Matthew W
. Heron is a Member at Hirzel Law, PLC where he concentrates his practice in commercial litigation and real estate, including community association, condominium law, real estate litigation, zoning and land use. Mr. Heron also has extensive experience in a variety of litigation matters, including insurance coverage, non-compete agreements, automotive supplier disputes, and breach of contract. He routinely appears in both federal and state courts throughout Michigan and has argued before the Michigan Court of Appeals and the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. Representative appellate decisions 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Rios v. PNC Mortgage, et al., unpublished opinion per curiam of the Court of Appeals, issued June 9, 2015, (Docket No. 320762) (affirming dismissal of suit on plaintiff’s motion for preliminary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 is heavily involved in his community. He is 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, a member of the Northville Township Economic Development Corporation and Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, and coach of his daughter Kendall’s travel softball team.
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.
State Bar of Michigan – Real Property Law Section Summer Conference, Crystal Mountain, July 2018.
How to manage your Association’s Risk and Insurance! Suburban Collection Showplace- Diamond Center, Novi MI, March 2019.
Is it time to amend your governing documents?, Farmington MI, April 2019.
Director Boot Camp – Condo 101, Novi MI, May 2019.
Is it time to amend your governing documents?, Webinar, March 2020.
Voting in The Zoom Era: Electronic Voting for Community Associations, Webinar, May 2020.
Reopening Your Community Association After Coronavirus, Webinar, June 2020.
Document Amendments, Webinar, October 2021.
2021 Legislative Update, Webinar, December 2021.
2022 Legislative Update, Webinar, January 2023.
Funding Deferred Maintenance Projects and How Reserve Studies Have Become Essential, CAI Michigan 2023 Conference & Expo, March 2023.
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
Leading Lawyers – “Top Lawyer in Michigan” for Real Estate Law. The distinction of being a Leading Lawyer has been earned by fewer than 5% of all lawyers licensed in Michigan. (2022)
Michigan Lawyers Weekly – “Go To Lawyer” in Real Estate Law and Condo Law. (2022)
