Matt Coles

Matt Coles is Counsel in the Lawrenceville office of Huff Powell Bailey. He has been litigating high exposure complex cases for the defense for nearly 40 years. More specifically, he has spent his impressive career successfully trying medical malpractice cases to defense verdict, representing physicians, dentists, oral surgeons, hospitals, long-term care facilities and other healthcare providers and entities. Matt also has successfully defended on appeal numerous favorable trial victories. He has substantial experience representing clients in mediations and arbitrations. Matt is pleased to have been recognized for his outstanding defense work by, among other things, receiving several Defense Counsel of the Year Awards from AAOMS National Insurance Company and numerous Continuing Excellence Awards from OMS National Insurance Company.

Matt received his undergraduate degree from Emory University in 1984, where he was the recipient of a National Merit Scholarship in each of his four years. He received his Juris Doctor degree, cum laude, from the University of Georgia School of Law in 1987, where he was the recipient of the Milton Rattner Scholarship for academic achievement. He also was a member of the Moot Court Team, served on the Moot Court Board and was elected to the Order of Barristers.

Matt practiced in the litigation section of Smith, Gambrell & Russell from 1987 to 2009, where he was an equity partner. While at Smith, Gambrell, he developed a specialty representing hospitals, nursing homes, doctors, and other healthcare professionals in malpractice claims, licensure proceedings and with regard to credentialing issues. He also has substantial experience representing clients in courts in other jurisdictions. In 2009, Matt and his law partner, Tom Barton, left Smith, Gambrell to form the law firm of Coles Barton LLP. Matt continues to maintain an AV Peer Review Rating from Martindale-Hubbell.