awards ariel besagar 497034 unsplash
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2025 Best Lawyers® Publications

Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 97 of its lawyers are included in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®. Since it was first published in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become universally regarded as the definitive guide to legal excellence according to the publication. Additionally, 12 Stites & Harbison attorneys are named as “Lawyer of the Year” and 30 attorneys are recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America, which recognizes attorneys early in their careers for outstanding professional excellence in private practice in the United States.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 16, 2024
Stites & Harbison Logo
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers® Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2024

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers® recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 35 attorneys to the Super Lawyers® list and 14 attorneys to the Rising Stars® list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2024
Awards ariel besagar 497034 unsplash
Press Releases

Benchmark Litigation 2024 Honors 14 Stites & Harbison Attorneys

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2024 edition of Benchmark Litigation names 11 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys as “Litigation Stars” and three as “Future Stars” in Kentucky.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC October 16, 2023
Best Lawyers Firm WEB
Press Releases

Stites & Harbison, PLLC Lawyers Named to 2024 Best Lawyers® Publications

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Stites & Harbison, PLLC is pleased to announce that 101 of its lawyers are included in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC August 24, 2023
Awards ariel besagar 497034 unsplash
Press Releases

Kentucky Super Lawyers Honors 49 Stites & Harbison Attorneys for 2023

LOUISVILLE, Ky.—The 2023 edition of Kentucky Super Lawyers recently honored 49 Stites & Harbison, PLLC attorneys in the Covington, Frankfort, Lexington and Louisville, Ky., offices. The publication named 37 attorneys to the Super Lawyers list and 12 attorneys to the Rising Stars list.

by Stites & Harbison, PLLC January 12, 2023