About Matt
Matt Karstens entered public service early in his career and has steadily built experience in Illinois courts. He is known among colleagues for a straightforward approach to casework and a willingness to take on complex schedules. His work to date shows an emphasis on hands-on legal tasks rather than office administration.
Karstens served as an Assistant State s Lawyer in 2021 at the Kane County States Lawyer s Office. That role placed him in a busy public office environment. He handled the day-to-day demands that come with government practice, including courtroom appearances, client interviews and preparation of case materials. The position offered regular exposure to litigation and courtroom procedure, and it helped him develop practical courtroom skills early on.
In 2023 Karstens moved into private practice. He joined McSwain Nagle Giese & Rapp, P.C. as an associate lawyer. At the firm he shifted from public litigation to the broader pressures of private practice. The change required adapting to the firm’s workflow and to managing client expectations across a range of matters. His time there added firm-based case management and collaborative work with senior lawyers to the skills he had developed in the county office.
Colleagues describe Karstens as methodical and clear in his courtroom presentations. He tends to approach each matter by breaking it into manageable parts and focusing on what needs to be done next. That way of working shows in both courtroom preparation and in the way he coordinates with clients and co-counsel. He has accumulated experience in trial settings and in pretrial preparation, and he applies those routines when cases require prompt action or careful documentation.
Karstens is licensed to practice in Illinois and continues to work in the state. He has moved between public and private roles, gaining experience in both. Those transitions have shaped a practical view of litigation and case handling. He currently practices law in Illinois, working as an associate attorney at McSwain Nagle Giese & Rapp, P.C., and handling matters on behalf of clients in the state.
