Lawyers

Matt was born in Elmira on November 3, 1970, and is a 1988 graduate of Elmira Free Academy. Following high school, Matt received his undergraduate education at Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating in 1992 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology.

Prior to attending law school, Matt resided in Schuyler County, where in 1997 he was elected Town Justice for the Town of Cayuta. During this period, Matt also worked as a Medical Technologist, both at Cayuga Medical Center and Cornell University.

Matt attended Penn State's Dickinson School of Law, graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2002. Matthew received the Walter Harrison Hitchler award as the class Valedictorian.

While at Penn State, Matt was a member of the Federalist Society, the Appellate Moot Court Board, the Irving R. Kaufman Memorial Securities Law Competition Team, and the prestigious Woolsack Honor Society.

Following law school, Matt was employed as an attorney at Stevens & Lee, a prominent law firm with offices throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. During his time at Stevens & Lee, Matth concentrated his practice in the areas of high net-worth guardianships and estates.

Matt joined the Ziff Law Firm in 2004. The partners in the Ziff Law Firm were so impressed with the hard work and intelligence of Matt that we promoted him to full partnership in record time (less than two years after he joined the firm) effective January 1, 2006.  The Star-Gazette covered the Ziff Law Firm "youth movement" in an article published February 12, 2006.

When not practicing law, Matt enjoys spending time with his wife Valerie and son Ryne. Matt and Ryne are avid skiers. During the summer Matt can often be found competing in the obscure motorcycle sport of Observed Trials, where Matt has been ranked as high as ninth in New York State.

Matt is a member of the Pennsylvania and American Bar Associations.