I’m not like most lawyers. I only wear suits when I have to, and when I do, they’re nothing special. I prefer to listen while I think, rather than fill the room with talk for the sake of talking.

Before the law, I worked in a shipyard. Before that, summers in a steel yard; waitstaff, cooking, and bouncing while playing rugby during the school year. I did what I had to do. I usually hated doing it, but I learned not to argue with the Help. After standing behind a counter, taking crap from strangers, most don’t want to stand on the other side and give it back. No one responds well to hostility or empty aggression.

The older I get, the more I notice that a lot of attorneys seem to share a lot of traits: more confidence than experience; more ambition than utility; and more pride than humility. Things came into focus for me when I became a dad, and when I became a full-time single dad, I didn’t have the stomach to sacrifice dad-time for someone else’s billables. After 20 years carrying water for boutique business and insurance practices, I walked.

My goal is simple: your resolution. My method is about as subtle as a wrecking ball: I crack the case, help get it resolved, or we go to trial. Call me. Finding the right attorney is not easy. If I’m not the right lawyer for you, I can probably find one who is.

Here’s where I quote my clients:

“Excellent professional.”
“Patient, hardworking and strong.”
“Matt is unlike any lawyer I’ve ever encountered.”
“We never imagined such an attorney as he existed.”
“The only lawyer you’ll ever need.”
“I am truly grateful that people like you are here for others.”

And I’m passionate about mentoring. Not everyone can do this. Becoming a good lawyer wasn’t easy, and it’s getting harder for each generation. Young lawyers must dig deep and fight hard. I value the chance to share what I’ve learned. For starters: being a young lawyer is like playing offensive line. You’re going to get knocked down. A lot of it isn’t fun while you’re doing it. If one person on your team doesn’t do their job, your best play fails no matter how hard you push. And it’s not about you: you can drag the ball down the whole field and the client gets the win—and the trophy. You just hustle back for another kickoff and do it all over again.

In short order, you’ll know whether you want to keep doing it – and whether you’re ready to start calling the plays.