Overview
Matt is committed to serving some of the nation’s most essential workers. Knowing the stakes are high, he takes a responsive, client-centered approach to representation and is dedicated to protecting his clients’ best interests from the earliest stages of potential litigation.
Matt’s practice is predominantly devoted to transportation industry clients, with an emphasis on commercial carriers and operators facing catastrophic loss claims. He is a key member of the firm’s Rapid Response Team, responsible for providing immediate on-site investigation and counsel after a trucking incident and working in tandem with third parties to preserve evidence.
Beyond the transportation industry, Matt defends aviation maintenance facilities, municipal entities, and public sector employees in civil litigation matters across jurisdictions in Michigan and Ohio.
Experience
Membership & Involvement
- Member: Defense Research Institute; Ohio State Bar Association; Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association
- Past Member of the Unauthorized Practice of Law Committee: Mahoning County Bar Association
Honors
- Selected to the Ohio Super Lawyers "Rising Stars" list: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Resources & Insights
Alerts
Speaking Engagements
Firm News
- Amundsen Davis Attorneys Included on 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists
Amundsen Davis Attorneys Included on 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers and Rising Stars ListsCongratulations to Rob Boroff and Tim Roth on the inclusion on the 2026 Ohio Super Lawyers list and Dan Bray, Matt Smartnick, and Chris Green on the 2026 Ohio Rising Stars list!
- Amundsen Davis Strengthens Its Midwest Presence, Opening Cleveland Office and Expanding in Columbus
Amundsen Davis Strengthens Its Midwest Presence, Opening Cleveland Office and Expanding in ColumbusAmundsen Davis LLC, a leading full-service law firm, is proud to announce its continued strategic growth with the opening of an office in Cleveland, Ohio. With it, eight attorneys and two paralegals join the firm’s Cleveland and Columbus offices. Amundsen Davis now has more than 25 legal professionals in the Ohio market.
- Motor Carrier Claims for Negligent Qualification, Hiring, Training, and RetentionMotor Carrier Claims for Negligent Qualification, Hiring, Training, and Retention
Join Matt Smartnick as he joins a panel of industry leaders to break down the evolving landscape of negligent entrustment, hiring, supervision, and retention claims against motor carriers.
- FMCSA Set to Strengthen ELD Certification Process: What Commercial Motor Carriers Should KnowFMCSA Set to Strengthen ELD Certification Process: What Commercial Motor Carriers Should Know
On December 1, 2025, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced its intent to overhaul the vetting process for electronic logging devices (ELDs). According to the agency, the new, more rigorous process will help ensure that only fully compliant devices appear on the federal registered ELD list.
Commercial motor carriers can expect to see reductions in cost and operational disruptions, but the updated policy may also create new litigation and compliance considerations.
Education
University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 2017, cum laude
University of Akron, B.A., 2014, summa cum laude
Admissions
- Ohio
- Michigan