Matthew I. Weinstein

Chair, Real Estate Lease Restructuring

Matthew has 25 years of experience representing real estate developers, owners, landlords, and tenants in all aspects of the acquisition, disposition, development, financing, and leasing of commercial property. He works with both entrepreneurial and institutional clients on their most critical real estate transactions.

Matthew purposefully maintains a transactional practice that handles a wide range of real estate asset classes, including retail, office, warehouse/industrial, and life sciences. He finds that having a cutting-edge understanding of the strategic considerations and deal norms unique to various asset classes leads to valuable cross-pollination of ideas and more creative solutions for clients.

Leasing and lease restructuring is an area of particular focus for Matthew. He has led prominent leasing transactions for decades and founded one of the Am Law 100’s first dedicated lease restructuring teams, which he continues to chair. The team serves major clients in up and down cycles, assisting with everything from workouts and distressed lease restructuring to term extensions and lease amendments that lock-in beneficial positions.

Matthew leads acquisition and disposition transactions, often in the context of major development projects. He has significant experience with ground leases, built-to-suit developments, reciprocal easement agreements, and construction issues. 

Matthew is a fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers (ACREL) and a member of International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) and Urban Land Institute (ULI).

A noted author and lecturer, Matthew has been published in industry-leading journals and is regularly featured as a guest speaker before ACREL, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC), Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP), and International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC).

Matthew earned his undergraduate degree from Columbia University and his law degree, magna cum laude, from Villanova Law School. In law school, he was the managing editor for the Villanova Law Review, Order of the Coif, and recipient of the Villanova Law Review Scribe’s Award.

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Experience

News

Matthew Weinstein Elected Fellow of American College of Real Estate Lawyers

April 09, 2024

Matthew I. Weinstein, chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Lease Restructuring Group, has been elected a Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers.

More Than 205 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 19, 2021

Best Lawyers selected 210 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2022 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Vacated Restaurants Could Spark a Real Estate Boon

November 30, 2020

Matt Weinstein discusses with FSR Magazine the potential increase in real estate opportunities as restaurants look for property as companies begin to bounce back from COVID-19.

Movie Theater Closings Pose Another Challenge to Mall Landlords

October 19, 2020

Matt Weinstein discusses how the pandemic has caused movie theaters to close and what that means for mall landlords in GlobeSt.

Regal Theater Closures Present A 'Very Serious' Problem For Retail Landlords

October 13, 2020

In S&P Global Market Intelligence, Matt Weinstein discusses how mall and shopping center landlords are addressing the potential cascade of movie theater closures.

200 Cozen O’Connor Attorneys Named Best Lawyers and Ones to Watch By The Best Lawyers In America

August 20, 2020

Best Lawyers selected 200 Cozen O’Connor lawyers from 23 of the firm’s nationwide offices for inclusion in the 2021 edition of The Best Lawyers in America© (Copyright 2020 by Woodward/White, Inc., of Aiken, SC).

Lease Restructuring Groups Emerge As Virus Drives Demand

August 14, 2020

Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Lease Restructuring Group is highlighted in a recent Law360 article titled, "Lease Restructuring Groups Emerge as Virus Drives Demand."

Cozen O'Connor Group Tackles Surge Of Virus-Driven Lease Disputes

July 09, 2020

Matt Weinstein discusses the formation of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Lease Restructuring Practice, a multidisciplinary team assembled to address the growing needs of landlord and tenant lease renegotiation issues that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic in Law360.

Publications

Life Science Conversions in Real Estate

May 24, 2023

Matt Weinstein discusses the legal issues surrounding the lease that need to be evaluated and addressed when considering a conversion of office space to life science space in Area Development.

Climate Change – Real Estate Impact [White Paper]

March 22, 2021

Matthew Weinstein and Harrison Haas discuss how climate change impacts the real estate industry and the ways property owners, developers, governmental authorities, and others intend to tackle the perceived effect of climate change.

Don’t Get Grossed Out by a Net Lease [COpilot Blog]

September 26, 2019

A lease is the first foray into real estate for many young entrepreneurs. With the exception of the dorm occupancy contract in college, and possibly a residential apartment lease in graduate school, most entrepreneurs have not given much thought to real estate generally and leasing in particular.

Breweries on the Move [Bar Business Magazine]

November 01, 2017

Matthew Weinstein, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses unique considerations in connection with expansions and relocations of breweries in Bar Business Magazine.

Hidden Traps: Builders should watch for the pitfalls of the Interstate Land Sale Full Disclosure Act [Construction Today]

February 01, 2011

Hidden Traps: Builders should watch for the pitfalls of the Interstate Land Sale Full Disclosure Act - Construction Today -

Events & Seminars

Upcoming Events

Health Care & Life Sciences Unlocked: A Weekly Briefing

April 15, 2025 - Webinar

Cozen O’Connor invites you to attend a weekly webinar series exploring critical issues impacting the legal landscape for health care and life sciences businesses.

Past Events

Health Law 2024

December 05, 2023 - Philadelphia, PA

Boilerplate Provisions in Retail Leases in the Age of Covid

November 05, 2021 - San Francisco, CA

Education

  • Villanova University School of Law, J.D., magna cum laude, 2000
  • Columbia University, B.A., 1995
  • New Jersey
  • Pennsylvania

The Honorable Arnold L. New, The Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas, First Judicial District

Fellow of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers

Louis D. Brandeis Law Society

Urban Land Institute

International Council of Shopping Centers