Matthew B. Seltzer

Of Counsel

P 612.335.7116 F 612.335.1657

Matt Seltzer practices energy, environmental, administrative, land use, water and real estate law. Much of his work involves the representation of businesses in regulatory affairs and in other dealings with federal, state and local government agencies. His cases have run the gamut from proceedings for the siting of power plants, wind farms and transmission lines, to environmental review and permitting of an integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant and a contested case hearing on health insurance rates. He is also active in helping commercial property owners gain property tax reductions.

Matt is an MSBA Board Certified Real Property Law Specialist whose professional background includes work in commercial real estate transactions. He is a frequent speaker on topics in land use and water management law, including wetlands regulation and wetlands banking. Matt is the Minnesota Reporter for the Water Law Newsletter published by the Rocky Mountain Mineral Law Foundation. His teaching credits include previous service as an adjunct professor of land use law at William Mitchell College of Law. He currently volunteers for the Children's Law Center of Minnesota as a pro bono lawyer for children in the foster care system.

Prior to joining Leonard, Street and Deinard, Matt served as Assistant Attorney General in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office, where he gained extensive experience in administrative and public law, including wetlands, natural resources, public waters, environmental review (EIS, EA, EAW), zoning, land use, historic preservation and local government law. While working for the state, he represented the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, the Board of Water and Soil Resources and a variety of other agencies in administrative hearings, district court trials and appellate proceedings.

Professional and Civic Activities

Energy Bar Association
American Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Hennepin County Bar Association

Matt's recent speaking and writing efforts include:

“U.S. Supreme Court Rules that Government Not Exempt from Paying Compensation for Temporarily Flooding Private Property,” an Environmental Law Alert published by Leonard, Street and Deinard (December 2012)
“Minnesota Wetlands Law,” presented at seminar on Minnesota Land Laws (March 2012)
"EPA Publishes New Transport Rule for Cross-State Power Plant Emissions," an Energy and Environmental Law Alert published by Leonard, Street and Deinard (August 2011)
“Recent Developments in Midwest Wind Projects,” presented to Women of Wind Energy (March 2011) (co-presenter)
"EPA Issues Rule to Phase in Permitting of Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Stationary Sources," an Energy, Environmental Law and Climate Change Alert published by Leonard, Street and Deinard (May 2010)
"New California Rules for Environmental Review of Greenhouse Gas Emmissions Take Effect," an Energy Alert published by Leonard, Street and Deinard (March 2010)
"The Five Realities of Wetland Conservation Act Appeals," presented to Minnesota Wetland Professionals Association (January 2010)
"Water Update,” presented to Minnesota State Bar Association Environmental Institute (April 2009)
“Overview of Twins Ballpark Condemnation Case,” presented to International Right of Way Association North Star Chapter (October 2008) (co-presenter)
“Wetland Banking,” presented at seminar on New Developments in Wetland Regulation in Minnesota (July 2008)
“Wetlands Basics,” presented to Minnesota State Bar Association Environmental Institute (April 2008)
“Wetlands Regulation and Banking Update,” presented to Minnesota State Bar Association Real Estate Institute (November 2005)
“Wetland Banking Allows Profit from Marginal Lands,” published in Leonard, Street and Deinard Real Estate Practice Newsletter (Spring 2005)

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of Minnesota Law School, 1981
Note and articles editor, Minnesota Law Review
B.A., cum laude, Economics and Political Science, Yale College