matthew D. Stayton

Biography

Matt Stayton is an associate in the firm’s Appellate and Litigation sections, largely focusing his talents and experience on civil appeals and commercial litigation. Mr. Stayton has successfully argued cases in the Texas appellate courts and represented clients at the Texas Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. Mr. Stayton has extensive experience in appealing final judgments, interlocutory appeals, original proceedings, mandamus actions, and petitions for review, among others. As lead counsel, and as part of experienced appellate teams, Mr. Stayton has worked on precedent setting appeals for both worldwide companies and individuals alike on a wide variety of matters.

Prior to joining Kelly, Hart & Hallman in 2006, Mr. Stayton practiced appellate law and civil litigation in Fort Worth. He also previously served as briefing attorney to Chief Justice Rex Davis of the Tenth Court of Appeals following graduation from Texas Tech School of Law in 2001. During law school, Mr. Stayton interned for a federal judge and an appellate court.

Past experiences handling significant appellate matters and working for judges have played an important role in Mr. Stayton’s practice in the trial court as well. This experience benefits clients during each step of litigation, and bridges the gap between success at trial and success on appeal. Mr. Stayton has represented plaintiffs and defendants at trial in a variety of matters, including breach of fiduciary duty and fraud claims, breach of contract, wrongful interference, personal injury, and federal antitrust claims, among others.

Mr. Stayton is an active author and speaker on appellate and trial issues. Mr. Stayton has been recognized as an outstanding attorney in the appellate practice area by Fort Worth, Texas magazine and as a "Rising Star" by Texas Super Lawyers.

Education & Honors 

• Baylor University (B.A., 1997)
• Texas Tech University School of Law (J.D., 2001)
• Briefing Attorney to Chief Justice Rex Davis, Tenth District Court of Appeals, Waco, Texas (2001-2002)
• Selected as a "Top Attorney" in Appellate Law and Commercial Litigation, Fort Worth, Texas magazine (2006-2009)
• Recognized as a "Rising Star" by Texas Super Lawyers (2009, 2010)  

Admission & Affiliations 

• Texas, 2001
• United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit
• Appellate and Litigation sections, State Bar of Texas
• The College of the State Bar of Texas
• Texas Bar Foundation
• Tarrant County Bar Association
• Treasurer-Secretary, Tarrant County Bar Association Appellate Section
• Tarrant County Young Lawyers Association
• Eldon B. Mahon Inn of Court, 2005-2007

Significant Matters

• Escondido Services, LLC v. VKM Holdings, LP, _S.W.3d_, No. 11-09-00034, 2010 WL 2219677 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2010, no pet.)  
• In re Spiller, 303 S.W.3d 426 (Tex. App.—Waco  2010, no pet.)
• Texas Specialty Trailers, Inc. v. Jackson & Simmen Drilling, Co., No. 02-07-228-CV, 2009 WL 2462530 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, pet. filed) 
• Bandera Drilling Co., Inc. v. Sledge Drilling Corp., 293 S.W.3d 867 (Tex. App.—Eastland 2009, no pet.)  
• Brock v. Tandy, No. 02-08-400-CV, 2009 WL 1905130 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, pet. denied) 
• Sun-Key Oil Co., Inc. v. Cannon, No. 11-07-00025-CV, 2009 WL 626071 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2009, pet. denied)  
• In re Guardianship of Gibbs, No. 02-05-143-CV, 2006 WL 2830821 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, pet. dism’d)
• Twenty Wings, Ltd. v. T.A.B.C., No. 02-05-355-CV, 2006 WL 1791707 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, no pet.)
• Banc of America Agency of Texas, Inc. v. Pickard, No. 02-05-281-CV, 2006 WL 20001 (Tex. App.—Fort Worth 2006, orig. proceeding) 
• Hyundai Motor Co. v. Vasquez, 189 S.W.2d 743 (Tex. 2005)

• Le Meridien Hotels & Resorts v. LaSalle Hotel Operating Partnership I, L.P., 141 S.W.3d 870 (Tex. App.—Dallas 2004, no pet.)  

Publications & Speeches 

• “Voir Dire Strategies after Cortez and Hyundai”, Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, San Antonio and Houston (2007)
• “Error Preservation in Jury Selection”, Advanced Civil Appellate Law Practice Course, Austin (2006)
• “Preservation of Error”, Advanced Personal Injury Law Course, Dallas (2006)
• “Preservation of Error”, numerous CLE papers/speeches (2003-present)