40 Under Forty 2022

2022 ILLINOIS ATTORNEYS TO WATCH

MATTHEW SIMS

S ince becoming a Plaintiff’s attorney just 8 years ago, Matt Sims has already notched numerous multi-million-dollar recoveries, earning a reputation as a plain- tiff’s attorney to watch. Some examples? Sims recently earned a $6.6 million jury verdict in federal court as lead trial attorney for an iron- worker injured at an assembly plant, far exceeding the $250,000 offer. Last year, Sims as lead counsel won the highest reported compensatory recovery in Illi- nois for a hand amputation: $4.3 million. The recovery was even more remark- able considering his client’s hand was successfully reattached. Prior to that, Sims recovered $2 million in Winnebago County as lead counsel for a client who broke his ankle slipping on ice outside a factory. In Hancock County, he earned a record-setting $2.25 million as lead counsel for a client who suffered a broken leg and burns in a case with signif- icant liability challenges. In another case, Sims and his colleagues won $7.5 million for workers lead-poisoned in a shipyard. It’s results like this that have helped Sims build a thriving plaintiff’s career and spurned involvement with high- profile matters. “He is one of the best and brightest young lawyers out there,” said William Gibbs, partner with Corboy & Demetrio in Chicago. “Bright, diligent, devoted and highly skilled, Matt Sims possesses all the characteristics of an exceptional trial lawyer.” As more evidence, consider the work Sims recently turned in as court

designated lead counsel in a refinery explosion case in federal court. As lead counsel, he led a prosecution team that handled all injury cases for numerous workers and community members in- jured in the explosion. He and his team successfully brought all of these cases to confidential resolutions, with efficiency, empathy, and passion. Before his refinery case, Sims served as co-lead counsel in the crash of US Airways Flight 1702, liti- gated in Philadelphia, which successfully resolved just before trial. Sims’ work on high profile matters continues. Presently, Sims and a firm col- league represent several families in the Boeing MAX/Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 litigation, where he serves as a member of the court appointed Plaintiff’s Executive Committee. Sims is also representing cli- ents in the Henry Pratt Mass Shooting and the Highland Park Parade Mass Shooting. Sims’ partners and colleagues say he is a zealous advocate whom no one out- works. They add that few lawyers possess the encyclopedic knowledge of relevant case law that Sims brings to his cases. Michael Mullen, shareholder with Chi- cago’s Kralovec & Marquard, faced Sims in a serious product liability wrongful death case. He was left impressed with Sims’ abilities: “I am a 40-year defense lawyer who over the years has gone to verdict against the best Chicago has to offer in serious personal injury and wrongful death cases. This being the case, I can state without hesitation that Matt is des- tined to be a member of that elite group of plaintiff attorneys.”

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He is one of the best and brightest young lawyers out there”

AGE 39

FIRM Rapoport Weisberg & Sims PC LAW SCHOOL The John Marshall Law School AREA OF PRACTICE Plaintiff’s personal injury and wrongful death.

40 Under Forty 2022 CHICAGO LAWYER & CHICAGO DAILY LAW BULLETIN