Atty. C. Matt Alva
Clients rely on Matt Alva’s wise counsel and unflappable courtroom and boardroom demeanor to resolve their toughest civil litigation. Matt focuses his practice on product and premises liability matters, class actions, and mass torts.
Profile Summary
About C. Matt Alva at a glance
C. Matt Alva is a business, class action, product liability, and litigation attorney based in Chicago, Illinois, practicing at Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila LLP. Admitted to practice in Illinois, Illinois State Bar Association. Educated at Chicago-Kent College of Law at IIT (J.D., 2011). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Commercial Litigation (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Defendants (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Product Liability Litigation - Defendants (2026). Serands clients in Chicago, IL and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- Clients rely on Matt Alva’s wise counsel and unflappable courtroom and boardroom demeanor to resolve their toughest civil litigation
- Matt focuses his practice on product and premises liability matters, class actions, and mass torts
- He also defends businesses in other complex commercial litigation and business disputes
- Matt is known for his meticulous skill in preparing and trying his cases
- He is also a deft negotiator when settlement best aligns with his clients’ business objectives
- With extensive experience serving as national coordinating counsel in large-scale multi-district litigation, Matt has a reputation for capably managing litigation and defense nationwide alongside his lead role on local work
- Matt has dedicated significant time to advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the legal profession
- He serves on RSHC’s Associate Recruitment, Retention, and Attorney Development Committee, and was co-chair of the diversity committee and a member of the recruiting committee at his prior firm
- A former middle and high school history teacher, and a first-generation college graduate who grew up in a military family, Matt calls on the unique perspectives and skills gained from these experiences to foster his rich client relationships
- Outside of the office, Matt is active in his local community, most recently as the current president of the Ravinia Parent-Teacher Organization
- He enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters
- Matt is the Deputy of the firm’s Product Liability, Mass Torts & Environmental Practice Team
Practice Areas Explained
C. Matt Alva's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases C. Matt Alva handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
Business attorneys advise founders and growing companies on entity formation, contracts, financing, M&A, and dispute resolution.
C. Matt Alva is one of 501,317 business attorneys indexed nationally. Browse business attorneys in Illinois →
C. Matt Alva is one of 26,424 class action attorneys indexed nationally. Browse class action attorneys in Illinois →
C. Matt Alva is one of 66,193 product liability attorneys indexed nationally. Browse product liability attorneys in Illinois →
Civil litigation attorneys for breach of contract, business disputes, civil rights, and class action lawsuits.
C. Matt Alva is one of 454,532 litigation attorneys indexed nationally. Browse litigation attorneys in Illinois →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Illinois
Practicing law in Illinois. Legal matters in Illinois are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Chicago are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Illinois state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Illinois brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Illinois courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Illinois attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Chicago or all attorneys in Illinois.
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