Overview
Matt Katz is a trusted advisor and seasoned dealmaker, representing buyers, sellers, investors and companies of all sizes in complex mergers and acquisitions, corporate transactions and general business matters.
With nearly three decades of experience across private practice and in-house counsel roles, Matt brings a well-rounded perspective and business-minded approach to every transaction—prioritizing practical solutions and speed to close.
Matt represents companies at every stage of development and his practice spans wide-ranging industries. His clients include Fortune 500 companies, industry consolidators, family-owned businesses, emerging-growth companies, and financial investors. Matt has served as lead attorney on hundreds of M&A transactions, covering asset and stock acquisitions, strategic mergers, divestitures, joint ventures and minority investments.
Clients frequently rely on Matt as their outside general counsel. He strives to be a valuable resource for businesses looking to grow, restructure or leverage market opportunities. Working through complicated transactions, he aims to anticipate client needs with a focus on delivering clear, practical and actionable advice.
Before returning to private practice, Matt served in senior in-house legal roles for national consolidators and service providers in the automotive, environmental, solid waste and legal tech industries. In these roles, he provided senior management with key advice and counsel, honing his skills in aligning legal strategies with business priorities and promoting cross-functional collaboration among legal, finance and operations teams.
Experience
- Represented a Fortune 500 automotive company in numerous acquisitions and divestitures, including the purchase and sale of collision centers and automotive dealerships across multiple states.
- Represented a Fortune 500 company in a joint venture with another Fortune 500 company with capital investments exceeding $1 biillion.
- Represented an industry consolidator in acquiring in excess of 25 recreational vehicle dealerships across multiple states.
- Represented an industry leader in low voltage electrical with an extensive IP portfolio regarding acquisitions, divestitures and corporate governance.
- Represent numerous sales of businesses and companies to strategic or financial buyers (including where sellers retained a minority equity interest post-closing in businesses), including the following types of businesses: marketing, paving, cosmetics, insurance brokerage, roofing, plumbing, painting, retail, construction, chemical manufacturing, aviation, window manufacturing, collision centers, packaging, graphics, paint booths, technology and equipment manufacturing.
- Represented two restaurant service companies in a merger as part of an industry roll-up strategy.
- Represented an investor in a noncontrolling investment in a medical diagnostic center.
- Acted as lead outside and in-house counsel for a Fortune 500 environmental services company in developing in excess of 100 landfill gas-to-energy projects, including negotiating complex site leases, gas sale agreements and lender consents.
- Represented the interest of various CEOs and other C-suite executives in the sale of their respective businesses to strategic and financial buyers.
- Prepared, reviewed and negotiated various agreements between companies and their employees, including employment agreements with CEOs and other executives, assignments of inventions, noncompete agreements, confidentiality agreements, non-solicitation agreements and restricted stock agreements, option plans and agreements, phantom stock plans and agreements and other incentive equity documents.
- Advise clients with respect to corporate governance matters.
News & Insights
- Speaker, SWANA Landfill Gas Symposium, “Legal and Business Risks in Landfill Gas-To-Energy Projects”, 2012-13
- “Employment Contracts,” University of Miami School of Law, speaker 2005-07
Involvement
Professional Associations & Memberships
- Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVII, 2018
- Broward Workshop
- Board of Directors, 2013-present
- Executive Committee, 2016-present
- Governance Committee, Co-Chair, 2016-present
- Association of Corporate Counsel, South Florida Chapter
- 2011 Continuing Legal Education Conference, Chair
- Board of Directors, 2010-11
Civic & Community Service
- Humane Society of Broward County
- Board of Directors, Member, 2013-present
- Treasurer, 2016-present
- Executive Committee, 2016-present
- Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, Chair, 2016-present
- United Way of Broward County
- Board of Directors, 2014-present
- Audit Committee, Chair, 2014-present
- Tocqueville Society, 2013-present
- Steering Committee, 2013-15
- Annual Development Campaign, Chair, 2012-13
- Board of Ambassadors, 2012-13
- Professional Services Division, Annual Development Campaign, Chair, 2011-12
- Cypress Head Club, Inc. Board of Directors, President and Member, 2006-08
Practices
Education
- University of Miami, J.D., cum laude, 1995
- University of Florida, B.A., 1992
Admissions
- Florida
- New York
- New Jersey (inactive)
