Houston Construction and Real Estate Attorney - Matthew S. Cire
Matthew Cire is a commercial litigator whose practice focuses primarily on real estate and construction matters, as well as various commercial disputes across Texas. He represents a diverse group of clients across several industries, including real estate development, property management, construction, energy, and design. Matthew has successfully represented clients in matters related to breach of contract, real property trespass claims, fraudulent transfer, business-related torts, employment disputes, construction defect claims, and enforcement of non-competition agreements.
Prior to joining Andrews Myers, Matthew practiced commercial litigation with a boutique business litigation firm in Houston, Texas. During law school, he also served as a judicial intern for the Honorable Lynn N. Hughes in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas.
- Commercial Litigation
- Construction Litigation
- Real Estate
- Texas
- U.S. District Court, Eastern and Southern Districts of Texas
Real Estate Litigation:
- Represented multifamily owner against property insurer for multi-million dollar bad faith claim under Texas Insurance Code which resulted in favorable pre-trial settlement.
- Successfully defended multifamily management company against breach of contract claim resulting in take-nothing judgment for Plaintiff and full award of client’s attorney’s fees and costs.
- Represented multifamily owner against property insurer for bad faith claims under the Texas Insurance Code, resulting in favorable settlement after deposition of carrier’s corporate representative.
- Represented commercial tenant asserting claims against property owner for rent abatement. As part of a favorable settlement, the client received over a year in rent abatement and CAM charges.
- Successfully defended residential homebuilder against homeowner’s Residential Construction Liability Act (RCLA) claims, resulting in American Arbitration Association awarding partial motion for summary judgment related to homeowner’s fraud claims.
- Represented real estate investment company against competitor’s claim of breach of non-competition agreement. As part of a favorable settlement, client avoided payment of liquidated damages asserted by competitor.
- Successfully defended real estate developer against engineering firm’s constitutional lien claim, resulting in court-awarded motion to dismiss, compensation of attorneys’ fees and removal of the lien.
- Represented national multifamily management company in a lawsuit involving various breach of contract claims, which resulted in a unanimous jury verdict in favor of client.
- Obtained summary judgment on behalf of purchaser of a multifamily apartment complex community in a lawsuit involving seller’s refusal to pay ad valorem taxes.
- Defended national multifamily owners and management companies against a non-profit in several disputes filed before the Texas Workforce Commission, which resulted in dismissal of all complaints after successfully arguing non-profit lacked standing.
- Successfully represented national multifamily management company in an administrative action against a city water utility for reimbursement of improper overcharges for water usage.
Construction Litigation:
- Represented fireproofing supplier in asserting fraudulent transfer claims against a subcontractor and its directors which resulted in awarding client’s punitive damages after bench trial.
- Prepared and filed mechanic’s liens in connection with state court claims against hospital group which resulted in multi-million-dollar recovery for client.
- Successfully defended general contractor in state court against subcontractor breach of contract claims, which resulted in client’s successful recovery of attorney’s fees.
- Prosecuted complex mineral and mechanic’s lien claim resulting in client’s recovery of a substantial amount of unpaid invoices.
- Represented utility subcontractor in settlement of claims against homebuilder for unpaid fees in connection with the installation of residential drainage and utility systems.
General Commercial Litigation:
- Represented judgment creditor and successfully garnished the main operating account of the judgment debtor in full satisfaction of client’s debt.
- Defended business owner in breach of contract claim, negotiated terms for a consignment agreement that allowed client to recoup large majority of its damages.
- South Texas College of Law, Houston, Texas
- J.D. – 2014
- Officer, South Texas Board of Advocates
- Articles Editor, Texas Journal of Business Law
- The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas
- Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM), Houston Chapter
- Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Houston Chapter
- NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association
- Houston Apartment Association
- National Apartment Association
- Urban Land Institute
- State Bar of Texas
- Houston Bar Association, Real Estate Section
- Houston Bar Association, Construction Law Section
- Houston Bar Association, Litigation Section
- American Bar Association
- Houston Young Lawyers Association
- Moderated Investment Sales/Brokerage Panel at InterFace Houston Retail Conference, August 2024
- “Legislative Update – Texas’ Firearm Carry Act of 2021,” Houston Institute of Real Estate Management, August 2021
- “Texas Lien Law & Collections,” North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, Dallas, Texas, November 2020
- “Before a Lawsuit Happens,” Webinar with Institute of Real Estate Management, July 2020
- “Industry Experts on the State of CRE,” AM Monthly Law Alert, June 2020
- “The CARES Act and Multifamily,” AM Law Alert, April 2020
- “Don’t Trash Where you Splash” AM Monthly Law Alert, January 2020
- “Understanding Mineral Liens,” AM Monthly Law Alert, October 2019
- “Texas Lien Law & Collections,” North Texas Roofing Contractors Association, Dallas, Texas, October 2019
- Mock Trial educational seminar, Associated Builders and Contractors Leadership Forum, April 2019
- (Contributing Author) Recent Court Opinions Concerning Construction Law, The Change Order, State Bar of Texas Construction Law Section, March 2019
- “Leasing 101,” Houston Apartment Association, 2016-2018
- “Certified Apartment Manager Legal Responsibility,” Houston Apartment Association Seminar, 2017
- Mock Trial educational seminar, Houston Apartment Association, 2017
- Benchmark Litigation, 40 & Under List, 2024
- Listed in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America for Litigation – Construction, Since 2023
- “Texas Rising Star,” as presented by Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters Business, in Texas Monthly, Since 2020
- Houston’s Top Lawyers – Real Estate, Houstonia Magazine, Since 2020
