Matthew B. Byrne

Matthew B. Byrne is a shareholder at Gravel & Shea PC in Burlington, Vermont, where he handles complex business and commercial litigation. His practice includes First Amendment, securities, insurance coverage, contract, trademark, trade secret, non-compete, technology, unfair competition, environmental, and personal injury disputes. Byrne has tried cases before juries, judges, and arbitration panels and also represents clients seeking emergency relief in high-stakes matters.

Byrne earned a B.A. with honors from the University of Vermont in 1995 and a J.D. with honors from the University of Chicago Law School in 1998. Before moving to Vermont, he was a partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP in Chicago. His education and prior large-firm experience support a litigation practice involving complex federal and state law issues, detailed factual records, and strategic advocacy in trial and appellate courts.

Byrne has represented clients in significant matters involving nuclear energy, securities, mergers, trade secrets, antitrust, and First Amendment rights. He obtained a permanent injunction for owners of a nuclear power plant in litigation challenging Vermont statutes on federal preemption grounds and helped secure affirmance in the Second Circuit. He has also handled securities class actions, failed merger disputes, anti-SLAPP litigation, internal investigations, and injunction proceedings involving confidential information and restrictive covenants.

Matthew B. Byrne is admitted in Vermont and Illinois and before several federal courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court and the Second, Fourth, and Seventh Circuits. He serves on the New England First Amendment Coalition’s Vermont Committee and the Second Circuit’s pro bono panel and has held leadership roles with the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce. Chambers USA recognizes Byrne for commercial litigation, reflecting his extensive experience with complex disputes and appellate advocacy.

Law Office Affiliations

• Attorney, Gravel & Shea PC
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Vermont Bar Association

Licensed State

• Vermont
• Illinois

Education

• University of Chicago Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• University of Vermont
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges