Matthew J. Lawlor’s practice ranges from real estate disposition for public agencies, affordable housing finance for major lenders, and development, permitting, land use, and planning policy matters for both public and private clients. He regularly represents public authorities and agencies, lenders, developers, nonprofit organizations, and commercial landlords and tenants. In addition to his law degree, he has a master’s degree in regional planning. Matt serves as co-chair of our firm’s Real Estate + Development group.
Real Estate Disposition for Public Agencies
Matt represents public agencies in the disposition of their real property for development and redevelopment. On these matters, he drafts, negotiates, and closes on long-term ground leases and related documentation.
He has assisted public clients on real estate dispositions including construction of a new mixed-use hotel and residential development in Roxbury, a new regional ethnic supermarket in the Nubian Square area of Roxbury, redevelopment of historic structures for multifamily residential use in the Charlestown Navy Yard, and a new regional light industrial contractor’s headquarters in South Boston, Massachusetts.
Affordable Housing Finance
Matt represents major lenders in affordable housing financing for the construction and major rehabilitation of multifamily residential developments. This representation includes drafting all construction/permanent loan documentation, undertaking legal due diligence, and closing the loan transactions.
He has handled numerous affordable housing finance transactions on behalf of major national banks, including for redevelopment of existing structures in Berkshire County and on Cape Cod, for new ground-up construction in selected emerging residential markets, and for the rehabilitation of several public housing developments in Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Development, Permitting, + Land Use
Matt represents non-profit and for-profit developers, including renewable energy developers, on development, permitting, and land use aspects of sustainable, mixed-use and transit-oriented development. This representation includes negotiating acquisition and development documentation, as well as providing advice and conducting due diligence related to development and permitting. On these matters, he assists clients with obtaining all required permits and approvals for their projects. He drafts and negotiates construction and permanent loan documentation and joint venture agreements.
Matt has handled long-term ground leases of new development and obtained permits and development rights for developers of large-scale, mixed-use projects. He successfully obtained permits for a 27-unit residential transit-oriented development for a community development organization. For a corporate client, he negotiated a preferred equity investment in major residential developments adjacent to the central railroad station in Providence, Rhode Island, and near the Green Line Extension in Somerville, Massachusetts. Matt frequently presents at real estate and development industry conferences on the topics of land use regulation, New Urbanism, and smart growth.
Pro Bono
Matt has long-standing pro bono commitments. He serves as pro bono counsel for the Congress for the New Urbanism/New England Chapter, a smart growth and active mobility advocacy group. He also regularly provides advice on permitting, acquisition, financing, and corporate matters for the Southwest Boston Community Development Corporation, a non-profit development organization, on a pro bono basis.
Before attending law school, Matt worked for Comsis Corporation in Silver Spring, Maryland, as a consulting transportation planner for governmental agencies at the federal, state, and local levels.
