News & Insights

Matthew Winne Featured in Law.com's "How I Made Partner" Series

September 28, 2026

Lightfoot, Franklin & White LLC partner Matthew J. Winne is featured in Law.com's "How I Made Partner" series, reflecting on his path to partnership and what it takes to build a career in civil litigation.

Winne made partner at Lightfoot after seven years with the firm. He joined following a summer clerkship that led him to pivot from criminal law to civil litigation and tort work. As he told Law.com, the firm "made it clear that they would invest in me and give me early opportunities to develop my skills," and he credits the partners he worked with for pushing him toward those early chances. That included trying his first case as an associate within three months of joining.

For Winne, a strong work ethic is at the core of everything he does, and he credits that as one reason he made partner.

“I try to do my best every day to serve my clients,” Winne told Law.com. “That might mean different things on different days. I also naturally have a hunger to be good at what I do. This is the profession I chose, and I want to be good at it.”

His advice for associates includes a pointed caution against imitation. 

"Trying to be other people... It's a mistake to watch a good lawyer do something and want to be just like them,” he said. “You can borrow things, but you have to find your own voice and be your own person."

Winne represents clients facing product liability litigation and has experience handling medical malpractice, First Amendment law and commercial plaintiff matters. He defends leading companies, including several multinational automotive manufacturers. He also serves on Lightfoot's recruiting and innovation committees and is active with the Products Liability Advisory Council's Future Leaders Program and the American Bar Association's Tort Trial and Insurance Practice Section.

Read the full Q&A on Law.com.