Matt Katz manages the firm’s Fort Lauderdale office and focuses his practice on corporate and business law, mergers and acquisitions and commercial transactions. He began his practice in 1996, focusing on corporate and securities laws, with an emphasis on mergers and acquisitions, in the Miami office of Akerman Senterfitt. He then became in-house counsel, focusing on mergers and acquisitions, for Republic Industries, a “roll-up” of solid waste, automotive, billboard and home security businesses, founded by Wayne Huizenga. Upon a reorganization of Republic Industries, Matt joined Republic Services, a leading provider of solid waste and recycling services, as Vice President and Associate General Counsel where he was a major provider of key advice and counsel to senior management team, including the CEO, CFO, President, and CAO, and participated in a variety of legal matters, including corporate development (including landfill gas-to-energy projects and the sale of electrical power) and general corporate matters. Thereafter, Matt served as General Counsel to UnitedLex Corporation, a legal process technology, consulting and outsourcing company providing services to Global 500 companies and Am Law 200 law firms in the areas of eDiscovery, document review, contract review and management, immigration, legal research, corporate secretarial services and intellectual property.
Areas of Practice
- Corporate and Business
- Mergers and Acquisitions
- Renewable Energy Development (with a focus on landfill gas-to-energy projects)
- Beneficial Reuse Development with respect to Materials and Recycling
- Environmental Services (with a focus on solid waste, special waste and recycling)
- Legal Process Outsourcing
Representative Experience
- Lead in-house counsel for in excess of a hundred mergers and acquisitions (including private and public transactions) with an aggregate purchase price in excess of $700M
- Lead counsel for the sale of two automotive dealerships for a Fotune 500 automotive company
- Lead counsel for the sale of manufacturing company and its subsidiaries to a strategic purchaser
- Lead counsel for the acquisition of five automotive collision centers for a Fortune 500 automotive company
- Lead counsel for the acquisition of seven recreational vehicle dealerships for an industry consolidator
- Lead counsel for the merger of two restaurant service companies serving as founding group in connection with an industry roll-up
- Lead counsel for investor in connection with passive and non-controlling investment in the development of a medical diagnostic center
- Lead in-house counsel and lead outside counsel for Fortune 500 environmental services company for landfill gas-to-energy projects representing landfill owner in the review and negotiation of applicable project agreements, including landfill gas sale agreements, site leases, easements, guaranties and lender consent agreements
- Lead counsel for representative of CEO in sale of internet cloud based learning platform
- Lead counsel for the seller to private equity groups where seller retains 10%-30% equity in the new entity operating the business (businesses include public relations and marketing, roofing, aircraft terminal equipment, cosmetics, facilities management, automotive equipment, paving, chemical manufacturer, collision center paint booths, homeowner association management and telecom equipment)
Bar Admissions
- Florida
- New York
- New Jersey (inactive)
Education
- University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, 1995, J.D. (Cum Laude)
- Inter-American law Review, Phi Delta Phi Honor Society, Dean’s List
- University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 1992, B.A.
- Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society
Other Activities
- Leadership Florida Cornerstone Class XXXVII, 2018
- Member, Board of Directors, Broward Workshop, 2013-Current
- Member, Executive Committee, Broward Workshop, 2016-Current
- Co-Chair, Governance Committee, Broward Workshop, 2016-Current
- Member, Board of Directors, Humane Society of Broward County, 2013-Current
- Treasurer, Humane Society of Broward County, 2016-Current
- Member, Executive Committee, Humane Society of Broward County, 2016-Current
- Chair, Budget, Finance and Audit Committee, Humane Society of Broward County, 2016-Current
- Member, Board of Directors, United Way of Broward County, 2014-Current
- Chair, Audit Committee, United Way of Broward County, 2014-Current
- Member, Tocqueville Society, United Way of Broward County, 2013-Current
- Member, Tocqueville Society Steering Committee, United Way of Broward County, 2013-2015
- Chair, Annual Development Campaign, United Way of Broward County, 2012-2013
- Member, Board of Ambassadors, United Way of Broward County, 2012-2013
- Chair, Professional Services Division, Annual Development Campaign, United Way of Broward County, 2011-2012
- Chair, Association of Corporate Counsel (South Florida Chapter), 2011 Continuing Legal Education Conference
- Member, Board of Directors, Association of Corporate Counsel (South Florida Chapter), 2010-2011
- President and Member, Board of Directors, Cypress Head Club, Inc., 2006-2008
- Speaker, SWANA Landfill Gas Symposium, “Legal and Business Risks in Landfill Gas-To-Energy Projects”, 2012-2013
- Speaker, University of Miami School of Law, “Employment Contracts” 2005-2007