Jeffrey Halkovich

Emily Harris

Emily Harris focuses her practice on healthcare reimbursement disputes, PIP litigation, workers' compensation matters, and insurance-related claims. She represents healthcare providers and facilities throughout New Jersey in arbitration and litigation involving denied, delayed, and underpaid claims.

Emily has developed extensive experience handling high-volume PIP and healthcare reimbursement matters, managing hundreds of arbitration files and representing clients in disputes involving insurance reimbursement and payment issues. Throughout her career, she has prepared and argued claims before New Jersey's PIP dispute resolution forums and has represented both healthcare providers and insurance carriers, providing her with valuable insight into the strategies and challenges that arise in complex reimbursement disputes.

Prior to joining Halkovich Law, Emily practiced at several respected New Jersey law firms, concentrating on healthcare litigation, insurance defense, PIP arbitration, workers' compensation, and personal injury matters. Her experience representing both medical providers and insurance companies gives her a well-rounded perspective that helps her effectively advocate for clients and anticipate opposing arguments.

Emily also served as Judicial Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward V. Gannon, J.S.C., in the Superior Court of New Jersey. In that role, she conducted legal research, assisted with civil matters, and mediated small claims and landlord-tenant disputes, further strengthening her litigation and dispute-resolution skills.

Her practice includes:

• Representing healthcare providers and facilities in PIP arbitration and reimbursement disputes
• Drafting and litigating arbitration submissions, appeals, modifications, and clarifications
• Advising providers on reimbursement issues and claim recovery strategies
• Preparing healthcare professionals and facility representatives for testimony
• Defending provider interests in disputes involving claim denials and payment challenges
• Handling workers' compensation and insurance-related litigation matters

Matilda A. Carvajal

Matilda A. Carvajal is an experienced litigator with more than 15 years of experience in New Jersey insurance and Personal Injury Protection (PIP) litigation. Having spent the majority of her career representing insurance carriers, she now leverages that insider knowledge to advocate for medical providers seeking reimbursement for medically necessary treatment and services.

Ms. Carvajal joined Halkovich Law, L.L.C. in 2025 after building a distinguished career defending insurance carriers in complex PIP and coverage disputes. Her extensive experience as defense counsel provides her with a unique understanding of carrier strategies, claim evaluation processes, coverage defenses, and litigation tactics. Today, she applies that knowledge to help medical providers navigate disputed claims, maximize recovery, and effectively challenge improper denials and reductions of benefits.

Prior to joining the firm, Ms. Carvajal served as a Partner at Dyer & Peterson, P.C., where she advised insurance carriers on coverage eligibility, claim validity, cost-containment strategies. She developed significant experience evaluating complex medical claims, including orthopedic and spine surgeries, pain management procedures, and neurosurgical care, while analyzing issues of medical necessity, causation, reimbursement, and compliance with applicable laws and insurance policy provisions.

Throughout her career, Ms. Carvajal has handled all aspects of PIP litigation, arbitrations, coverage disputes, and medical billing challenges. Her comprehensive understanding of both the carrier and provider perspectives allows her to anticipate opposing arguments, identify weaknesses in defense positions, and develop effective strategies to achieve favorable outcomes for her clients.

Prior to becoming a partner at Dyer & Peterson, P.C., Ms. Carvajal managed a substantial litigation caseload from inception through resolution, earning a track record of success with more no-cause arbitration wins than the industry standard. Earlier in her career, she practiced with Foster & Mazzie, L.L.P. and McDermott and McGee, L.L.P., where she represented insurance carriers in trials, arbitrations, depositions, mediations, settlement negotiations, and motion practice.

Ms. Carvajal earned her Juris Doctor from Rutgers School of Law-Newark, where she served as Secretary of the Women's Law Forum and was an active member of both the Association of Latin American Students and the Hispanic Bar Association. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice from Rutgers University-Newark and was named to the Dean's List.

Outside of her legal practice, Ms. Carvajal is deeply committed to public service and community advocacy. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the Montclair Civil Rights Commission, where she helps advance initiatives promoting equity, inclusion, and civil rights protections. She is also a volunteer Navegadora with the Montclair Fund for Educational Excellence's Navegadores Escolares program, assisting Spanish-speaking families in navigating educational systems and accessing community resources. Additionally, she previously served on the Advisory Council of Forthright, advising on dispute resolution procedures and arbitrator qualifications.

Ms. Carvajal is known for her dedication to client service, practical problem-solving, and strong advocacy. Her unique perspective from both sides of the PIP litigation landscape enables her to provide strategic and effective representation to medical providers throughout New Jersey.