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Matthew L. Sagone
Of Counsel
Matthew Sagone focuses his practice on construction and securities matters. He advises owners, including school districts, municipalities, counties and townships, on construction projects.
As construction counsel, his responsibilities include negotiating architect, design-build and construction management contracts, drafting construction bidding documents, advising on matters arising during bidding and award, and advising on resolution of disputes that may arise during the construction phase. In addition, he is experienced in negotiating and reviewing real estate purchase agreements and leases.
Early in his legal career, Matt served as an assistant attorney general in the Business and Government Regulation Section of the Office of the Attorney General of Ohio. His work included competitive bidding matters, construction, real estate and personal services contracts, and litigating administrative and civil matters.
He is a regular presenter on topics addressing compliance with public construction requirements, construction reform, acquisition and disposition of property, and compliance with Ohio public records and open meeting requirements for the Ohio Association of School Business Officials, Ohio School Boards Association and the Buckeye Association of School Administrators.
Matt reviews, revises and updates chapters of the Baldwin’s Ohio School Law handbook addressing the acquisition and disposition of school property, the construction and repair of school buildings, and the management and use of school property. He was also instrumental in drafting the language of Ohio Revised Code 167.084, which expanded the cooperative purchasing powers of Ohio councils of government.
- Advising Ohio political subdivisions on construction matters, including projects funded by the Ohio School Facilities Commission. Includes hiring and negotiating agreements with architects, construction managers as advisor, construction managers at risk and design-builders; drafting construction bidding documents; advising on matters arising during bidding and award of contracts; resolution of contractor claims; and litigation assistance.
- Drafting complex cooperative agreements among political subdivisions for the development, construction and joint use of public property and facilities.
- Advising on and drafting agreements for the acquisition and disposition of real and personal property in compliance with bidding requirements, including drafting request for proposal and bidding documents, and drafting and negotiating contracts.
- Drafting and negotiating leases for real and personal property, including leases for the redevelopment of vacant public facilities, cell tower leases, oil and gas leases, and equipment leases.
- Advising on compliance with state and federal prevailing wage requirements.
- Acting as co-counsel on behalf of a successful client in a landmark prevailing wage matter before the Ohio Supreme Court, Northwestern Ohio Bldg. & Constr. Trades Council v. Ottawa County Improvement Corporation, 122 Ohio St.3d 283.
- Drafting and negotiating agreements for the installation of energy conservation improvements, including contracts providing for guaranteed energy savings and for the installation of wind turbine facilities.
- Preparing resolutions and legislation for public sector governing boards involving purchasing and bidding matters.
- Advising political subdivisions on compliance with requirements of Ohio public records and open meeting requirements.
- Advising on cooperative purchasing through contracts of the state of Ohio and contracts of political subdivisions.
Education
- Capital University, J.D., 1994
- The Ohio State University, B.A., cum laude, 1991
Admissions
- Ohio, 1994
Courts
- U.S. Ct. of App., Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Dist. Ct., S. Dist. of Ohio
Memberships & Affiliations
- Member of the Ohio State Bar Association
- Member of the Construction Law Committee of the Columbus Bar Association
- Former member of the board of trustees of Inner City Catholic Parishes, Inc. where he served as the board vice president and chair of the Strategic Planning Committee
- Recognized in Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America 2021, 2023, 2024 and 2025 for Construction Law in Columbus
- Author, “Best Practices for Acquiring Real Estate,” sbo quarterly, Ohio Association of School Business Officials, March 2020.