Matt listens. He gives you the time and attention to understand the problems you face, the goals you have, and the idiosyncrasies of your issues. He will advise you candidly and fight for your preferred and realistic solution. In the last decade, he has tried multiple bench and jury trials; won several dispositive motions; and handled appeals. In that same time, he advocated for clients in settlement negotiations, mediation, and arbitration. He avoided costly litigation by considering problems from different angles, thinking outside the box, and finding appropriate, pragmatic, and creative solutions. Matt listens. And then he works hard to get the outcome you desire.
In the last decade, Matt has not seen a civil case he could not handle. Matt served as lead counsel on multiple jury trials and bench trials, and he has served as a second chair on countless others. He succeeded obtaining (and defeating) several preliminary injunctions. He recognizes not every case should go to trial, and he has resolved several actions through dispositive motion practice. Outside of court, he advocates for clients during mediations, arbitrations, and settlement conferences to help resolve disputes in cost-effective, pragmatic, and creative ways.
Matt’s breadth of knowledge and intent listening set him apart. He hears clients’ problems. He listens to what is important. He understands clients’ goals, and he takes the time to learn about clients’ businesses and issues. He advises with candor to craft solutions. Then he works tirelessly to implement those solutions and achieve clients’ goals in a cost-effective, pragmatic way. He relishes going to Court, but he knows some clients need creative ways to avoid costly litigation. In short, he listens closely to resolve matters in the best way possible.
After law school, Matt spent two years clerking for two well-respected judges—the Honorable Kevin G. Ross at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, and the Honorable Michael J. Melloy at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. He started private practice at a large Minneapolis firm. But his home state called him back in 2017, and he has been practicing at Belin McCormick since.
Matt represents small and large companies and individuals in civil litigation. Matt does not specialize in any specific area of civil litigation. His clients are varied, and his cases are diverse. He has handled contract actions, real estate actions, trust and estate matters, non-compete matters, and others. Matt embraces the challenges of learning clients’ business and becoming an expert on whatever area he needs to do. He listens well and distills complex concepts to simple ones to convince jurors and judges his clients are correct.
The results speak for themselves. Matt recently obtained a full summary judgment in a $8,000,000+ civil RICO lawsuit in federal court, avoiding a three-week trial (Rennenger v. Aquawood et al.). After successfully defeating an $800,000+ breach of contract suit at the District Court, Matt successfully defended the verdict at the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals and later prevented the Supreme Court of the United States from taking the case (Hawkeye Gold v. China National Materials). Matt recently obtained a preliminary injunction preventing an easement violation and later obtained summary judgment in a fast-food-restaurant client’s favor in Polk County District Court, securing a $750,000 judgment (Jam Investments v. Rhino Haymarket). He obtained summary judgment in a multi-million dollar family dispute about a closely held corporation, which was later affirmed by the Iowa Court of Appeals (Manatt v. Manatt). He prevented a landlord from evicting several college students and selling a $1.5 million property through a preliminary injunction. (TKE v. ___). He successfully worked to have a nearly $7 million verdict reduced to just $550,000 on appeal. (Thornton v. American Interstate). He has secured millions of dollars for other clients through jury trials (e.g., Pipevision v. Hydro Klean); bench trials (Freeman); and various negotiated settlements.
Although Matt does not specialize in any specific area, Matt has recently handled several trust and estate disputes and knows the trust and estate landscape well. He also is very comfortable in Federal Court. Matt’s relationship with other attorneys in the area and with the bench allow him to be an effective asset for national firms looking for local counsel.
Personal
Matt grew up in Cedar Rapids. After completing his undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame, Matt returned to Iowa and graduated with highest honors from the University of Iowa College of Law. While he used to spend free time singing in choirs and participating in musicals, he now spends his free time making his daughter laugh. When he’s not focused on being a lawyer or a dad, Matt golfs poorly, runs slowly, attends Power Life yoga classes with his wife, watches people more talented than him perform, and tries new craft beers. Matt dedicates volunteer time to two organizations he believes in dearly, Anawim Housing (helping the homeless and low-income population find housing), and the Civic Music Association (continuing a 100-year tradition of hosting new and world-renowned artists in Des Moines).
Honors, Accomplishments, and Community Involvement
Recognized by The Best Lawyers in America®, Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in the areas of Appellate Practice, Commercial Litigation, and Litigation - Labor and Employment. (2020-2024)
Licensed in Iowa State Courts; Minnesota State Courts; Northern and Southern District of Iowa; District of Minnesota; Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals; U.S. Supreme Court
Law Clerk to Honorable Michael J. Melloy, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2014-2015)
Law Clerk to Honorable Kevin G. Ross, Minnesota Court of Appeals (2013-2014)
Des Moines Business Record: Forty Under 40 (2022)
Lead DSM: Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute (Class of 2021)
Anawim Housing Board of Directors (2018-Present; Executive Committee: 2021-2025; Board Chair: 2023-2024)
Civic Music Association Board of Directors (2018-Present; Executive Committee 2021-2024; President: 2022-2023)
Big Brothers Big Sisters (Big Brother: 2019-2022)
Can Play! (Game For Good Planning Committee: 2018-2021)
Representative Work
Hawkeye Gold v. China National Materials, 89 F.4th 1023 (8th Cir. 2023), cert. denied, 144 S. Ct. 2605, L. Ed. 2d 1254 (2024) (Brief and argument at 8th Circuit; successfully defeated writ of certiorari to U.S. Supreme Court)
Rennenger v. Aquawood, No. 4:19-CV-00123-RGE-SBJ (S.D. Iowa) (lead counsel in six-year, multi-million dollar civil RICO action. Obtained full summary judgment for our client on March 27, 2025 (ECF No. 565))
Manatt v. Manatt, No. 23-0649, 2024 WL 3886200, (Iowa Ct. App. Aug. 21, 2024) (lead brief writer; briefed and argued underlying summary judgment, which was later affirmed by Iowa Court of Appeals)
Manatt v. Manatt, No. 21-0319, 2022 WL 1232226, (Iowa Ct. App. Apr. 27, 2022) (lead brief writer; second chair trial attorney in underlying case)
ASI, Inc. v. Aquawood, LLC et al., Civ. No. 19-763 (JRT/HB), 2022 WL 980398, (D. Minn. Mar. 31, 2022) (briefed and argued Motion to Dismiss; obtained dismissal of several claims and successfully argued no cause of action under Minnesota law for an “aiding and abetting fraudulent transfer” exists; case remains ongoing)
Thornton v. American Interstate Ins. Co., 940 N.W.2d 1 (Iowa 2020) (wrote various portions of brief; served as second chair trial counsel)