Skip to Main Content.

Biography

Matt is a member of the firmโ€™s Labor and Employment Practice Group and serves as the leader of the Immigration Service Team. With a background in employment law and trial work, and over 20 years of business immigration experience, Matt offers clients a unique, comprehensive approach to global workplace and migration issues. His practice focuses on employment-based immigration, which includes temporary work visas, green cards, I-9 compliance, and work site enforcement. Mattโ€™s efficient, proactive approach to client legal needs ensures that business decisions are informed, timely, and cost-effective.

Matt's Relevant Experience

Health Care Immigration

Represents regional healthcare organizations and physician practices in visa matters, green card sponsorships, and J-1 physician waivers.

Conducts leading-edge work with cap-exempt H-1B visa petitions for hospitals, nonprofit healthcare organizations, and for-profit physician practices.

Assists foreign national physicians in obtaining O-1 extraordinary ability work visas, J-1 visa waivers, H-1B visas, and green cards (PERM, NIW, EB-1). Also assists healthcare providers and business professionals with O-1s, H-1Bs, TNs, and green cards.

Sports and Entertainment Immigration

P-1 visas for athletes and essential support personnel in the IndyCar and NASCAR auto racing series and in e-sports.

O-1 and P-1 visas for world-renowned competitive sailors and coaches, including for the U.S. Olympic team.

O-1 visas and green cards for artists and entertainers.

Other Business Immigration

L-1, H-1B, and O-1 visas and green cards for business executives and multinational managers.

E-2 visas for foreign investors and their employees.

H-1B, E-3, and L-1 work visas for specialized knowledge workers in information technology, consulting, hospitality, manufacturing, and many other industries.

Immigration Appeals & Litigation

Handles administrative appeals and federal court litigation in cases where government agencies (e.g. U.S. Department of Labor, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services) have wrongfully denied an immigration benefit.

I-9 and E-Verify Compliance

Provides day-to-day counseling for employers with difficult I-9 and E-Verify scenarios, trains HR staff on I-9 law and procedures, and assists with internal audits and remediation.

Worksite Investigations

Defends companies in government I-9 investigations and enforcement proceedings, against allegations of citizenship status discrimination, and in wage and hour investigations.

Employment Litigation Background

Obtained temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions, and favorable settlements for companies victimized by departing employeesโ€™ misappropriation of trade secrets and violations of noncompetition, non-solicitation, and other restrictive covenants.

First-chaired jury trials and administrative hearings against alleged violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), accusations of workplace defamation, and alleged race and sex discrimination, including a defense verdict in one of the first jury trials under the ADA to involve the โ€œcatโ€™s pawโ€ theory of liability after the U.S. Supreme Courtโ€™s 2011 decision in Staub v. Proctor Hospital.

Other Info About Matt

Education

Law School

University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D., 2000

Undergraduate School

Michigan State University, B.A., 1996

Bar Memberships

Matt is licensed to practice in the following state(s):

Ohio, 2002

Courts

Matt is admitted to practice before the following court(s):

U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit, 2004
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio, 2002
U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio, 2002

Recognition

Local & National Recognition

The Legal 500 US, Recommended in Immigration (2017 to Present)

Professional Affiliations

Professional Affiliations & Memberships

American Immigration Lawyers Association
American Health Lawyers Association
American Bar Association
Ohio State Bar Association
Columbus Bar Association

Civic Activities

Civic & Charitable Organizations

Advocating Opportunity: Pro Bono Legal Services Provider for Victims of Human Trafficking
Worthington Youth Boosters: Travel Soccer and Basketball Coach
Southeast Health Care Services: Former Board President
Judicial Release Coalition: Pro Bono Legal Services Provider

Related Insights