Butterfield v. Gray

Matthew Ballew practices in all areas of the firm, including Police Brutality and Civil Rights, Medical Malpractice, Complex Business Litigation, Motor Vehicle Accidents, Premises Liability and General and Class-Action Civil Litigation.  Matt aspires to a practice of law that centers around helping people. He has dedicated his career to representing individuals who find themselves facing the toughest times of their lives, and often up against the endless resources of insurance companies, giant corporations, or governmental bodies. He has successfully helped his clients fight for and obtain justice in major medical malpractice, complex business and investment fraud, and breach of contract partnership trials in North Carolina. Matt is a courtroom advocate, focusing nearly 100% of his practice on civil litigation, jury trials, and appellate representation across the state.

A native of North Carolina, Matt grew up in Marion, a small town in the foothills of the state. He graduated summa cum laude from North Carolina State University, receiving a B.A. with Honors in History and a B.A. in Political Science. He went on to receive his law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During law school, Matt was one of ten students from his class selected onto the Broun National Trial Team, the law school’s nationally competitive mock trial group. During his final year, Matt was elected President of the UNC Trial Law Academy, and he competed in the National Institute for Trial Advocacy (NITA) “Tournament of Champions” with the 16 top-ranked trial teams in the country.

He is proud to serve in numerous leadership capacities with North Carolina Advocates for Justice (NCAJ), a volunteer non-profit organization. He regularly writes and presents in connection with continuing legal education seminars in the areas of medical malpractice and civil litigation. In 2014, he was appointed to serve on the NCAJ Board of Governors and continues to serve in that capacity today.  In 2014, he was selected as Chair of the NCAJ Professional Negligence Section.  He continues to serve annually on the NCAJ Legal Affairs committee, and in that role has co-authored and served on moot court panels for numerous amicus curiae briefs to the North Carolina Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.

Karonnie received his Bachelor of Science degree in Political Science and Government from the University of South Carolina Upstate as a basketball player and then earned his Juris Doctor from Wake Forest University School of Law. While at Wake Forest he was a member and Captain of the American Association for Justice Trial Team, was active in the Black Law Students Association, was a member of the Order of Barristers, and was named a 2001 Outstanding Advocate. Karonnie and his wife Ebony have a daughter and twin sons. He enjoys spending his free time serving on the Elder Board of Oak Springs Missionary Baptist Church, grilling in competitions, and watching and playing basketball.

His admissions and memberships include the North Carolina State Bar, the North Carolina Bar Association, the Guilford County Bar Association, and the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina. He is also a member of the American Association for Justice, the American Association for Justice Truck Litigation Group, the Academy of Truck Accident Attorneys, and the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. He additionally serves on the Board of Governors and in the First Chair of Diversity for the North Carolina Advocates for Justice. His recognition by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 40 Under 40 attorney and by the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum has resulted in numerous written and published articles in the North Carolina Advocates for Justice Trial Magazine and the American Association for Justice Truck Litigation magazine along with various speaking engagements throughout the country through the American Association for Justice Truck Litigation Group. Most recently, North Carolina Lawyers Weekly has selected Karonnie for its inaugural “Power List” of attorneys in North Carolina.