Matthew Sean Harrison

For over a decade, Matt Harrison has been a pioneer of public policy innovation. His legal practice specializes in emerging areas of the law, including internet and cannabis law.

Most recently, Matt was one of the lead drafting attorneys on California’s Proposition 64, the successful ballot initiative to decriminalize and regulate cannabis for adult use, which passed by the largest percentage of any such initiative in recorded history. Working directly with California Lt. Governor Gavin Newsom and other state leaders to craft a policy structure widely hailed as the national gold standard, Matt directly authored key provisions in the historic law, and was intimately involved with crafting the overall policy structure, integrating policies and lessons from analogous industries ranging from sustainable agriculture to alcohol.

Matt’s practice includes a range of high-level business and government relations matters, particularly where legal, business and policy issues intersect.   With 10 years of strategic expertise in governmental affairs, complex policy and public service, he counsels a variety of entities, including startups and technology companies, on development and structuring of business objectives, operation of business activities and regulatory compliance.

Prior to establishing the firm, Matt founded Prometheus Civic Technologies, a social purpose corporation developing civic engagement software. ProCivTech’s investor-funded projects include an award-winning iPhone app successfully used to change municipal transport policy, and SimpleGov – currently under development – a revolutionary web-based platform to optimize administrative government.

While in college, Matt founded the Prometheus Institute, a think tank dedicated to increasing public awareness for creative policy solutions, especially among the millennial generation. For over ten years, the Institute has produced numerous award-winning grant-funded policy projects, twice receiving the prestigious international Templeton Freedom Award, and continues to produce transformative policy research and solutions, including those recently codified in Proposition 64 and other state and local laws.

By founding Prometheus Civic Law, Matt’s practice focuses on facilitating innovative policy change through legal action, and he works with both private and public leaders to spur creative innovation in emerging issues and industries.

Education

• B.B.A., University of Miami, Political Science, Minor in Economics, 2005
  • Deans List and Provost’s Honor Roll
  • Graduated in three years
• J.D., University of Southern California Gould School of Law, 2010
  • Featured in USC LAW magazine for policy entrepreneurship
  • Finalist, USC Stevens Innovators Showcase
• M.P.P., University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy, 2010
  • Accepted to accelerated joint law/public policy degree program

Admissions

• California State Bar
• U.S. District Court – Southern District of California
• *PENDING – New York State Bar [exam passed, awaiting certification]

Specializations

• Business Law
  • Assisting consultants, developers and outside management companies in evaluating and implementing a wide range of business projects, especially in highly regulated industries such as Energy, Transportation, and Cannabis
  • Experience with forming and capitalizing a range of entities, including non-profit tax-exempt charities, membership associations and cooperatives, social purpose corporations, LLCs and standard corporations.
  • Software and technology-specific issues, including contracts involving creation and publication of advertising and multimedia works
  • On behalf of industry clients, worked with a diverse coalition to remove outdated mandates under prior legislation and grant small business and technological flexibility not existing previously
• Administrative / Public Law
  • Ordinance drafting, research and development
  • Assisting state and local governments in navigating complex legal matters
  • Experience advising a technology company and trade association to develop and implement a strategy in response to new state rules
  • Provided strategic advice and organization to an informal coalition of companies concerned about the impact of legislation
• Constitutional Law
  • Expertise in 10th Amendment, states rights, and federalism issues
  • Assisting state and local governments in navigating complex legal matters
  • First Amendment challenges to advertising laws and rules that unduly burden truthful protected commercial speech