About
Matt has extensive experience handling construction and business disputes. Recognized by the Maryland State Bar Foundation for outstanding dedication and contribution to the legal profession, he regularly represents clients in arbitration, mediation, and litigation proceedings in state and federal courts.
His work in the area of commercial construction law focuses on representing contractors, subcontractors, and owners in complex disputes, including construction delay, impact, and defect claims. Matt also assists in resolving significant payment and mechanic’s lien disputes. He has handled claims arising from a wide variety of construction projects, including energy infrastructure, manufacturing facilities, and federal, state and local government projects.
In addition to representing construction clients in state and federal courts, he also has experience with arbitration forums and administrative proceedings. Co-author of the firm’s Maryland Construction Law blog, he serves on the executive committee of the construction law section of the state bar association, and is a regular speaker on construction law topics to contractors and construction law practitioners.
Matt’s business litigation work centers on prosecuting and defending private companies and owners, officers and directors in Maryland courts, and through arbitration and mediation. Recent cases have involved breach of contract claims, partnership disputes, derivative actions, and trade secret matters. While he favors negotiated resolution in most circumstances involving business disputes, Matt has successfully tried numerous cases to verdict. He is an appointed mediator for the circuit court for Howard County, Maryland.
Regardless of the nature of the dispute, Matt brings the same core skills to each matter. An unusually quick study, Matt is able to rapidly grasp the underlying business issues and complexities, determine the best plan of action, and work efficiently on behalf of his clients. Matt is a natural public speaker, and prides himself on advocating successfully on behalf of his clients through clear and persuasive articulation of complex issues.
Matt has been consistently recognized for his legal acumen. In addition to being named a Fellow of the Maryland Bar Foundation, he has been repeatedly selected to the Maryland Top 100 Super Lawyers list.
Beyond Bowie & Jensen
Matt and his wife, a lymphoma survivor, have been longtime supporters of the Maryland chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Matt served as chapter president from 2010 to 2013, and is a frequent speaker and advocate on behalf of the organization. He has also served on the boards of the Babe Ruth Birthplace & Sports Legends Museums and the Maryland Law School Alumni Association.
Education
- University of Maryland School of Law, J.D. with honors; member, Maryland Law Review
- Hobart College, B.A.; Druid Society
Admissions
- Maryland
- District of Columbia
- Virginia
- U.S. District Court, Maryland
- U.S. District Court, District of Columbia
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia
Affiliations & Awards
- Fellow, Construction Law Society of America (“CLSA”)
- Best Lawyers
- Selected to the Best Lawyers in America® list in the field in Construction Law, Litigation-Construction and Mediation (2019-2022)
- Selected as Lawyer of the Year for Construction Law in Baltimore, 2022
- Leadership in Law Award (The Daily Record, 2016)
- Maryland State Bar Association, construction law section
- Chair, 2016-2017
- Executive committee member, 2015-2016
- Chair, legislative & case law updates, 2015-2016
- Super Lawyers
- Selected to the Top 100 Maryland Attorneys Super Lawyers list, 2013-2021
- Selected to the Maryland Super Lawyers list, 2010-2021
- Fellow, Maryland Bar Foundation
- Former President, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – Maryland chapter (2010-2013)
- Corporate chair, Maryland Light the Night campaign
- Former board member, Babe Ruth Birthplace & Sports Legends Museums
- Former business development committee member, Maryland Chamber of Commerce
- Former board member, Maryland Law School Alumni Association
- Member, Trial Law Institute
- Member, Diversity Law Institute
- Barrister, Oder of Optimus
Media
- Author, “Maryland Legislature 2018 Summary for Contractors” – May 2018
- Co-author, Maryland Construction Law blog – Ongoing participation
- Mentioned, “After a decade, time to change partners” The Daily Record – February 2014
- Mentioned, “Law firms plan for change in leadership” The Daily Record – April 2012
- Mentioned, “Bowie & Jensen names Hjortsberg as managing member” Baltimore Business Journal – July 2011
- Mentioned, “MSBA sections laud award winner” The Daily Record – June 2011
- Mentioned, “On the Move – Legal edition” The Daily Record – June 27, 2010
- Mentioned, “On the Move – Legal edition” The Daily Record – June 20, 2010
- Quoted, “After Storm, Contractors Turn to Contracts” The Daily Record – February 2010
- Mentioned, “After millions spent on improvements to highway, stream, White Marsh business owners say flooding has worsened” Baltimore Sun – June 2016
Events
- Speaker, “Surety Bonds: Legal Issues, Claims and Dispute Resolution,” 21st Century Schools – Baltimore. – 2016
- Speaker, “Construction Contracts, Mechanic’s Liens, Bond Claims and False Claims Act,” educational seminar for large electrical contractor client. – 2015
- Speaker, “Unforeseen Site Conditions on Construction Projects,” Maryland State Bar Association Annual Meeting. – 2013
- Speaker, “Foundations of Construction Law for Bench and Bar,” Maryland State Bar Association Annual Meeting. – 2012
- Speaker, Maryland Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s annual Journey of Hope benefit and other chapter events. – 2010 -2013
- Speaker, “Safety-Driven Defaults Terminations: Can a Technical Contract Argument Save a Reckless Subcontractor?” Construction Lawyers Society of America – 2019
Representative Matters
Matt has handled a wide range of significant construction and business litigation matters, including the following:
Construction Litigation
- Represented electrical subcontractor in delay, impact and acceleration claims on large federal government renovation project
- For major manufacturing company, handled a construction defect claim arising out of the expansion of a manufacturing facility
- Successfully defended a subcontractor in arbitration against contractor’s bid withdrawal claims on a local government emergency management project
- Prevailed on a bid protest litigation for a general contractor on a local county building project
- Secured reversal on appeal of lower court order on behalf of private construction financing company and its owners
- Represented contractor in construction delay disputes related to energy infrastructure project
- Prevailed on a bid protest in an administrative proceeding for a general contractor on a public school project
Business Litigation
- Successfully defended a medical implant manufacturer in a breach of contract claim related to commissions arising from a series of complex business transactions
- Represented new entity in major multi-party litigation between various owners and affiliated companies in debt settlement industry
- Obtained a substantial settlement in connection with the misuse of a software vendor’s confidential information by a large insurance carrier
- Represented real estate partner in dispute over capital contributions and ownership interests in several real estate entities
- Represented global manufacturer in dispute with contractor concerning commission entitlement on major projects in the Middle East: the matter began in a Minnesota federal court and concluded in federal court in Miami.
- Matt Hjortsberg successfully tried a case in the Circuit Court for Baltimore County concerning disputed membership interests in a limited liability company and breaches of fiduciary duties by one of the owners, and he secured a victory on all claims.