Matthew Melewski has dedicated his career to building a better world through renewable energy, civil rights, and non-profits.
A co-founder and former vice president of a successful solar developer, Matthew has extensive experience in all aspects of renewable energy development and financing. Matthew has drafted and negotiated power purchase agreements, membership interest purchase agreements, engineering, procurement & construction contracts, design-build agreements, joint-venture agreements, and hundreds of commercial leases and other real estate agreements. Matthew also has extensive experience in renewable energy policy and routinely represents entities before public service commissions on interconnection, tariff and policy matters.
Matthew has been litigating individual civil rights since he began working on GTMO cases out of law school. He has successfully appealed a custody determination wrongfully based on immigration status, creating novel law in Minnesota, and reached favorable settlements for discrimination based on race and sexual orientation.
Matthew advises a variety of non-profits on governance, political engagement, contracts, donations, grants, employment, and litigation. He is the general counsel of an anti-police violence non-profit and has helped non-profits acquire 501(c)(3) status, create bylaws, and develop new management structures. The non-profits he represents have focused on civil rights, economic development, national historic landmarks, theatre, and criminal justice.
As the former outside general counsel of a major league sports team and other small companies, Matthew has drafted and negotiated hundreds of contracts for goods and services, SaaS contracts, licensing agreements, purchase and sale agreements, and ticketing agreements. Matthew has also represented entities and submitted comments in a variety of state and federal administrative law and rulemaking proceedings.
In addition to representing non-profits, Matthew also frequently serves on non-profit boards. Currently, Matthew is on the boards of the Westport-Wadhams Community Alliance and The Depot Theatre. In his spare time, Matthew manages a small heritage apple orchard in upstate New York.
Writings, Presentations, Awards, and Press
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The Malign Effects of Drug and Crime Control Policies on Black Americans, 37 Crime and Justice 1-44 (2008) (with Professor Michael Tonry)
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Judge orders jail for ex-Cohoes officer who made up story Black man shot at him, Times Union (December 22, 2021)
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Off Duty Cop’s 911 Call About Black Youths Raises Questions, NYT (August 13, 2020)
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Jeanine Pirro Called Out in Major Way by Judge in Black Lives Matter Activist’s Defamation Lawsuit, Law & Crime (October 23, 2018)
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Conference Chairman and/or Speaker (Ballast Water Management Summit, Singapore; Ballast Water Management Tech, London; Green Ship Technology, Washington, DC; BWM Tech North America, Miami, FL)
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Pro Bono Service in the Public Interest Award (Stinson LLP); Pro Bono Service Award (multiple, Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP); North Star Lawyers Pro Bono Award (multiple, Minnesota)
Representative Cases
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In the Matter of the Application of Nokomis Energy LLC and South Garden LLC for a Conditional Use Permit, et al., Nos. A21-0062; A21-0106 (MN Ct. App. 2021) (successful appeal of a CUP denial).
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In re Custody of A.L.R., 830 N.W.2d 163 (Minn. Ct. App. 2013) (overturned a parental custody award inappropriately based on immigration status, establishing novel law in Minnesota).
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Alkhemisi et al. v. Obama, No. 05–1983 (DDC) (detainee held without charge in GTMO since 2002).
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Breanne Sande-Martin et al., v. Dr. Verna Cornelia Price, et al., No. 27-CV-16-18025 (MN Dist. Ct. 2017) (favorable settlement of unlawful discrimination claims)
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Canadian Shipowner’s Association v. U.S. EPA, No. 14-39 (2d. Cir. 2020) (awarded an injunction against a duly promulgated federal regulation after the statute of limitations expired)
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John Schroeder v. City of Saratoga Springs, et al., Index No. 20202376 (NY Sup. Ct. 2020) (FOIL suit forcing City of Saratoga Springs to release information about BLM protests and pay fees)
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DeRay Mckesson v. Jeanine Pirro & Fox News Network LLC, Index No. 160992-17 (NY Sup. Ct. 2017) (defamation case against News Corp).
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Mozzi Gyorio v. MNUFC, et al., Index No. 652281-15 (NY Sup. Ct. 2018) (awarded attorneys’ fees from the opposing law firm)
Education
University of Minnesota Law School
(J.D. cum laude, 2008)
New York University
(B.A., Politics 2003)
Practices
Renewable Energy
Civil Rights & Discrimination
International Human Rights
Non-Profit Formation and Maintenance
Bar Admissions
Second Circuit Court of Appeals
United States District Court for the District of Columbia
New York
Washington, DC
Minnesota
Wisconsin
