Mr. Matz specializes in food, nutrition and agriculture.  He has devoted his career to representing clients that are increasing food production and improving human nutrition in the United States and around the world.   After working with South Dakota Legal Services helping to provide representation to Native Americans, Mr. Matz spent seven years on Capitol Hill as Counsel to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and the Select Committee on Nutrition.  

Mr. Matz entered practice in 1980 and has been with OFW Law since 1992. In addition to his law practice, Mr. Matz serves on the Board of Directors of the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), the World Food Program—USA (which he co-founded), the Congressional Hunger Center and the Global Child Nutrition Foundation.  Mr. Matz also served as Chairman of the Agriculture Committee of the Obama for America presidential campaign.

Mr. Matz was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and received his B.A. from the University of Connecticut in 1968. He received his J.D. from the University of Louisville in 1971. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in 1971, South Dakota Federal and Tribal Courts in 1972, and the District of Columbia Bar in 1979. He is currently a member of the District of Columbia Bar as well as the Connecticut and American Bar Associations.

Areas of Practice:

Legislation

Agriculture Law

Nutrition Policy

Indian Law

Trade Association Law

Health Care Law

Federal Forest Policy

Bar Admissions:

Connecticut, 1971

District of Columbia, 1979

Education:

University of Louisville School of Law, Louisville, Kentucky, 1971
Juris Doctor

University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut, 1968
Bachelor of Science

Published Works:

Ambassador Cousin: An important choice for the World Food Program – Agri Pulse -- January 31, 2012

'Agricultural Diplomacy' is Cultivating a Following - Chicago Tribune -- November 20, 2011 

Battle of the Bulge, Agri-Pulse – October 3, 2011

Clinton adds voice to Agriculture debate, Agri-Pulse – August 31, 2011

Agriculture Research Provides a Strong Rate of Return, Agri-Pulse – August 2, 2011

The Importance of MyPlate, Agri-Pulse – July, 2011

First Americans Deserve a Better Shake, Argus Leader – July 2, 2011

Michael Pollan: In Perspective, Agri-Pulse – May 31, 2011

Agriculture essential for lifting people out of poverty , Des Moines Register

A New Day Dawning in Africa, Agri-Pulse – January, 2010

Op-Ed: School feeding is not just for kids , Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

Time to meet challenge of ending hunger , Op-Ed, The Sacramento Bee, November 26, 2009

Is the Ag Community to blame for Michael Pollan's success? , Op-Ed, Agri-Pulse, October 19, 2009

In defense of agriculture and science , Op-Ed, Cedar Rapids Gazette, October 11, 2009

Agriculture's next big challenge , Op-Ed, Chicago Tribune, January 4, 2009

Relief programs hard at work , Op-Ed, Miami Herald, December 1, 2008

Fight hunger as moral, practical thing to do , Op-Ed, Des Moines Register, May 27, 2008

Eliminating hunger is today's moral imperative , Op-Ed, Des Moines Register, October 27, 2006

Prescription for AIDS zone: food plus medicine , Op-Ed, The Indianapolis Star, October 23, 2005

Remedies for AIDS in Africa , Op-Ed, Washington Times, December 1, 2005.