MATTHEW J. SMITH is a partner and principal at Callinan & Smith, LLP. His practice includes the defense of general liability claims, motor vehicle negligence claims, premises liability claims, homeowner litigation claims, Personal Injury Protection claims and fraud, bad faith and extra-contractual claims, insurance coverage disputes and suspect/fraudulent insurance claims. In addition, he represents various insurers in declaratory judgment actions, and in affirmative actions. Matthew J. Smith attended Pace University, Pleasantville, New York, where he completed a Baccalaureate in Political Science, in January 1986, graduating Cum Laude. He also received a Master’s Degree in Public Administration (Government Track), from Pace University Graduate School, White Plains, New York, in May 1988. He graduated from Pace University School of Law in May 1993, Cum Laude, and had served on the Environmental Law Review Editorial Board, was the Miller Scholar, was a Ranking/Dean’s scholar, Dean’s List, founding member and second President of the Pace Gaelic Law Society, and served on Moot Court Board. He also published three Legal Articles in Law Review and National Journals before Graduation. He was admitted to the State Bar of New York and New Jersey in 1994, the United States Supreme Court in 1997, the Eastern District of New York in 2007, and, most recently, to the Pennsylvania Bar in 2019. Mr. Smith served as an Assistant District Attorney, at the Bronx County District Attorney’s Office, in Bronx, New York, from August 1993 until May 1996. As an Assistant District Attorney, he was assigned to the Appeals Bureau. While there, he also compiled with another member of his Bureau, a litigation manual for cases subject to the New York State Mental Health laws and Criminal Procedure Law Articles 330 and 710. From May 1996 through September 2011, Mr. Smith was an attorney with the law firm of Melli, Guerin Wall & Messineo, P.C., in Paramus, New Jersey. Subsequently, Mr. Smith became a partner in the insurance fraud and litigation practice section of that mid-sized firm in January 2001 where he remained until September 2011. From September 2011 until May 2013, Mr. Smith was the Managing Attorney for the New York and New Jersey offices of the law firm of Allen, Kopet & Associates, PLLC. From May 2013 until April 2020, Mr. Smith was a Partner with Bruno, Gerbino, Soriano & Aitken, LLP, where he managed their Ramsey New Jersey office and was lead attorney for their New Jersey practice. Mr. Smith frequently lectures on Insurance Fraud issues to clients and professional organizations throughout the United States, and has lectured at the Bergen County Police Academy, as well as NJSIA. He had been previously appointed by the Supreme Court, State of New Jersey, to serve as a Panel Chair and Vice District Chairperson for District II-A Fee Dispute Panel from 2011 until 2015. He also was a decorated ARMY officer serving on active duty, as well as a member of the ARMY National Guard and Reserves. He also served as a Legal Officer attaining the rank of Lt. Col. in the USAF-AUX/Civil Air Patrol from 2006 to 2018. He is a 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus and he and his wife Michele have served as a host family for Project Children since 2002.