About Matthew Dempsey
Matt shares his time between the firm’s expanding Construction practice and the firm’s highly regarded Construction Defect legal team. Matt works with a variety of general contractors, subcontractors and suppliers. He co-chairs trials in complex construction litigation including all trial preparation, direct examination of witnesses, cross-examination of expert witnesses and case presentation at trial. Managing cases from inception through post-trial motions, Matt has extensive experience arguing substantive and procedural motions, preparing expert witnesses, conducting and defending depositions, handling settlement negotiations, mediations and arbitrations. He represents various commercial entities in disputes related to the Prompt Payment Act, the Contractor and Subcontractor Payment Act, and claims for breach of contract, tortious interference, construction defects, surety bonds, recovery and indemnity claims. Matt routinely provides legal counsel related to drafting and analyzing prime contractor, subcontractor, vendor/supplier agreements, project labor agreements, surety bonds, indemnity agreements and other commercial contracts.
Clients know Matt as a patient and direct communicator who delivers tailored legal advice that reflects his knowledge and understanding of each clients’ business. He believes in setting practical goals for every new engagement, using solution-driven approaches to achieve those goals. Clients rely on Matt to help them understand their unique legal issues and provide practical, efficient, solutions to existing problems, while anticipating and guarding against similar issues in the future.
Matt received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Manhattan College School of Engineering. While studying for the bar, he worked as an Engineer for Pitney Bowes. After graduating from Villanova University School of Law, where he served as the Associate Editor of the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, Matt clerked for Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge, the Honorable Bernard A. Moore. He is barred in state and federal court in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and manages matters that range in value from $500,000.00 to $15 million.
Some of Matt’s recent successes include:
Successfully defended a contractor in a lawsuit brought by a developer alleging claims relating to damaged roadways which the contractor had installed. The court found the contractor had no liability to the developer and awarded attorney’s fees to the contractor, which was important as the contractor’s business was no longer operational, and the retired contractor would have been personally liable for any damages.
Defended a surety bond company and bonded subcontractor against a $1.5 million-dollar claim brought by a general contractor stemming from defects in a roofing system that the subcontractor had installed. Matt successfully argued that warranty provisions in the roofing system sales contract mandated that contractor’s sole remedy for defects was the contract’s warranty provisions, not the subcontractor. This avoided a contentious protracted lawsuit, significantly reducing the surety/subcontractor’s joint exposure and preserving the professional relationships among the surety, subcontractor, general contractor and owner.
When he’s not in the office, Dempsey can be found volunteering with several organizations in his hometown of Woodbury, New Jersey where he sits on the boards of the Woodbury Old City Restoration Committee and Woodbury Community Pride.
Clients know Matt as a patient and direct communicator who delivers tailored legal advice that reflects his knowledge and understanding of each clients’ business. He believes in setting practical goals for every new engagement, using solution-driven approaches to achieve those goals. Clients rely on Matt to help them understand their unique legal issues and provide practical, efficient, solutions to existing problems, while anticipating and guarding against similar issues in the future.
Matt received his Bachelor of Science in Engineering from the Manhattan College School of Engineering. While studying for the bar, he worked as an Engineer for Pitney Bowes. After graduating from Villanova University School of Law, where he served as the Associate Editor of the Sports and Entertainment Law Journal, Matt clerked for Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas Judge, the Honorable Bernard A. Moore. He is barred in state and federal court in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey and manages matters that range in value from $500,000.00 to $15 million.
Some of Matt’s recent successes include:
Successfully defended a contractor in a lawsuit brought by a developer alleging claims relating to damaged roadways which the contractor had installed. The court found the contractor had no liability to the developer and awarded attorney’s fees to the contractor, which was important as the contractor’s business was no longer operational, and the retired contractor would have been personally liable for any damages.
Defended a surety bond company and bonded subcontractor against a $1.5 million-dollar claim brought by a general contractor stemming from defects in a roofing system that the subcontractor had installed. Matt successfully argued that warranty provisions in the roofing system sales contract mandated that contractor’s sole remedy for defects was the contract’s warranty provisions, not the subcontractor. This avoided a contentious protracted lawsuit, significantly reducing the surety/subcontractor’s joint exposure and preserving the professional relationships among the surety, subcontractor, general contractor and owner.
When he’s not in the office, Dempsey can be found volunteering with several organizations in his hometown of Woodbury, New Jersey where he sits on the boards of the Woodbury Old City Restoration Committee and Woodbury Community Pride.
Matthew Dempsey's Recent Answers
Matthew has not answered a contractor question yet. Be the first to ask them a question.
Details
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Years of Experience
13
Licenses
Pennsylvania
New Jersey