Matthew W. 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:

• 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• Rios v. PNC Mortgage, et al., unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued June 9, 2015, (Docket No. 320762) (affirming dismissal of suit on plaintiff’s motion for preliminary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).

Honors & Recognition

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.

Leadership & Service

Mr. Heron is heavily involved in his community and in the community association law practice area.  He is currently a member of the Community Association Institute’s Michigan Chapter Board of Directors, a former 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.

Outside the Office

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.