WilmerHale Partner Matt Martens delivered remarks on behalf of his 2025 class of newly inducted Fellows during the American College of Trial Lawyers’ Annual Meeting, held October 9–12. His speech, which reflected on professional responsibility, courage and the role of trial lawyers in a democratic society, was recently published in full in the winter 2026 issue of the ACTL’s journal.
Martens opened with a story from his own practice, recounting a conversation with an in‑house litigator at a major corporation who described ACTL fellowship as the one professional credential that assures clients an attorney truly “knows what they’re doing.” Martens said the remark echoed his own experience with the College’s Fellows, whom he described as lawyers who consistently demonstrate excellence in and around the courtroom.
Speaking for the new 96 inductees, Martens highlighted the remarkable breadth of backgrounds represented in the 2025 class. Martens shared his own unlikely journey to the profession, describing a working‑class upbringing in New Jersey, a lack of early exposure to the law, and significant struggles with public speaking before finding his footing in law school. Being asked to address the College, he said, was something his younger self could never have imagined.
A central theme of Martens’ remarks was the responsibility that accompanies the legal profession’s exclusive role in providing access to justice. He emphasized that pro bono work is not merely a professional development opportunity but a moral obligation, particularly given the risk that those unable to afford counsel may be denied justice altogether.
Martens also reflected on the role trial lawyers play in resolving disputes through persuasion rather than force, underscoring the importance of representing clients without fear or favor—even when doing so carries personal or professional risk. He closed by thanking the Fellows of the College for their confidence in the new inductees and committing, on behalf of the class, to uphold the College’s legacy of excellence and courage.
Read the full speech here.