Matthew R. Serge
Attorney
Matthew R. Serge
Attorney
Phone: 603.792.7416 Fax: 603.716.2899 Email: mserge@dwmlaw.com
670 N. Commercial Street, Suite 207 Manchester, NH 03101
Assistant: Patricia Frechette Email: pfrechette@dwmlaw.com
About
Matt Serge is the Practice Group Leader for the Municipal Group in New Hampshire. He focuses his practice on serving the legal needs of towns and cities on the full spectrum of municipal law issues including land use matters, zoning enforcement actions, New Hampshire’s Right to Know Law, welfare assistance, tax abatements, real estate, elections, contracts, employment matters, and government relations. Matt regularly represents clients before state and federal trial and appellate courts, and administrative boards.
Matt’s successes in the courtroom are notable. He successfully represented a town in a 9-day trial in which a property owner was found liable for numerous zoning violations. Matt also successfully defended a town planning board, a case in which Matt broke new legal ground and prevailed on appeal before the New Hampshire Supreme Court. Similarly, Matt helped set legal precedent and prevailed on appeal in a case involving variances for telecommunication facilities.
Matt has been recognized by Best Lawyers USA in Municipal Litigation, and by New England Super Lawyers, in State, Local & Municipal, Appellate, General Litigation. Matt authored the current Code Enforcement Handbook published by the New Hampshire Municipal Association, as well as two articles in the NH Bar Journal. He also was a member of the inaugural class of the New Hampshire Bar Association Leadership Academy. Sought after for his municipal law expertise, Matt is often invited to speak at trainings and seminars.
In his free time, Matt enjoys playing the guitar – he has been a musician since he was in the 9th grade – and hiking, climbing, and backpacking. Deeply dedicated to his community, Matt serves on the Board of Directors for Friends of Tuckerman Ravine.
Education
New England School of Law, J.D., summa cum laude, 1999
University of Massachusetts, Lowell, B.A., cum laude, 1996
Judicial Clerkships
- Hon. Linda S. Dalianias, New Hampshire Supreme Court, 2001-2003
- New Hampshire Superior Court, 1999-2001
Recognition
Best Lawyers USA, Litigation – Municipal 2016-2025
New England Super Lawyers, State, Local & Municipal, Appellate, General Litigation, Rising Star 2011-2014
New Hampshire Bar Association Leadership Academy
Publications
Co-author, Code Enforcement Handbook, published by the New Hampshire Municipal Association
Author, “The Doctrine of Vested Rights – A Brief Survey,” NH Bar Journal (Fall 2007)
Author, “Carlson’s Chrysler v. City of Concord – The New Hampshire Supreme Court’s Foray in the World of Sign Regulation,” NH Bar Journal (January 2008)
Representative Clients & Matters
Town of North Hampton v. Jones – Successfully litigated a 9-day trial in which the defendant was found liable for numerous zoning violations. The case involved extensive discovery, including over 10 depositions, as well as hundreds of exhibits.
CBDA Development v. Town of Thornton – Successfully defended the Town of Thornton Planning Board before the NH Supreme Court and, in doing so, established the first extension of the Fisher v Dover legal doctrine (which provides that Zoning Boards of Adjustment are not required to review matters that were previously denied) to apply to Planning Board decisions.
Daniels v. Town of Londonderry – Successfully defended the Town of Londonderry Zoning Board of Adjustment before the NH Supreme Court and, in doing so, established new precedent for how to integrate federal regulations into the analysis of variance applications for telecommunications facilities.
Memberships
New Hampshire Association for Justice
American Inns of Court
Member, 2005-2013
New Hampshire Bar Journal Editorial Board
Member, 2005-2012; Chairman, 2010-2012
New Hampshire Board of Bar Examiners
Daniel Webster Scholar Program, 2009-2015
American Bar Association
Member
Community/Public Service
Bedford Youth Soccer League
Volunteer Coach
Friends of Tuckerman Ravine
Member of Advisory Board (former President of Board of Directors)
Grace Episcopal Church
Church Vestry Member (2015 – 2021)
Church Choir (2010 – 2015)
Past Presentations
From May 11, 2024
NHOPD Spring 2024 Planning and Zoning Conference
Attorneys Christine Fillmore Johnston, Matthew Serge, and Steven Whitley presented at the 𝗡𝗛𝗢𝗣𝗗 𝗦𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗭𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, which took place online on May 11, 2024.
From April 29, 2023 9:00 am
NH Office of Planning & Development Spring Land Use Conference
From September 17, 2021 9:00 am
Municipal Management Association of New Hampshire 2021 Annual Conference
From October 31, 2020 12:00 pm
NH Municipal Association and NH Office of Strategic Initiatives 2020 Virtual Land Use Law Conference
From November 13, 2019 10:45 am
2019 New Hampshire Municipal Association Conference & Exhibition
From May 28, 2019 12:00 pm
At the Intersection of Free Speech, Social Media, and Local Government
From May 17, 2019 12:00 pm
A Guide to Effective Code Enforcement Workshop
From June 1, 2018 9:00 am
NHMA Seminar Series: Zoning Ordinance and Building Code Enforcement
From May 23, 2018 1:00 pm
New Hampshire Municipal Association Junkyard Regulation Webinar
From April 28, 2018 9:00 am
New Hampshire Office of Energy and Planning Spring Workshop
From September 22, 2017 12:00 pm