Matthew Donnelly

Biography

Matthew Donnelly serves as Chief Healthcare Litigation Counsel for Emory Healthcare, where he leads the organization’s enterprise-wide healthcare litigation function within the Office of the General Counsel. Since joining Emory Healthcare in November 2026, Matthew has built its enterprise-wide healthcare litigation function from the ground up, establishing the team, organizational structure, policies, technology, and claims and litigation management processes that support the health system’s complex litigation and risk-management needs.

Matthew provides strategic counsel to senior leadership on complex medical malpractice, professional liability, general liability, and risk management matters. He leads the evaluation, defense, and resolution of high-severity claims and oversees outside counsel, litigation strategy, budgets, and insurer relationships. He also works closely with clinical, quality, risk management, insurance, and operational leaders to promote effective risk mitigation, transparency, and alignment between litigation strategy and patient safety.

Matthew is also committed to developing high-performing legal teams and partnering with physicians and clinical leaders to strengthen medico-legal practices and reduce litigation risk.

Prior to joining Emory Healthcare, Matthew spent 20 years at Cleveland Clinic, where he held a variety of legal and leadership positions, including Deputy Chief Legal Officer and Director of Litigation.