Matthew Watkins
Associate
Location:
Kansas City, MO
Phone:
Email:
Matt Watkins is an attorney at Edgar Law Firm, LLC, based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Firm was founded in 2002 to provide clients with the responsive, personal service they require in high-stakes, complex litigation. Matt comes to Edgar Law Firm from a successful early career in both criminal law and civil litigation. He is an experienced trial attorney, obtaining both prosecution and defense acumen with over 40 jury trials taken to verdict.
Matt was one of youngest court leads in the history of his previous county, ultimately rising to the level of Criminal Trial Director supervising multiple prosecution teams before being recruited by a prominent Texas criminal defense firm. He was also responsible for directly training prosecutors in the areas of plea negotiation and trial strategy. He was frequently asked to directly train new police recruits on courtroom testimony, even after leaving the prosecutor's office.
Matt has also practiced defending medical malpractice claims, notably litigating cases of first impression in the 8th Circuit involving COVID-19 liability for medical practitioners. His clients directly benefit from his extensive courtroom experience that allows him to anticipate problems and execute on both short and long-term goals through the course of litigation.
Matt received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas (2011). He went on to obtain his Master of Arts in Political Science with a focus on constitutional law from the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas (2012). He was awarded his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law (2015). Matt has been admitted to practice before the state courts in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.
Mr. Watkins is also a veteran. He spent 6 years in the United States Air Force Reserves, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant before becoming an attorney.
In his free time, Matt enjoys playing tennis and golf, and spending time with his wife and their son.
Matt was one of youngest court leads in the history of his previous county, ultimately rising to the level of Criminal Trial Director supervising multiple prosecution teams before being recruited by a prominent Texas criminal defense firm. He was also responsible for directly training prosecutors in the areas of plea negotiation and trial strategy. He was frequently asked to directly train new police recruits on courtroom testimony, even after leaving the prosecutor's office.
Matt has also practiced defending medical malpractice claims, notably litigating cases of first impression in the 8th Circuit involving COVID-19 liability for medical practitioners. His clients directly benefit from his extensive courtroom experience that allows him to anticipate problems and execute on both short and long-term goals through the course of litigation.
Matt received his Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice from the University of Texas at Arlington in Arlington, Texas (2011). He went on to obtain his Master of Arts in Political Science with a focus on constitutional law from the University of Texas at Dallas in Richardson, Texas (2012). He was awarded his Juris Doctor from the University of Texas School of Law (2015). Matt has been admitted to practice before the state courts in Kansas, Missouri and Texas.
Mr. Watkins is also a veteran. He spent 6 years in the United States Air Force Reserves, attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant before becoming an attorney.
In his free time, Matt enjoys playing tennis and golf, and spending time with his wife and their son.
Areas of Practice
- Business Torts
- Fraud/Misrepresentation
- Commercial Litigation
- Class Actions
Bar Admissions
- Texas, 2015
- Missouri, 2021
- Kansas, 2021
Education
- The University of Texas School of Law, Austin, Texas
- J.D. - 2015
- University of Texas, Arlington, Texas
- B.A. - 2011
- Honors: summa cum laude
- Major: Criminology and Criminal Justice
Honors and Awards
- Prosecutor of the Year, 2015 – 2016
