Matthew P. Dolan

Matt is a partner in the firm’s litigation department. Matt has a diverse area of practice and is a true business lawyer. He specializes in the areas of complex commercial litigation disputes such as breach of contract, business break up and restrictive covenant actions.  Matt also has extensive experience with creditors’ rights and workout matters representing businesses and financial institutions in debt collection matters. Matt also represents airports and represents his business clients before municipal land use boards both as applicants and as objectors.

Matt has a track record of successful results for his clients, taking a direct approach to contested litigation matters and aggressively representing clients’ positions. Further, with a business background in Supply Chain and Information Systems from the Pennsylvania State University and as a former Chancery clerk, Matt offers a unique perspective to clients, often reaching practical or creative solutions for clients’ complex matters.

A representative listing of matters Matt has handled include, but are not limited to:

• Successfully defended a commercial property owner at an 11-day trial involving a tenant seeking over $11 million in damages based on claims of fraud and breach of contract that resulted in a dismissal and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs for Matt’s client;
• Represented national and state financial institutions in commercial collection actions in both New Jersey and New York obtaining millions of dollars in judgments;
• Represented national and state financial institutions in bankruptcy actions including the filing of proofs of claim and objections to plans filed by debtors;
• Successfully defended financial institutions in various lender liability matters;
• Represented numerous New Jersey contractors and individuals in both prosecuting and defending consumer fraud act claims either successfully obtaining judgment via summary judgment or working out favorable settlements;
• Defended New Jersey airports, Monmouth Executive Airport and Sussex Airport in various claims related to breach of contract, FAA grant assurances and airport operations. Matt routinely corresponds and negotiates agreements with representatives from the FAA,  NJDOT and local municipalities with respect to various issues arising with these airports;
• Represented developer of a multi-million dollar residential condominium complex based on contractor’s breach of contract in construction resulting in a successful result for the client through mediation;
• Represented various commercial clients in collection matters and breach of contract actions with customers;
• Represented an individual and former CEO of a world-wide travel agency pro hac vice in the Northern District of California with respect to various claims including those arising under RICO and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act brought by a competitor that resulted in a settlement and dismissal with prejudice following Matt filing and arguing a Motion to Dismiss pursuant to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 12(c);
• Negotiated numerous contracts on behalf of corporate clients ranging from single shareholder companies to publicly traded companies;
• Prepared and negotiated leases on behalf of various commercial property owners throughout the State of New Jersey;
• Successfully recouped 100% of a client’s judgment obtained via an international Arbitration from a debtor in the State of New York;
• Represented a New Jersey non-profit organization in various claims related to their substantial landholdings throughout the State of New Jersey involving adjoining property owners, trespassers, local municipalities, NJDEP and EPA;
• Successfully represented a New Jersey Corporation in resolving a threatened condemnation of Monmouth Executive Airport and its surrounding properties involving over 700 acres of land in Monmouth County, New Jersey;
• Obtained numerous orders for evictions of tenants in default of commercial property leases;
• Represented a commercial client in a boundary dispute proceeding before a board of commissioners;
• Successfully represented a corporation in a five-year land use application proceeding as an objector to an adjoining property ultimately denied by the planning board;
• Obtained emergent injunctive relief in the New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division for numerous companies;
• Represented numerous companies with respect to the preparation of operating agreements and negotiations and preparations of documents in connection with the sale and transfer of those companies;
• Defended and resolved claims against companies arising under the New Jersey Spill Act;
• Prevailed on matters for clients before the Appellate Divisions in the States of New Jersey and New York.
• Appeared before construction boards of appeals.
• Represented commercial clients in various property tax appeals.

In addition to the foregoing, Matt is active in the local and state bar. Matt has been a presenter for New Jersey Continuing Legal Education credits and for many years Matt has served as a co-chair of the Essex County Bar Association Chancery Division Committee. Matt is currently both a Trustee and Secretary with the New Jersey State Bar Banking section of the New Jersey State Bar Association. In connection with the representation of one of his clients Matt has on a number of occasions been featured and interviewed on the radio station New Jersey 101.5.

Matt is also passionate about combating food insecurity within the state and his local community. As a result, Matt volunteers with Fulfill, the FoodBank of Ocean and Monmouth County, New Jersey. Matt is currently a co-chair of the Fulfill Development and Marketing Committee, and has served on their annual gala committee every year since 2019.

In his free time, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife and four children, running and, during the summer, spending as much time as he can at the beach.

Practice Areas

• Creditor's Rights
• Litigation
• Appellate Practice
• Arbitration
• Business Litigation
• Business Torts Litigation
• Commercial Litigation
• Construction Litigation
• Contract Litigation
• General Matters
• Insurance Recovery
• Shareholder and Director/Officer Litigation
• Environmental Law

Bar Admissions

• New Jersey
• New York
• U.S. District Court District of New Jersey
• U.S. District Court Southern District of New York
• U.S. District Court Eastern District of New York

Education

• Seton Hall University School of Law, Newark, New Jersey
  • J.D.
• The Pennsylvania State University, State College, Pennsylvania
  • Major: Supply Chain and Information Systems
  • Minor: History

Past Employment Positions

• Chancery Law Clerk to the Honorable Edward M. Coleman, P.J.Ch., Superior Court of New Jersey, Somerset/Hunterdon/Warren Vicinage, 2013 – 2014

Professional Associations and Memberships

• American Bar Association
• New Jersey State Bar Association
• New York State Bar Association
• Essex County Bar Association

Published Works

• Business Client Alert:: Impact of July 9, 2021 Executive Order on Non-Compete Agreements, July 2021
• Banking and Landlord Client Alert: Resumption of Commercial Landlord Tenant Trials, June 2021
• Banking Client Alert: Emergency Regulation (Part 119 to 3 NYCRR), New York Residential Mortgage Forbearance, March 2020
• Who Owns My Architectural Plans and What Can I Do With Them?, New Jersey State Bar Association, Business Law Section, Newsletter Vol. 40, No. 2, October, 2016
• Letters of Intent – Defining “Good Faith, New Jersey State Bar Association, Business Law Section, Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 4, June, 2015
• Notifying Clients and Customers of a Data Breach: When is a Breach Actionable?, New Jersey State Bar Association, Business Law Section, Newsletter, Vol. 38, No. 2, October 1, 2014

Classes/Seminars

• Advanced Collection Practices and Bankruptcy Implications: Session 1, November 19, 2019 / NJICLE
• Advanced Collection Practices and Bankruptcy Implications: Session 2, January 31, 2020 / NJICLE

Honors and Awards*

• Selected for inclusion by New Jersey Super Lawyers as a Super Lawyer “Rising Star” 2018 – 2025.

*No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. For information  about honors and awards methodology click here.