Matthew Covington
Partner
Charlotte Office
1515 Mockingbird Ln Suite 400
Charlotte, North Carolina 28209
Matthew Covington is a partner in the Charlotte Hub of Quintairos, Prieto, Wood & Boyer, P.A., specializing in workers' compensation defense. Mr. Covington is a trusted advisor with over a decade of experience to insurance carriers, employers, and third-party administrators on matters involving claims strategy, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, occupational disease claims, catastrophic injuries, and employer liability defense.
Mr. Covington has successfully handled high-exposure cases from inception through resolution, including depositions, mediations, hearings, and appeals. His litigation background includes defending against alleged catastrophic claims such as tetraplegia, challenging overcompensation presumptions, and obtaining dismissals based on statute of limitations defenses. His strategic approach balances aggressive defense with a focus on cost-efficiency, including the development of alternative fee arrangements to support client objectives.
In addition to his legal practice, Mr. Covington has been recognized for his leadership in legal technology, spearheading firm-wide transitions to paperless systems and serving on multiple technology committees to enhance digital workflows and cybersecurity. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences including the WCI Conference, where he has moderated and participated in multi-state panels addressing workers' compensation and claims management. He has also been featured in NC Lawyers Weekly and has presented CLE's on legal tech for practice efficiency.
In 2009, Mr. Covington earned his Juris Doctor from Elon University School of Law, where he was a Moot Court member, Civil Procedure Book Award recipient, and served as Technology Director for the Student Bar Association. Before law school, he received a Bachelor of Arts with a distinction in Political Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Licensed to practice law in North Carolina, Mr. Covington is an active member of the North Carolina Bar Association (NCBA), the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys (NCADA), the Workers' Compensation Defense Institute (WCDI), and the Defense Research Institute (DRI).
Representative Cases
- Darrell Nichols v. United Painting - Successfully defended against allegations of additional body part injuries related to a compensable claim.
- Bache v. TIC-Gulf Coast - Defended claim where an auto accident allegedly resulted in tetraplegia; case was denied by the Supreme Court.
- Wetter v. MMI Holdings, LLC d/b/a Medical Modalities - Prevailed in rebutting the Parsons Presumption regarding overcompensation of an unrelated body part.
- Andre Myles v. LMS, Inc. - Successfully argued that medical compensation was barred by the statute of limitations.
- Smith v. American National Insurance Company - Defended against claims of additional body parts being causally related to an accepted claim.
Speaking Engagements & Industry Recognition
- Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch - Workers' Compensation (2021-2025)
- NCTA Workshop Series: Workers' Compensation Discussion Lead (2024)
- WCI Conference Panelist & Moderator - Multi-State Panel Discussions for Workers' Compensation Defense (2018-2023)
- WCI Conference Speaker - AI in Claims and Risk Management (2022)
- NC Lawyers Weekly Feature - Workers' Comp Legislative Developments (2017)
- Lawyers Mutual CLE Presenter - Technology Tips for Legal Practice Efficiency (2012)
Community & Volunteer
- The Bulb Volunteer - Delivering food for households in need.
- Carmel Presbyterian Church - Leadership roles including Elder, Deacon, Moderator of the Diaconate, and Youth Group Advisor.
- Designed and maintained church websites to support community engagement and outreach.