Matthew Heron

Matthew W. Heron is a Member at Hirzel Law, PLC and licensed in Illinois and Michigan.  He concentrates his practice in community association law, condominium law, real estate law, zoning and land use. Mr. Heron focuses on drafting and amending condominium bylaws, master deeds, declarations, deed restrictions, covenants and easements for numerous community associations.  He is also responsible for drafting opinion letters on community association issues and attending community association meetings. Mr. Heron is a former federal law clerk to then Chief Judge Lawrence P. Zatkoff, and has experience in litigation matters including mortgage disputes, insurance coverage, non-compete agreements, and breach of contract. Representative appellate decisions in these areas include:

  • CitiMortgage v. Catton, et al., 295 Mich. App. 72; 813 N.W.2d 332 (2011) (establishing equitable subrogation for refinancing lenders in Michigan).
  • United States v. Aleo (In re Freeman), 681 F.3d 390 (6th Cir. 2012) (successfully obtaining reversal of sanctions against criminal defense attorney).
  • Travelers Prop. Cas. Co. of Am. v. Peaker Services, Inc., 306 Mich. App. 178; 855 N.W.2d 523 (2014) (establishing that contractual liability exclusion under CGL policy limited to assumption of third party liability).
  • Rios v. PNC Mortgage, et al., unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued June 9, 2015, (Docket No. 320762) (affirming dismissal of suit on plaintiff’s motion for preliminary injunction).

Mr. Heron has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Condominium & HOA law by Leading Lawyers Magazine, and a Michigan Go To Lawyer in Real Estate and Condominium Law by Michigan Lawyers Weekly. Mr. Heron is heavily involved in his community and in the community association law practice area.  He is currently co-chair of the Community Association Institute’s Michigan Legislative Action Committee, a charter (though former) member of the Lyon Area Rotary Club, a member of the Northville Chamber of Commerce, a member and past Chair of the U.S. Courts Committee of the State Bar of Michigan, a member of the Land Use and Zoning Committee of the Real Estate Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, a former member of the Human Rights Committee of the International Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan, and a current member of the Northville Township Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority.  In his personal life Matt enjoys running and spending time with his family, mostly watching his kids’ activities.  His son Brady competes as a runner for Wayne State University and his daughter Kendall competes for Northville High School on the gymnastics and softball teams.

Publications

Matthew W. Heron, Public Employment Law in Michigan and the Unfair Labor Practice Strike, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW STUDENT SCHOLARSHIP, 2002, available at http://digitalcommons.law.msu.edu/king/22/

Matthew W. Heron, The Iraqi Refugee Crisis and United States Refugee Policy, MICH. INT’L LAWYER, Fall 2007, at 1-8.

Matthew W. Heron and Richard A. Sundquist, Legislature Limits Municipalities’ Ability to Prevent Gravel Mining, STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION E-NEWSLETTER, September 2011.
Matthew W. Heron and Richard A. Sundquist, Court of Appeals Revitalizes Limited Application of Equitable Subrogation, STATE BAR OF MICHIGAN REAL PROPERTY LAW SECTION E-NEWSLETTER, July 2012.

Presentations

Matthew W. Heron, Public Employment Law in Michigan and the Unfair Labor Practice Strike, Michigan State University College of Law Student Scholarship, 2002, available at http://digitalcommons.law.msu.edu/king/22/

Matthew W. Heron, The Iraqi Refugee Crisis and United States Refugee Policy, Mich Int’l Lawyer, Fall 2007, at 1-8

Matthew W. Heron and Richard A. Sundquist, Legislature Limits Municipalities’ Ability to Prevent Gravel Mining, State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section E-Newsletter, September 2011

Matthew W. Heron and Richard A. Sundquist, Court of Appeals Revitalizes Limited Application of Equitable Subrogation, State Bar of Michigan Real Property Law Section E-Newsletter, July 2012

News

Carol Lundberg, State to Share in $25B Settlement, 26 Mich Law Weekly 15 (Feb 20, 2012)

Carol Lundberg, Foreclosure in 2012: Trickle or Tsunami, 26 Mich Law Weekly 10 (Jan 16 2012)Carol Lundberg, Local Authority Not on Solid Ground: Legislature Passes Bill that Puts Zoning in State’s Hands, 25 Mich Law Weekly 37 (July 25, 2011)

Brian Frasier, Saving Your Spot in Line, Successors to Original Mortgage Can Keep Priority After Refinance, 26 Mich Law Weekly 7 (Dec 26, 2011)

Ed Wesolowski,CGL Policy Applies Because Insured Assumed its Own Liability, __ Mich Law Weekly __ (July 23, 2014)

Ed Wesolowski, Specific Performance Ordered in Condo Unit Sale Case, __ Mich Law Weekly __ (Oct 15, 2014)

Honors & Awards

AV Rated by Martindale Hubbell (Highest possible rating for skill and ethics based upon peer review)

Avvo Rating of Superb – 10.0/10.0