David B. Matthews

Experience

David Matthews is a Partner of the firm, specializing in real estate matters. David represents national retailers in negotiating leases and resolving retail disputes throughout the country. His practice also includes the acquisition, development, financing, leasing, and disposition of properties. David’s clients include Gap Inc. (including Old Navy, Banana Republic, and Athleta); Levi Strauss & Co.; Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance; Ralph Lauren (including Polo Ralph Lauren and Club Monaco); Aritzia; Allbirds; Roark; Luxottica (including Sunglass Hut and LensCrafters); P.F. Chang’s; PetSmart; and other national retailers.

David is a member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Real Estate Lawyers, whose highly-selective membership is recognized as the top real estate attorneys in the United States. David also serves as chair of the Orientation and Integration Committee, assimilating new fellows into the ACREL organization.

David chaired the 53rd annual ICSC US Law Conference in 2023, the premier event of the retail real estate legal community, which featured 75 presentations and 55 roundtables by more than 175 speakers, and was attended by over 1,200 attorneys. David has been on the Law Conference leadership team since 2017, and currently serves as chair of the Membership Nominating Committee.

Prior to joining Bartko, David was Associate General Counsel for Gap, Inc.’s Real Estate Law Department where he was integrally involved in both new store development (from letter of intent through store construction) and property management of Gap’s existing fleet. During David’s 10-year tenure at Gap, Inc., he negotiated thousands of leases and real estate-related documents. He played a key role in developing Gap’s leasing policies and real estate practices and has experience handling a wide range of retail real estate related disputes, including co-tenancy violations, late delivery fees and construction disputes.

Before his career with Gap, Inc., David was in the Real Estate Group of Morrison & Foerster, one of San Francisco’s largest law firms, where he represented landlords and tenants in commercial, office, and industrial leasing transactions; building owners and developers in acquisition, management, and disposition of real property; and creditors and borrowers in secured financings and workouts.