Matthew J. Kalas

Counsel

312.443.0458

More ways to contact Matthew J. Kalas

Overview
Representative Matters
Insights
Awards

Matt handles commercial, product liability, and trade secret litigation, as well as direct defense and insurance coverage matters, for domestic insurers and the London market in matters pending across multiple jurisdictions in the U.S. and abroad. He handles, participates in, and oversees cases in trial and appellate courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court and the Cour de Cassation (French Supreme Court). Matt also advises clients on privacy and cybersecurity issues, risk mitigation, and related issues. Before entering the legal profession, he served as an engineering consultant on government and privately funded ventures.

Matt advises U.S. and London market insurers on aviation, privacy, and cybersecurity issues and assists commercial participants in the Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) market on regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and related issues.

Matt is actively involved in the defense of claims arising out of a number of commercial aviation disasters, including Adam Air Flight 292, Adam Air Flight 574, Airblue Flight 202, Flash Airlines Flight 604, Garuda Flight 200, Sudan Airways Flight 109, and Yemenia Airways Flight 626.

Matt also assisted in the defense of the security company that conducted pre-board passenger screening for American Airlines Flight 11 concerning claims arising out of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

  • Defended an OEM manufacturer and lessor of railroad tanker cars against cross-border product defect claims.
  • Defended design and manufacturing defects.
  • Defended an OEM supplier of engine component parts against wrongful death litigation arising from alleged design and manufacturing defects.
  • Defended the owner and operator of an OTR trucking company in personal injury litigation arising from a crash of a tractor-trailer.
  • Represented the insurers of a satellite manufacturer in declaratory judgment actions concerning coverage for on-orbit failures of commercial satellites.
  • Defended the Canadian owner and operator of a float plane in personal injury action arising from a crash in the Canadian wilderness.
  • Defended the owner and operator of an aircraft refueling station in property damage and business interruption action arising from an alleged supply of the wrong fuel type.
  • Defended a supplier of an aircraft and runway deicing compound in property damage action arising from alleged foreign object damage to a commercial aircraft turbofan.
  • Super Lawyers® Illinois Rising Star, Aviation & Aerospace (2012-2015)
  • Center for Disability & Elder Law, Eamon Shannon Special Education Award (2009)
Overview

Matt handles commercial, product liability, and trade secret litigation, as well as direct defense and insurance coverage matters, for domestic insurers and the London market in matters pending across multiple jurisdictions in the U.S. and abroad. He handles, participates in, and oversees cases in trial and appellate courts up to the U.S. Supreme Court and the Cour de Cassation (French Supreme Court). Matt also advises clients on privacy and cybersecurity issues, risk mitigation, and related issues. Before entering the legal profession, he served as an engineering consultant on government and privately funded ventures.

Matt advises U.S. and London market insurers on aviation, privacy, and cybersecurity issues and assists commercial participants in the Unmanned Aerial Systems (drones) market on regulatory compliance, risk mitigation, and related issues.

Matt is actively involved in the defense of claims arising out of a number of commercial aviation disasters, including Adam Air Flight 292, Adam Air Flight 574, Airblue Flight 202, Flash Airlines Flight 604, Garuda Flight 200, Sudan Airways Flight 109, and Yemenia Airways Flight 626.

Matt also assisted in the defense of the security company that conducted pre-board passenger screening for American Airlines Flight 11 concerning claims arising out of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

Representation Matters
  • Defended an OEM manufacturer and lessor of railroad tanker cars against cross-border product defect claims.
  • Defended design and manufacturing defects.
  • Defended an OEM supplier of engine component parts against wrongful death litigation arising from alleged design and manufacturing defects.
  • Defended the owner and operator of an OTR trucking company in personal injury litigation arising from a crash of a tractor-trailer.
  • Represented the insurers of a satellite manufacturer in declaratory judgment actions concerning coverage for on-orbit failures of commercial satellites.
  • Defended the Canadian owner and operator of a float plane in personal injury action arising from a crash in the Canadian wilderness.
  • Defended the owner and operator of an aircraft refueling station in property damage and business interruption action arising from an alleged supply of the wrong fuel type.
  • Defended a supplier of an aircraft and runway deicing compound in property damage action arising from alleged foreign object damage to a commercial aircraft turbofan.
Insights

Articles + Publications

Drones 2022 – To Infinity and Beyond, or Back to the Drawing Board?

Speaking Engagements

UAS Summit & Expo

Articles + Publications

Locke Lord QuickStudy: USA for Your UAS?

Articles + Publications

Locke Lord QuickStudy: New Drone Regulations Coming – Requesting Permission for Flyby? Negative Ghostrider, the ‎Pattern Is Full…Unless You Have Remote ID

See all insights from Matthew J. Kalas

Awards
  • Super Lawyers® Illinois Rising Star, Aviation & Aerospace (2012-2015)
  • Center for Disability & Elder Law, Eamon Shannon Special Education Award (2009)

Top areas of focus

  • Member, Aviation Insurance Association
  • Member, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, Lawyer-Pilots Bar Association
  • Member, Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International

Education

  • Chicago-Kent College of Law at Illinois Institute of Technology, J.D., 2003
  • Pennsylvania State University, B.S., 1997

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • Speaker, “Risk Mitigation: Advice from Lawyers & Insurers,” UAS Summit & Expo, October 13, 2021.
  • Speaker, “Keeping that Genie in the Bottle: Using Trade Secrets to Protect the Improper Use of Your Competitive Information During Unprecedented Times,” Locke Lord, September 9, 2020.
  • Author, “Drones 2022 – To Infinity and Beyond, or Back to the Drawing Board?” Locke Lord, January 2022.
  • Author, “USA for Your UAS?” Locke Lord QuickStudy, February 4, 2021.
  • Author, “Drones Aren’t Just Hackers’ Targets – They’re Hackers’ Weapons,” Locke Lord, Summer 2020.
  • Author, “Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Litigation Arising from Covid-19,” Locke Lord QuickStudy, April 1, 2020.
  • Author, “Business Interruption Insurance Coverage Litigation Arising from COVID-19,” Locke Lord, March 31, 2020.
  • Author, “First Business Interruption Coverage Case Filed In Louisiana,” Locke Lord, March 19, 2020.
  • Author, “Insurers and Reinsurers can Expect COVID-19 Claims as Varied as the Virus Vectors,” Locke Lord, March 17, 2020.
  • Chicago-Kent College of Law, Intellectual Property Program Certificate