Matthew Jenkins is an accomplished trial lawyer who brings a distinguished background, experience, and perspective to his role as partner and trial lawyer at Passen Powell Jenkins.
Mr. Jenkins graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a combined degree in Politics, Philosophy, and Economics in 2004 and received his J.D. from Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2007. Following law school, he worked for more than a decade as a trial lawyer representing individuals and families in cases involving complex and high-profile personal injury, medical negligence, mass tort, and wrongful death. He has obtained multiple seven- and eight-figure verdicts and settlements for his clients.
In 2017, Mr. Jenkins co-founded a claims management technology and analytics company that created analytic models and software, predominantly for claims arising out of catastrophic personal injury or wrongful death in commercial vehicle accidents, which successfully streamlined the claims process and ensured fair and timely compensation to those injured by the negligence of others. Also in 2017, Mr. Jenkins began working with one of the premier Commercial Transportation Insurance Companies, ultimately becoming President, CEO, and COO responsible for directing the company’s operations and overseeing high-exposure claims around the country. In 2021, he helped lead a merger of the company with one of the largest Specialty Insurance companies in the country, where he served as a President.
In 2024, Mr. Jenkins co-founded Passen Powell Jenkins, returning to his roots as a trial lawyer and his passion for representing victims of negligence. Our clients will benefit greatly from Mr. Jenkins’ vast litigation experience and intimate knowledge and experience in the insurance industry.
Mr. Jenkins is a distinguished member of the Chicago legal community, having served on the Board of Managers of the Chicago Bar Association as well as the Board of Directors of the Chicago Bar Foundation. He is a member of the Illinois State Bar Association and serves on its Judicial Evaluation Committee. He is also an active member of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association and served on ITLA’s Board of Managers.
Mr. Jenkins is Past-President of the Center for Disability and Elder Law and continues to serve on CDEL’s Board of Directors. He previously served on the Board of Directors of the Center for Conflict Resolution. Mr. Jenkins is nationally recognized for his work as an attorney and for his community involvement, having received the following awards: Top Lawyers Under Forty, Chicago Lawyer; Top Forty Lawyers Under Forty Nationally, National Trial Lawyers; Emerging Lawyer, Leading Lawyers; Distinguished Alumni Award, Chicago-Kent College of Law; Distinguished Alumni Award, Public Interest Law Initiative; and Rising Star Award, Chicago Bar Association.
