Matt has been recognized as one of the nation’s top lawyers and deal makers by the prominent industry and mainstream publications. The National Law Journal gave him the elite Trailblazer Award for driving industry change in the Sports, Gaming & Entertainment fields. The Hollywood Reporter honored him as a “Power Lawyer,” praising him as a “new kind of [industry] lawyer – an entertainment-tech hybrid.” Variety has named him an “Elite Dealmaker,” an “Impact Lawyer,” and a “NY Elite Dealmaker.”

Chambers USA and The Legal 500 praised Matt’s unique combination of commercial expertise and “on the ground” industry experience working in-house for delivering “unique insights” to clients on complex business and operational matters.

In addition to having been a partner at leading law firms, Matt has also worked in-house, gaining valuable insight into the business and operational aspects of the sports, gaming, entertainment, technology, media and retail industries. This diverse experience comes from working at organizations, such as Major League Baseball (Commissioner’s Office), Fox Sports Media Group and TiVo, Inc. He also served as lead counsel (on secondment) to Paramount Global’s MTV Games division where he helped launch the Rock Band video game franchise, and acted as “outside” general counsel in the retail space, handling all day-to-day legal matters, for a leading luxury apparel brand.

Matt is a recognized authority on the business and legal aspects of media, advertising, entertainment and consumer products. In addition to speaking regularly on these topics, he has authored books on business transactions, contributed articles to industry publications and been quoted in The New York Times as an expert on commercial law. He has also served on high-profile panels and has been a keynote speaker at industry conferences, including Global Latin America Marketing Summit, the Copyright Society of the USA and DCM East.

A graduate of Georgetown University, Matt received his J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, with study abroad in China (Tsinghua University) and Japan (Keio University).

Matt speaks Spanish, Mandarin Chinese and Japanese.

Areas of Focus

• Professional Services, Procurement and Outsourcing. Complex outsourcing, professional services and master license, development, purchase and support agreements for IT (systems, platforms and applications), financial/accounting, retail products, personnel/staffing, electronics, customer support, back office, CRM and business intelligence/analytics.
• Media, Performance and Distribution.  Digital media (apps), film, TV, program, event and performance licensing, distribution, marketing and syndication initiatives with streaming platforms, cable networks, manufacturers (SmartTVs), mobile and wireless carriers, retail businesses and website, online and other connected-platform operators.
• Marketing, Sponsorships and Advertising. Cross-platform marketing, sponsorships, placements, tie-ins, endorsements, co-branding, joint marketing, talent engagements, promotions, giveaways and other advertising initiatives, including traditional and digital sweepstakes and contests, and related copy, terms, rules, fulfillment and legal compliance review.
• Interactive Entertainment and Gaming. Video game, interactive entertainment, XR/VR, sports betting and e-sports collaboration, development, publishing, license, distribution, marketing and merchandising arrangements across mobile, platform console, headset, Smart TV, online and other IP-connected platforms.
• AdTech, Targeted Marketing and Analytics.  Advanced digital marketing, “ad tech” and business intelligence solutions, including ad serving, insertion and sales arrangements, content recognition, DAI and OEM integrations, data analytics, measurement and monetization, including targeted marketing initiatives and related regulatory compliance review.
• Payments, Fintech and Ecommerce.  Financial services, ecommerce and fintech solutions, including digital payments for mobile apps, wallets, digital cards and contactless payments solutions (NFC), point of sale, merchant and payment processing agreements, customer loyalty and reward programs, and data analytics, targeted marketing and personalized retail strategies.
• Retail, Apparel and Sales. Merchandise, apparel and consumer product licensing, distribution, manufacturing, logistics, co-branding and sales arrangements, including physical store, kiosk, shop and franchising agreements, sales, agent and dealer agreements, consumer purchase/warranty terms and point of sale arrangements.
• Events, Hospitality and Engagement. Venue, arena and live event ticketing, marketing, travel and hospitality arrangements for sports, music and entertainment, including loyalty programs, in-store/venue marketing, arena smart tech and e-commerce (location tech, coupon issuance, wallet integrations), and customized patron experiences (behind-the-scenes, meet-and-greets and travel packages).
• IT Solutions, Platforms and Technologies. Information technology products, services, systems, applications, software, hardware and solution-driven hosting (SaaS, NaaS, PaaS), co-location, service level, support, development, reseller, licensing and distribution arrangements across virtual, mobile, remote, on-premises and emerging solutions and platforms.
• Brand, Content and Licensing. IP (marks, brands, rights), product and service licensing, distribution, marketing, development and service agreements with retailer operators, advertisers, sponsors, media companies, technology companies, video game studios, social media platforms, ecommerce sites and manufacturers of consumer products.
• Hardware, Display and Manufacturing. Device, hardware, display and connected-product development, manufacturing, distribution, procurement and logistics, including arena/stadium displays, IoT and next generation technology invention, integration and prototyping, including hardware procurement, development, quality control, installation and retail sales and marketing.
• Data Privacy and Cybersecurity. Data privacy and security matters, including regulatory compliance, security standards and industry guidelines/practices (e.g., CCPA, PCI DSS, DAA), data use, monetization and administration (privacy policies, ecommerce/access terms, infosec policies), and data arrangements with third party processors, hosted services and contractors.
• Corporate, Real Estate and Employment. Joint ventures, strategic alliances, share and asset transactions, mergers, business combinations, security and credit agreements, real property/leasing transactions, executive compensation, employment, independent contractor and other arrangements.