Matthew B. Sperry is a passionate advocate who is dedicated to protecting the rights and advancing the interests of his clients. Matthew will give you an honest evaluation of your case and identify how your case can best be fought.
Matthew has successfully defended clients who were charged with Domestic Battery, DUI, Disorderly Conduct, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Alcohol by a Minor, and Possession of Marijuana. Matthew has successfully had charges reduced from felonies to misdemeanors and obtained supervision sentences for clients as well.
Matthew's litigation experience spans both criminal prosecution and defense across Illinois and Florida. Matthew prosecuted cases for the Pinellas County State's Attorneys Office, defended clients for the Pinellas County Public Defender's Office, and defended clients for the Kane County Public Defender's Office. While Matthew is a member of Florida Bar, at present he is not accepting cases from that jurisdiction.
In addition to being a veteran criminal attorney, Matthew is also an experienced immigration attorney and has enjoyed many successes throughout his immigration practice. In one instance, Matthew obtained status for a client who entered without inspection. Matthew used an old immigration relative petition to obtain 245I relief, thereby allowing the client to adjust status to a lawful permanent resident without leaving the United States. In another case, Matthew obtained status for a client who had worked without authorization, overstayed a visa, and used a fake social security number.
Matthew has also proven himself a worthy adversary against the Department of Homeland Security attorneys, in Removal Court. On one occasion, Matthew successfully argued to an immigration judge in Removal Court that his client was eligible to apply for cancellation of removal relief, despite the Department of Homeland Security's objection. Matthew is well versed in the eligibility requirements for immigration bonds during removal proceedings. He draws not only on his immigration experience, but also his experience as a criminal defense attorney to successfully obtain his clients' release on immigration bonds, during the pendency of removal proceedings. If there is a path to legal status, favorable termination of removal proceedings, or release from immigration custody, Matthew will zealously pursue it on your behalf.
Matthew also has demonstrated excellence in civil litigation. His successes include but are not limited to obtaining a finding of no liability for his client in an administrative vehicle seizure hearing, a judgment in favor of his client in a breach of contract case, obtaining favorable arbitration awards, and obtaining a jury verdict for his client in a personal injury case. Matthew has extensive experience in child abuse/neglect courts, where he has litigated cases initiated by the State via the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), and has experience advising clients under active investigation by DCFS.
In circumstances where going to contested trial or hearing may work against a client's interest, Matthew has also demonstrated strong negotiation skills in a variety of legal settings. Matthew is adept at listening to both his client and the opposing party to discern ways to reach an agreement with the maximum possible benefit for his client. A few examples of Matthew's negotiation experience include:
- Obtaining a reduction from a felony to a misdemeanor
- Obtaining supervision or other reduced criminal sentence
- Obtaining favorable personal injury settlements quickly without delay and without the client needing to go to trial
- Retaining custody of children in the context of a child abuse/neglect proceeding
- Parental visitation in the context of a child abuse/neglect proceeding
- Acquiring access to the house and personal belongings as well as child visitation in Order of Protection proceedings
- Negotiating forfeiture cases and the return of property seized by the State, including but not limited to negotiating the return of property seized during the commission of a felony
- Negotiating rescissions of Statutory Summary Suspensions in the context of DUI cases
Matthew's clients can expect that Matthew will thoroughly and fully inform them of what legal options are available, and that Matthew will actively pursue the best possible outcome for each individual case.
Professional History:
- Assistant Kane County Public Defender
- Acting Assistant Pinellas County Public Defender
- Pinellas County Public Defender's Office - Clinical Legal Intern
- Pinellas County State Attorney's Office - Clinical Legal Intern
Honors and Awards:
- Rising Star, Super Lawyers, 2016-2018
Articles & Publications:
- Know Your Rights: Protecting Yourself & Your Driver's License From Violations of Illinois' "Text Message Ban"
