Matt Harrison
Matt Harrison is a partner at Kinshield Law whose practice combines child welfare representation, criminal defense, family law, and complex civil litigation. His work frequently involves matters in which multiple legal issues overlap and where early decisions can significantly affect the course of a case.
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Matt Harrison is a partner at Kinshield Law with a practice focused on litigation and high-stakes matters involving families, individuals, and government intervention. His practice includes Child Protective Services / Children and Youth Services matters, criminal defense, family-law litigation, child custody disputes, and civil litigation. Harrison's legal work often sits at the intersection of multiple practice areas. A parent involved in a CPS investigation may also face criminal allegations, a custody dispute may involve competing allegations and emergency court proceedings, and a civil dispute may require both negotiation and the willingness to prepare aggressively for litigation. His approach is designed around those realities. Rather than treating each legal issue as an isolated problem, Harrison works to understand the broader circumstances surrounding a client's situation and identify the decisions that may affect the case down the road. At Kinshield Law, he works closely with the firm's family and child-welfare attorneys to develop coordinated strategies for clients facing difficult circumstances. He believes clients should understand not only what their lawyers are doing, but why they are doing it. That philosophy has shaped the firm's approach to client communication, case preparation, and litigation strategy.
The Practice
- •Child Protective Services / Children and Youth Services Representation
- •Criminal Defense
- •Family Law
- •Civil Litigation
The Approach
Clear thinking when the stakes are high.
“The most difficult cases are often the ones where several problems arrive at once. Our job is to separate the issues, understand the risks, and build a strategy around what matters most.”Matt Harrison
Experience
- •Partner, Kinshield Law, 2019-Present
- •Litigation Attorney, Harrison & Gordon LLP, 2014-2019
- •Associate Attorney, Regional Litigation Firm, 2009-2014
- •Judicial Law Clerk, State Trial Court, 2007-2009
Education
- •Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, 2007
- •Bachelor of Arts, History, Indiana University, 2004
Bar Admissions
- •State Bar of Wisconsin
- •United States District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- •United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Memberships
- •Wisconsin State Bar Association
- •American Bar Association
- •Criminal Law Section
- •Family Law Section
- •Trial Lawyers Association
- •Local Bar Association
Publications
- •“What Parents Should Know Before Responding to a CPS Investigation”
- •“When a Family Matter Becomes a Criminal Matter”
- •“Preparing for Your First Family-Court Hearing”
- •“Understanding Your Options Before Civil Litigation Begins”
Community Involvement
- •Volunteer panel attorney, county public defender emergency referral list
- •Guest lecturer, local law school trial advocacy program
- •Board member, community legal clinic (civil matters)
Selected Matters
CPS Investigation and Criminal Allegations
Represented a parent facing simultaneous child welfare involvement and related criminal allegations. Focus: coordinating criminal-defense and family-law considerations while responding to the child-welfare process.
Emergency Custody Proceeding
Represented a parent in an emergency custody matter requiring rapid preparation and court advocacy. Focus: immediate legal strategy, evidence review, and court preparation.
Complex Civil Litigation
Represented an individual in a disputed civil matter involving competing factual allegations and significant financial consequences. Focus: pre-litigation assessment, discovery strategy, negotiation, and litigation preparation.
Family Litigation
Represented a parent in a contested custody matter involving disputed parenting arrangements. Focus: evidence development, negotiation, and litigation strategy.
Representative matters are presented as case-study categories for illustrative purposes and do not describe specific outcomes.
This page is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this website does not create an attorney-client relationship. The law can vary by jurisdiction and by the facts of your situation. Consult an attorney for guidance specific to your matter.