Matt prides himself on being an energetic and business-minded real estate and finance attorney.

Matt chairs the firm's Real Estate Finance Practice Group while also maintaining an active real estate practice.  He takes a practical, business-minded approach to the practice of law by putting the business goals of his clients first while also protecting them against the legal risks they face.  A thoughtful, energetic and effective service provider, Matt is a careful lawyer who zealously represents his clients while also being well-respected by both his clients and the other parties in transactions.

Matt has a balanced range of experience, which includes representing Fortune 500 lenders and national real estate investors in the hospitality and industrial warehouse industries, regional and community banks, and owners, investors and developers in retail and multi-family real estate and financing transactions. He represents construction and permanent mortgage lenders in the negotiation and documentation of new and restructured commercial loans and counsels other asset-based secured lenders on issues related to the Uniform Commercial Code. He also has represented real estate investors and lending institutions in complex transactions involving real estate portfolios with multiple properties.

Matt also has represented landlords and tenants in the drafting and negotiation of commercial leases and has significant experience representing owners of commercial property in matters involving easements, restrictive covenants, zoning issues, eminent domain and utility construction.

As a former litigator and trial lawyer, Matt understands how courts read contracts and assess claims, and therefore how to protect his clients against potential future adverse rulings through careful and precise contract drafting and thorough due diligence investigation.

Matt was named to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch lists in 2021-2024 and the Super Lawyers: Rising Stars list in 2023-2024.

A former journalist, Matt has also won several awards for outstanding news reporting.

Education

The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law (J.D., magna cum laude), 2014; The Order of the Coif; Note Editor, Ohio State Law Journal, 2013–2014

Malone University (B.A. in Communication Arts, summa cum laude), 2008

Distinctions

Rising Star, Ohio Super Lawyers (Real Estate) (2023-2024)

Ones to Watch, The Best Lawyers in America® – Litigation - Construction (2021–2025)

Professional Activities

• Columbus Bar Association Real Property Law Institute Planning Committee, 2023-present
• Nationwide Children's Hospital Foundation Development Board, 2023-present
• Leadership Team, Vista Community Church
• Member, Brookside Golf & Country Club
• Member, Columbus Bar Association
• Member, Ohio State Bar Association

News

Publications

Additional Items

• Speaker, Strafford Publications CLE Webinar, "Drafting and Negotiating Real Estate Loan Documents," April 2023
• Speaker, Strafford Publications CLE Webinar, "Revolving Lines of Credit for Multiple Property Portfolios," November 2022
• Speaker, Banking Client Seminar, "E-Contracting: Execution, Enforceability and Security Interests," October 2022
• Moderator, Real Property Law Institute CLE on Commercial Lending at Columbus Bar Association, April 2022
• Speaker, Advanced Commercial Real Estate, Ohio State Bar Association, "Issues in Commercial Lending," October 2021

Matt is a family man to his core.  He and Kaitlin, his wife of over 15 years, have four beautiful, engaging, full-of-life daughters ages 10 to 2 years old who make sure there is never a dull moment in the Strayer household.  When not coaching or cheering on their daughters at soccer, volleyball, softball and basketball games or piano and ballet recitals, Matt and Kaitlin enjoy hiking, skiing and exploring with their girls.  Their adventures have included recent trips to Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Wyoming and Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore in Michigan.

As time allows, Matt enjoys golfing at Brookside Golf & Country Club as he played collegiately at Malone University.  He is a fan of Ohio State athletics, the PGA Tour, the Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Browns.  His more recently discovered hobbies include all types of outdoor cooking, i.e., smoking, grilling and griddling, and home renovation.  With help from others, Matt recently completed a DIY basement renovation.  He started from scratch and taught himself along the way, demonstrating his work ethic, ingenuity and "figure it out" problem-solving ability in the process.