Biography
The managing partner of Lockaby PLLC, Matt maintains a diverse practice that stems from his joy working with small businesses. For nearly two decades, Matt has provided strategic advice and counsel to businesses of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 companies, to resolve the myriad day-to-day HR and personnel issues that arise during the employment lifespan, from recruiting and hiring to termination, layoffs, and reductions in force—and everything in between. Matt has also fiercely defended employers and management against a wide variety of discrimination, retaliation, harassment, and wage-and-hour claims in state and federal courts, including class-action and FLSA collective-action claims.
Matt has also carved a special niche for non-compete litigation, particularly for startups and their owners, successfully litigating breach-of-contract and breach-of-fiduciary-duty actions in Kentucky and beyond, including federal court in New York and arbitration in Florida.
His work with small business owners extends beyond labor-and-employment guidance, as Matt also provides corporate and transactional expertise and general counsel services, all of which is aided in no small part by the fact that he is a small business owner himself.
Matt’s expertise spans the business lifecycle, including entity selection and formation for startups (including the preparation of operating, partnership, and shareholder agreements and related documents) and employment, management, and operating contracts (including employment and independent contractor agreements, restrictive covenants, master service agreements, supplier and vendor agreements, etc.).
Finally, Matt maintains an active M&A practice, representing buyers and sellers, including first-time buyers and sellers, in lower middle market transactions, and advising on all aspects of the deal, including due diligence and integration.
Beyond Lockaby PLLC
Matt resides in Lexington, Kentucky, with his wife and law partner, Amanda, and their two children. Outside the office, you can usually find him outdoors: He has climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa; Mt. Rainier in Washington; and Quandary Peak in Colorado, and he escapes to Lake Cumberland and the U.S. Virgin Islands to go boating every chance he gets.
Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law
J.D., cum laude
Dean’s List: 2003, 2004, and 2006
Executive Editor, Northern Kentucky Law Review
Centre College
B.A., English Literature
Kentucky, 2007
Ohio, 2006
U.S. Supreme Court, 2015
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2007
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2007
U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 2007
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2007
American Bar Association
Member, Labor & Employment Law Committee, M&A Committee, and Middle Market & Small Business Committee
Kentucky Bar Association
Member, Business Law Section (Secretary, 2025-2026)
Member, Labor & Employment Law Section (Former Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, Labor & Employment Law Section, 2018-2021)
Fayette County Bar Association
“Port-Mortem of Dead Deals: Lessons Learned from M&A Deals that Didn’t Close,” Panelist – October 2025 Bluegrass M&A Professionals Fall M&A Summit
Employment Contracts and Agreements: A Guide for Corporate Counsel – Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. (Lexis-Nexis 2025)
“Preparing for the 2025 M&A Landscape,” Panelist – October 2024 Bluegrass M&A Professionals Fall M&A Summit (addressing increased focus on talent retention, talent-first M&A deal strategies, and remote and hybrid work integrations in M&A)
“Staying Blunt: The Straight Dope on Labor & Employment Law Changes” – September 2024 Kentucky Association of Healthcare Recruiters presentation
“A Delicate Status for Non-Competes? FTC Actions, NLRB Decisions, and Other Developments” – June 2024 UK Biennial Labor & Employment Law Institute
“The Role of HR in M&A Transactions from Due Diligence to Post-Merger Integration” – 2023 Alpha Financial Advisors’ Annual Business Owner’s Summit
Wage-and-Hour Laws: Best Practices and Recent Developments” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2023)
“Discrimination Law Update” (University of Kentucky College of Law Biennial Labor & Employment Law Institute; Lexington, Kentucky, June 2022)
“Trending Topics: Labor & Employment” (Fayette County Bar Association’s Bench & Bar CLE Program, May 2021)
“Employment Law Essentials: Drafting Arbitration Agreements” (Kentucky Bar Association Annual Law Update, 2020)
“Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law: A Case Law Update on the Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements,” (Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention; Louisville, Kentucky, June 2019)
“2019 Update on Wage and Hour Laws” (Seminar presented at a client’s annual conference attended by nationwide franchisees; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, February 2019)
“Human Resources Law from A to Z” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Louisville, Kentucky, November 2018)
“Ultimate Guide to Expert Witnesses” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys; Lexington, Kentucky for March 2018)
“Guide to Human Resources Laws in the Workplace” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2018)
“Troubleshooting HR Legal Nightmares” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky June 2017)
“Human Resource Law from A to Z” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2017)
“Advanced Issues in Personal Injury Litigation” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys; Lexington, Kentucky, March 2016)
“Title IX: Employment Challenges and Considerations” (Appalachian College Association Annual Risk Management Seminar; Richmond, Kentucky, October 2015)
“Human Resources Law from Start to Finish” (National Business Institute presentation for human resources professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2014)
“Top Five Ways ERISA Third-Party Administrators Can Limit Liability” (National Pension Consultants annual seminar; Sarasota, Florida, February 2014)
Kentucky SuperLawyers Top 50, Kentucky (2026)
Kentucky SuperLawyers (2022-2026)
Kentucky SuperLawyers “Rising Star” (2013-2017)
Education
Northern Kentucky University, Salmon P. Chase College of Law
Centre College
J.D., cum laude
Dean’s List: 2003, 2004, and 2006
Executive Editor, Northern Kentucky Law Review
B.A., English Literature
Bar Admissions
Kentucky, 2007
Ohio, 2006
U.S. Supreme Court, 2015
U.S. Court of Appeals 6th Circuit, 2007
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Kentucky, 2007
U.S. District Court Western District of Kentucky, 2007
U.S. District Court Southern District of Ohio, 2007
Professional Associations
Member, Labor & Employment Law
Committee, M&A Committee, and Middle
Market & Small Business Committee
Member, Business Law Section (Secretary, 2025-2026)
Member, Labor & Employment Law Section (Former Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary, Labor & Employment Law Section, 2018-2021)
American Bar Association
Kentucky Bar Association
Fayette County Bar Association
Presentations
“Port-Mortem of Dead Deals: Lessons Learned from M&A Deals that Didn’t Close,” Panelist – October 2025 Bluegrass M&A Professionals Fall M&A Summit
Employment Contracts and Agreements: A Guide for Corporate Counsel – Matthew Bender & Company, Inc. (Lexis-Nexis 2025)
“Preparing for the 2025 M&A Landscape,” Panelist – October 2024 Bluegrass M&A Professionals Fall M&A Summit (addressing increased focus on talent retention, talent-first M&A deal strategies, and remote and hybrid work integrations in M&A)
“Staying Blunt: The Straight Dope on Labor & Employment Law Changes” – September 2024 Kentucky Association of Healthcare Recruiters presentation
“A Delicate Status for Non-Competes? FTC Actions, NLRB Decisions, and Other Developments” – June 2024 UK Biennial Labor & Employment Law Institute
“The Role of HR in M&A Transactions from Due Diligence to Post-Merger Integration” – 2023 Alpha Financial Advisors’ Annual Business Owner’s Summit
Wage-and-Hour Laws: Best Practices and Recent Developments” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2023)
“Discrimination Law Update” (University of Kentucky College of Law Biennial Labor & Employment Law Institute; Lexington, Kentucky, June 2022)
“Trending Topics: Labor & Employment” (Fayette County Bar Association’s Bench & Bar CLE Program, May 2021)
“Employment Law Essentials: Drafting Arbitration Agreements” (Kentucky Bar Association Annual Law Update, 2020)
“Hot Topics in Labor & Employment Law: A Case Law Update on the Enforcement of Arbitration Agreements,” (Kentucky Bar Association Annual Convention; Louisville, Kentucky, June 2019)
“2019 Update on Wage and Hour Laws” (Seminar presented at a client’s annual conference attended by nationwide franchisees; Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, February 2019)
“Human Resources Law from A to Z” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Louisville, Kentucky, November 2018)
“Ultimate Guide to Expert Witnesses” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys; Lexington, Kentucky for March 2018)
“Guide to Human Resources Laws in the Workplace” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2018)
“Troubleshooting HR Legal Nightmares” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky June 2017)
“Human Resource Law from A to Z” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys and HR professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2017)
“Advanced Issues in Personal Injury Litigation” (National Business Institute presentation for attorneys; Lexington, Kentucky, March 2016)
“Title IX: Employment Challenges and Considerations” (Appalachian College Association Annual Risk Management Seminar; Richmond, Kentucky, October 2015)
“Human Resources Law from Start to Finish” (National Business Institute presentation for human resources professionals; Lexington, Kentucky, February 2014)
“Top Five Ways ERISA Third-Party Administrators Can Limit Liability” (National Pension Consultants annual seminar; Sarasota, Florida, February 2014)
Honors
Kentucky SuperLawyers Top 50, Kentucky (2026)
Kentucky SuperLawyers (2022-2026)
Kentucky SuperLawyers "Rising Star" (2013-2017)
