Matthew W. Ellis
Partner
Matt Ellis is a skilled transactional attorney who assists clients with sophisticated legal matters and complex real estate transactions.
Matt represents landlords, tenants, developers, and lenders in a broad range of real estate transactions. He also represents business owners in connection with general corporate matters, including asset purchases, asset dispositions, entity formation, and joint venture agreements.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Association of Commercial Real Estate
- Urban Land Institute (ULI)
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- NAIOP, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
- Washoe County Bar Association
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Real Property Law Section
- State Bar of California, Agribusiness Law Committee, Former Member
- Certified Public Accountant (Inactive)
- Numerous presentations on leasing to various clients and brokerage firms
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law, 2021-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyers, Real Estate, 2022-2024
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Real Estate, Business/Corporate, Banking & Financial Service, Securities & Corporate Finance, 2018-2023
- Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2017-2019
Representative Real Estate Experience
- Negotiated numerous commercial and industrial leases, including retail and office leases in excess of 30,000 square feet and industrial leases in excess of 100,000 square feet.
- Represents regional grocery chain in connection with its acquisition, disposition and leasing of real property.
- Represented a property owner in the sale of a 240 unit apartment complex and subsequent purchase of an office complex in Orange County, California.
- Successfully represented landlords in connection with the negotiation of leases with numerous retail tenants, including Walmart, Walgreens, TJ Maxx, In-N-Out Burger, Petco, Staples and Starbucks.
- Represented a landowner with all title and real estate issues relating to the donation of approximately 9,600 acres of land to a land trust.
- Represented a wind turbine company in connection with the lease and acquisition of numerous wind turbine sites throughout California.
- Negotiated numerous agricultural leases throughout California for numerous crop types.
- Represented a landowner in one of the largest solar farm leases in the Sacramento Valley (approximately 175 acres).
- Represents a homebuilder in connection with its real estate acquisition and dispositions.
Representative Business Experience
- Represented a dairy owner in the sale of one of the largest dairies in California. The sale involved multiple purchasers and seller financing.
- Represented a fast food franchisee in connection with the acquisition of a new territory and all existing restaurants.
- Drafted a joint venture agreement in connection with the acquisition and future development of a 200 acre parcel of property in Lincoln, California.
- Has formed numerous companies and advised clients on entity formation issues.
Representative Lending Experience
- Represents an insurance company with the documentation of agricultural loans.
- Has negotiated many conventional, conduit, and construction loans secured by both real and personal property.
- Has represented several lenders in connection with all real estate aspects of financings secured by solar and wind generation projects in California.
- Has negotiated numerous legal opinions in connection with loan financings.
Announcements
19 related items-
October 24, 202442 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 15, 2024Best Lawyers® 2025 Recognizes 44 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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June 26, 202441 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2024 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 17, 2023Best Lawyers® 2024 Recognizes 46 Downey Brand Lawyers with Four Receiving Prestigious “Lawyer of the Year” Honors
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August 1, 202338 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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June 30, 202342 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2023 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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August 18, 202240 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as The Best Lawyers in America® and Ones to Watch 2023
Three selected as 2023 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” -
August 3, 202233 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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July 7, 202232 Downey Brand Attorneys Named 2022 Northern California Super Lawyers and Rising Stars
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June 17, 202138 Downey Brand Attorneys Honored as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 20, 202024 Attorneys from Downey Brand selected as The Best Lawyers in America© 2021
Two selected as 2021 Best Lawyers® “Lawyer of the Year” -
July 24, 202045 Downey Brand Attorneys Earn Top Lawyers Distinction from Sacramento Magazine
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August 22, 201916 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Best of the Bar 2019
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May 1, 201949 Downey Brand Attorneys Distinguished as Top Lawyers by Sacramento Magazine
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August 27, 201818 Downey Brand Attorneys Recognized as Best of the Bar 2018
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June 29, 2018Sacramento Magazine Recognizes 54 Downey Brand Attorneys As Top Lawyers
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September 11, 201720 Downey Brand Attorneys Named Best of the Bar 2017
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July 14, 201752 Downey Brand Attorneys Make Sacramento Magazine’s 2017 Top Lawyers List
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July 14, 201551 Downey Brand Attorneys Named to Sacramento Magazine’s 2015 Top Lawyers List
Speaking Engagements / Events
1 related items-
2008Real Estate Lease Escalations in California, Lorman Education ServicesPresenter
Legal Alerts
1 related items-
May 2010Your Purchase Agreement May be an Unenforceable Option
Real Estate Law
Publications
1 related items-
May 20102009 Legislative Review
Real Property Journal
Matt is a self-proclaimed “deal junkie.” He enjoys assisting his clients with putting deals together and negotiating the documentation relating to them. He negotiates every deal as though it is his own and ensures his clients get the best possible resolution given the situation.
Professional, Community And Pro Bono Involvement
- Association of Commercial Real Estate
- Urban Land Institute (ULI)
- International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
- NAIOP, San Francisco Bay Area Chapter
- Washoe County Bar Association
- Sacramento County Bar Association, Real Property Law Section
- California Lawyers Association, Real Property Law Section
- State Bar of California, Agribusiness Law Committee, Former Member
- Certified Public Accountant (Inactive)
- Numerous presentations on leasing to various clients and brokerage firms
Honors & Rankings
- Best Lawyers in America©, Commercial Finance Law, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Real Estate Law, 2021-2025
- Super Lawyers, Northern California Super Lawyers, Real Estate, 2022-2024
- Sacramento Magazine, Top Lawyer, Real Estate, Business/Corporate, Banking & Financial Service, Securities & Corporate Finance, 2018-2023
- Sacramento Business Journal, Best of the Bar, 2017-2019