“I realized I wanted to focus on working more directly with the key decision-makers in organizations and clients closer to home. For me, this was a way to make a difference. I had known Chris Hanslik, our firm chairman, in high school and had an opportunity to meet everyone at BoyarMiller. Our cultures and philosophies of client service aligned and I was convinced this was my new home.”
– Matt Veech, Shareholder, Litigation Group
In “The Compleat Angler” published in 1653, author Izaak Walton called fly fishing “the contemplative man’s recreation.” Matt Veech calls it his passion and a way to disconnect and recharge in Florida’s waters a couple times a year.
Most of Matt’s days are spent contemplating his clients’ cases and keeping up with an active family. He and his wife Holly have been married for 17 years and have three children. Lindsay, 15, plays field hockey and is part of the St. Agnes and Strake Jesuit Mixed Chorus. Maggie, 11, plays volleyball and sings in the school choir. Eight-year-old Grant plays baseball, and Matt is the team’s coach.
If that doesn’t keep them busy enough, Holly along with her business partner, Matt’s sister, own a successful home-staging business. The family is active at St. Anne’s Catholic Church, where Matt just completed a six-year term serving on the school’s foundation.
Marking his 12th anniversary with BoyarMiller this month, Matt did not always want to be an attorney.
“I attended Texas A&M with the aspiration of being an engineer and quickly learned that it wasn’t right for me; it just didn’t hold my interest,” said Matt. “I switched to economics and before I graduated I started thinking about studying law so I could help clients and build my own business, so to speak.”
After graduating from South Texas College of Law Houston, he was a Briefing Attorney for the Texas First Court of Appeals and then joined the Houston office of a New York City-based law firm, Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, LLP.
“I was at Kasowitz for six years working with great lawyers representing large national and multi-national clients. I realized I wanted to focus on working more directly with the key decision-makers in organizations and clients closer to home. For me, this was a way to make a difference. I had known Chris Hanslik, our firm chairman, in high school and had an opportunity to meet everyone at BoyarMiller,” said Matt. “Our cultures and philosophies of client service aligned and I was convinced this was my new home.”
Matt is extremely thankful to his clients that have been clients of BoyarMiller since the day he started and that he has had the pleasure of working with the last 12 years. Matt cites two recent cases where his skills as a litigator helped clients get back to their businesses and way of life. One case involved harsh allegations about misappropriated funds. The other case involved allegations that Matt’s client had improperly taken a corporate opportunity. The charges in both cases impugned the reputation of the clients Matt represented.
“Both of these cases were emotionally charged and the future livelihoods of the individuals we represented were at stake,” said Matt. “There was a lot on the line for them, not only financially, but also their reputations. It was incredibly rewarding to prevail and help them both move forward in a positive way. That’s what it’s all about.”
It turns out that Matt has a passion for more than just fly fishing, he also loves to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives.
