|
|
BIOGRAPHY
|
Matthew Lawlor is an attorney with Robinson & Cole in the firm's Boston office and a member of the LandLaw Section, where he focuses his practice on representing developers, nonprofits, municipalities, commercial landlords and tenants, and industry and advocacy groups in matters involving transit-oriented and mixed-use development, commercial real estate development and leasing, and land use and planning law. His experience includes obtaining permits and land use entitlements for developers of large-scale, mixed-use projects, as well as drafting new land use regulatory provisions, including form-based codes, for municipalities. Mr. Lawlor regularly advises a national real estate organization on land use initiatives and trends across the country and serves as a faculty member at continuing education seminars. Mr. Lawlor frequently presents at planning and real estate industry conferences on the related topics of land use regulation, New Urbanism, and smart growth.
Mr. Lawlor works extensively with the firm's representation of the Congress for the New Urbanism/New England Chapter as that organization's pro bono counsel and treasurer. Before attending law school, Mr. Lawlor worked for Comsis Corporation in Silver Spring, Maryland, as a consulting transportation planner for local and state governments. Mr. Lawlor achieved CNU-Accredited status in 2009 from the Congress for the New Urbanism. |
EDUCATION
|
| • |
J.D., Boston College Law School |
|
| • |
M.R.P., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Regional Planning |
|
| • |
B.A.,
cum laude,
Amherst College, Modern European History |
ADMISSIONS
|
| • |
Commonwealth of Massachusetts |
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
|
| • |
Boston Bar Association, Real Estate Pro Bono Committee |
|
| • |
Congress for the New Urbanism, Board Treasurer of New England Chapter; CNU-A Certification |
|
| • |
American Planning Association, Massachusetts Chapter |
|
| • |
Citizens' Housing and Planning Association, Inc. |
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
|
| • |
Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation, Board of Directors and Corporate Counsel |
HONORS & AWARDS
|
| • |
Listed as a Rising Star in Massachusetts Super Lawyers® in the area of Land Use/Zoning Law for 2008, and 2010 - 2011/2012 (Super Lawyers is a registered trademark of Key Professional Media, Inc.) |
|
| • |
Louise Venable Coker Award for Most Outstanding Masters Project at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
EXPERIENCE
|
| • |
Representing developer designated by municipality for large mixed-use, transit-oriented development in the Boston area to include over 900 residential units, a 125-room hotel, and 187,000 square feet of retail, office, and cultural uses and structured parking for 2,000+ cars, all arranged around a public plaza and with enhanced access to the adjacent transit station. |
|
| • |
Represented hotel owner/operator in obtaining necessary municipal approvals for a major interior renovation of a property located in Boston’s recently adopted Groundwater Conservation Overlay District. |
|
| • |
Represented national self-storage company in obtaining necessary local approvals for location of moving vehicle rental at an existing facility in a Boston suburb. |
|
| • |
Represented a major real estate investment trust in land use permitting analysis in connection with the acquisition of an under-construction, 330-unit multifamily development in a southern suburb of Boston. |
|
| • |
Representation of developer in the zoning relief process for a 22-unit, mixed-income residential development in the Roslindale neighborhood of Boston on behalf of the Roslindale Field Development Corporation, a joint venture of Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation and Urban Edge Housing Corporation. |
|
| • |
Collaborated with a community foundation in a Midwestern U.S. city on implementation of a recently adopted urban design element for the city's master plan, including substantial amendments to the city's zoning and subdivision codes to produce better urban design and development forms. |
|
| • |
Assisted local counsel in successful defense of final plan approval for 20-story high-rise development in the town center of Columbia, Maryland. Zoning Board of Appeals hearing examiner ruled that neighbor appellants (some of whom were direct abutters) lacked standing. |
|
| • |
Represented multiple commercial tenants in lease negotiations with major office space landlords in various office submarkets in Boston, Massachusetts. |
|
| • |
Represented commercial landlord in a 42,000-square foot lease to a major national clothing and accessories retailer in western Massachusetts. In related transactions, represented landowner in finalizing tax increment financing and negotiating a parking agreement for the property. |
|
| • |
Represented developer involved in the land use permitting of a proposed 50-unit residential and retail condominium development to be located on a former auto service station less than one-fourth of a mile from an MBTA commuter rail station in a western suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. |
|
| • |
Represented developer of multiunit condominium project in the Allston neighborhood of Boston in successful proceedings before the Boston Landmarks Commission under the city's demolition delay ordinance. Developer ultimately obtained demolition permit and avoided landmarking petition by neighbors. |
|
| • |
Advised transportation authority regarding release by a certain municipality in eastern Massachusetts of certain Article 97 lands in public parkland for the construction of the new surface-to-subway elevator in connection with the authority's settlement of a disabled patron accessibility class lawsuit. |
|
| • |
Advised transportation authority regarding title and transactional aspects of acquisition of real estate rights from public and private owners for construction of new elevators and station renovations regarding selected station accessibility program. This project included negotiation of memorandums of agreement and preparation of in-depth title reports on the statutory and record title basis for authority’s interests at the stations. |
|
| • |
Advised transportation authority on title and transactional matters related to acquiring certain temporary and permanent interests in real estate with certain municipalities in eastern Massachusetts for accessibility improvements, including new elevators, in connection with the authority's settlement of a disabled patron accessibility class lawsuit. Work has included extensive title research, preparation of a title report delineating the authority’s current and proposed interests at the stations, and successful completion of contract negotiations through memorandums of agreement with each municipality. |
|
| • |
Representation of nonprofit community development corporation in the acquisition and development of a 16 to 20-unit transit-oriented, mixed-use project in a Boston neighborhood. |
|
| • |
Representation of lender in the workout of a major mixed-use project in a southern suburb of Boston with respect to modification and extension of permits and approvals. |
|
| • |
Advised the City of Lowell, Massachusetts, regarding the development of the Hamilton Canal District Form-Based Code (HCD FBC). Robinson & Cole’s primary responsibilities included reviewing and suggesting revisions to the code as it was developed, drafting and advising the City on administrative and implementation procedures, and providing a legal analysis of the final HCD FBC’s consistency with state zoning and subdivision law. |
|
| • |
Representing lender on the re-phasing and re-positioning of a major mixed-use development in the northern suburbs of Boston. |
|
| • |
Representing commercial property in an inner-ring suburb of Boston on opposition to a new billboard structure built in contravention of local zoning requirements and the Massachusetts Zoning Act. |
|
| • |
Represented residential property owners on the development of new roof decks on abutting property in the South End of Boston. |
|
| • |
Representing community development corporation on the redevelopment of single-story, underutilized commercial buildings in a neighborhood commercial district of Boston as mixed-use commercial and residential buildings oriented to a nearby commuter rail transit station. |
|
| • |
Working with consultant team on development of a new form-based code covering a new development area at the convergence of three towns in the northern suburbs of Boston. |
|
| • |
Represented city in northern suburbs of Boston as special zoning counsel in the adoption of a path-breaking form-based code for redevelopment of a 15-acre area in the city's downtown as a new mixed-use, transit-oriented district. |
|
| • |
Represented major data support firm in negotiations to relocate from the financial district to approximately 42,000 square feet of space in the Back Bay. |
|
| • |
Represented high-tech personnel evaluation software and service provider in relocation from South Shore to approximately 14,000 square feet of space in downtown Boston. |
|
| • |
Represented start-up litigation support company in initial lease and subsequent expansion for approximately 6,700 square feet at financial district location. |
|
| • |
Represent an academic institution in connection with its relocation to a new 350-student campus to be built in conjunction with a private multifamily, 120-unit condominium. Representation included drafting and negotiation of the purchase and sale agreement with the property owner and the joint venture agreement with the private real estate developer. Handling all due diligence, design, permitting, construction, and financing-related aspects of the project on the school's behalf. |
PUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
|
|
Articles
|
|
| • |
"Tweaking the System: Getting Projects Built and Codes Changed within the Existing Framework" (2008), coauthor of chapter 3 in A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development, Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
|
| • |
"LEED-ND Pilot Rating System Establishes New Building Guidelines" (2/11/2008), published in Banker & Tradesman |
|
| • |
"Governor Patrick Signs Legislation to Exempt Landlocked Tidelands from Chapter 91 Licensing," co-authored with Karl P. Baker (Winter 2007), published in the quarterly Webzine of the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism |
|
| • |
"Helping Communities Make Their Regulations Work for Mixed Use" (Parts 1 & 2) coauthored with Brian Blaesser (12/2007 and 1/2008) published in Retail Law Strategist |
|
| • |
"Chapter 40R: A Good Law Made Better Finally Starts Showing Results" (Fall 2006) |
|
| • |
"Legal Issues in Land Development/Recent Developments in the Law" (5/31/2006), comments offered to the Boston Society of Civil Engineers, focusing on eminent domain and regulatory takings, Boston, Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"Chapter 40R: A New Mechanism for Encouraging Housing Construction," co-authored with Michael S. Giaimo (12/2004), published in Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly |
|
|
Books
|
|
| • |
A Legal Guide to Urban and Sustainable Development for Planners, Developers, and Architects (2008), published byJohn Wiley and Sons |
|
|
Presentations
|
|
| • |
"Negotiating & Drafting Office & Retail Leases" (4/23/2013), presented MCLE seminar; examined similarities, differences, issues, and negotiated solutions of office and retail leasing transactions |
|
| • |
"Context-Based Zoning and Other Innovative Tools" (9/2012) presented at Southern New England American Planning Association Conference: Planning at the Crossroads, Panelist |
|
| • |
"The ABCs of Form-Based Codes & FBC301: Completing, Adopting, and Administering Code" (May 2011), Course Instructor |
|
| • |
"Affordable Housing Law (Chapter 40B)" (September 2010) presented at Boston Bar Association Real Estate Section, moderator |
|
| • |
"An Introduction to Form-Based Codes" (11/25/2008) presented at the Zoning Reform Working Group of the Massachusetts Smart Growth Alliance, Boston, Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"Omaha by Design" (4/2008) presented at the Annual Conference of the American Planning Association |
|
| • |
"Site Acquisition: Negotiating and Drafting the Purchase and Sale of Real Property" (11/16/2007) presented at Lorman Education Seminar on Real Estate Development in Massachusetts from Beginning to End in Dedham, Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"Site Selection and Due Diligence" (11/16/2007) presented at Lorman Education Seminar on Real Estate Development in Massachusetts from Beginning to End in Dedham, Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"New Urbanism, Conventional Zoning, and Form-Based Codes" (10/2007) presented at the CNU 101 seminar in Peterborough, New Hampshire, sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Congress for the New Urbanism |
|
| • |
"Chapter 205 of the Acts of 2006 - The Expedited and Streamlined Permitting Law" (10/3/2006) presented at roundtable discussion with David Sterrett, Boston Bar Association's Land Use Development Committee |
|
| • |
"Smart Growth Overlays Join Chapter 40B: Massachusetts Goes for the Carrot to Encourage Denser Housing Development" (8/4/2006) presented at Lorman Education Seminar on Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Massachusetts, Worcester, Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"Special Zoning Districts and Provisions in Boston" (12/2/2005) presented at Lorman Education Seminar on Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Massachusetts (Boston Focus), Boston, Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"Anti-Snob Zoning and Smart Growth Overlays: The Yin and Yang of Multifamily Housing Development in Massachusetts" (8/2005) presented at Lorman Education Seminar on Advanced Zoning and Land Use - Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"New Urbanism, Smart Growth, TOD and Form-Based Coding: Can They Really Work in Massachusetts," copresented with George Proakis, City of Lowell (8/2005) at Lorman Education Seminar on Advanced Zoning and Land Use in Massachusetts |
|
| • |
"The New Chapter 40R: Massachusetts Tries to Encourage Smart Growth through Incentives for Higher Density Residential and Mixed-Use Zoning," copresented with Sarah Young, deputy director of policy, Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (4/2005) at Smart Policies for Smart Design Session at the Congress for New Urbanism - New England Chapter First Annual Conference, Placemaking in New England |
NEWS
|
