Mountain Path
Matthew Clendenin, Singleton Schreiber Photo

Overview

Matthew Clendenin is a senior trial attorney and the Director of the Pre-Litigation Team in our Personal Injury and Wrongful Death practice group. His litigation skills have earned significant results for his clients and the recognition of his peers.

Mr. Clendenin began his career as a paralegal for several large law firms. He then attended the Santa Clara University School of Law, where he received many awards and accolades, including “Best Oral Advocate” in the Moot Court Competition. During law school, he was trained in oral argument by barristers at the Honourable Society of Gray’s Inn of Court in London, England, and studied at Magdalen College, Oxford.

Mr. Clendenin is deeply involved in the San Diego Trial Lawyer Community, currently serving at the President-Elect for Consumer Attorneys of San Diego. Mr. Clendenin is also the former President of the Irish American Bar Association and former President of the Del Mar Professionals Association.

Mr. Clendenin has repeatedly been recognized as a top-tier trial attorney. In 2025, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego awarded Mr. Clendenin the “Outstanding Trial Lawyer” award for his $13.7 million dollar verdict in Muhlbach v. Kemper Ins. The verdict was the 45th largest verdict of 2025 in California. In 2022, Mr. Clendenin received the “Street Fighter” trial lawyer award which specifically honors lawyers who take difficult cases to trial.

He and his wife Marta Clendenin have been married for nearly 20 years, and have two daughters, Noemi and Lucie. Outside of work, Mr. Clendenin’s passions include darts, cycling, board games, good whisky, and good company.

Honors & Awards

Top 50 Plaintiff Jury Verdicts in California for 2025 – by TopVerdict.com

2025 Outstanding Trial Lawyer Award – by Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

2022 Street Fighter Trial Lawyer Award – by Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

Top 100 Plaintiff Jury Verdicts in California for 2022 – by TopVerdict.com

Case Results

$13.7 Million Jury Trial Verdict in a Spine Surgery Auto Collision Case
2.5.2025

$1 Million Settlement for Child Drowning Case
1.15.2026

  • Singleton Schreiber secured a $1.5 million settlement for a 26-year-old man who developed debilitating neurological symptoms following a rear-end car collision. Although the vehicle damage was minor and he initially reported no injuries, the client’s condition worsened over time, resulting in severe pain, non-epileptic seizures, and difficulty walking. The settlement was reached after Singleton Schreiber demonstrated that the crash caused lifelong impairments, ultimately securing the full limits of the available insurance coverage.

  • Singleton Schreiber secured a $1.3 million settlement for a woman who suffered serious spinal injuries in a trip and fall accident at a dentist’s office. The injury occurred when a large electrical cord was left unsecured on the floor near the dental chair, creating a dangerous hazard. After completing her dental treatment, the patient stood up and tripped over the cord, causing a severe fall that fractured her spine. As a result of the dentist’s negligence and unsafe conditions, she required life-altering spinal surgery and ongoing medical care.

  • Matthew Clendenin, Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber, secured a $1 million insurance recovery for Jacinto Cuyuch following a catastrophic workplace incident. Mr. Cuyuch suffered a traumatic leg amputation when a heavy drill press fell during a moving operation involving a rented commercial truck.

    The case involved complex liability and insurance coverage issues, as the rental carrier initially denied coverage. Through persistent advocacy, the firm established coverage under the rental policy and secured the full $1 million available to compensate the client for his life-altering injuries.

  • Matthew Clendenin, Senior Counsel at Singleton Schreiber, secured a $1.5 million policy limit settlement on behalf of John Doe, a minor, following a serious off-road vehicle rollover. The collision occurred when a teenage driver lost control of an SUV, resulting in life-threatening injuries to multiple occupants. The minor client sustained a traumatic brain injury and multiple fractures requiring emergency air transport and extensive medical care. The settlement reflects the firm’s commitment to protecting the rights of severely injured minors and pursuing full policy recovery in catastrophic auto accident cases.

Professional Affiliations

Membership

Hawaii Association of Justice

National Trial Lawyers Association

Board Member, Irish American Bar Association

President-Elect, Consumer Attorneys of San Diego

News & Publications

News

A How-To Witness Prep Guide: Empowering Your Client to Ace Their Deposition (page 11)

Blog Posts

Education

University of California, San Diego, B.A. in Political Science, 2007 

University of Santa Clara School of Law, J.D., 2012

Admissions

  • State of California
  • State of Hawaii

Languages

News & Events

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