Matthew L. Cates
Member
Mr. Cates practices litigation in the areas of medical malpractice defense, personal injury defense, healthcare, and commercial disputes.
- P 602.262.5802
- F 602.495.2613
- mcates@jsslaw.com
- Phoenix, AZ
- Medical Malpractice Defense
- Personal Injury Defense
- Healthcare
- Commercial Litigation
J.D., Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (1999)
B.A., Geology, Bowdoin College (1996)
Biography
Mr. Cates practices litigation in the areas of medical malpractice defense, personal injury defense, healthcare, and commercial disputes. Mr. Cates represents physicians, hospitals and other healthcare providers in medical malpractice cases, and he has served as trial counsel in numerous medical malpractice jury trials. In addition, he has defended personal injury cases at trial and at arbitration.
Mr. Cates also represents physicians and other professionals before their state licensing boards, including the Medical Board, Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, Physical Therapy Board and Board of Realtors. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Cates served as a Law Clerk to the Honorable Susan R. Bolton of the U.S. District Court for the District of Arizona and to the Honorable Noel Fidel of the Arizona Court of Appeals. During law school, he served as an extern for the Honorable Thomas C. Kleinschmidt of the Arizona Court of Appeals.
Admissions
Admitted to Practice
- Arizona (1999)
Court Admission
- U.S. District Court, District of Arizona (2004)
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit (2004)
Representative Experience
- Represented doctors in jury trials resulting in defense verdicts
- Represented insureds for a special investigations unit of a major insurance company in jury trials and arbitrations resulting in defense verdicts
- Represented healthcare professionals before Arizona Medical Board
- Represented licensed professionals before state licensing boards, including the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners, Arizona Board of Naturopathic Physicians Medical Board, Physical Therapy Board and Arizona Association of Realtors
- Represented automobile and property insurers in coverage and bad faith actions
- Represented architects, engineers, contractors and attorneys in professional malpractice lawsuits
- Represented motorcycle dealership in motorcycle accident cases
- Represented businesses in commercial contract disputes
- Handled appeals before the Arizona Court of Appeals and 9th Circuit Court of Appeals
Memberships
American Bar Association
- Member, Litigation Section
Arizona Association of Defense Counsel
- Member
- Former Member, Board of Directors
Jennings Strouss PLC Committee
- Co-Chair (2021 – Present)
Community Involvement
Bowdoin Alumni Schools and Interviewing Committee
- Volunteer
Waste Not
- Former Member, Board of Directors
Valley of the Sun Kiwanis Club
- Former Member
Honors and Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America©, Medical Malpractice Law – Defendants (2023); Personal Injury Litigation – Defendants (2021 – 2023)