Gillhouse finds niche as ‘community lawyer’

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Matt Gillhouse was not Balthazar de Anda and his partner’s first choice for an immigration attorney.

They thought they would prefer someone who would just tell them what to do. Only after they left first meeting with another lawyer feeling completely dehumanized did they turned to Gillhouse.

They haven’t looked back since.

“My husband just loves Matthew,” said de Anda. “Matthew was assertive but not pushy. He gave us the opportunity to feel human and make our own decision.”

But de Anda says Gillhouse is more than just his lawyer; he is the Latino community’s lawyer when it comes to immigration matters.

“Every time that we ask him to come to one of our events to talk to and inform the community about some immigration changes he has always been there,” said de Anda. “His motive is not to get clients. His motive is to support the community.”

Gillhouse’s volunteer efforts are extensive. Beyond providing immigration training in both English and Spanish, he runs free immigration law clinics in Waukesha and Beloit each month, and provides pro bono services to agencies that support victims of domestic violence. In 2017 alone, Gillhouse gave more than 25 free informational presentations to immigrants.

“I think it’s really important for the community to really understand what’s going on,” Gillhouse said. “There’s a lot of fear and manipulation. … It’s an important time to be an immigration lawyer. We have an important role to play.”

Gillhouse, who graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School in 2007, started practicing immigration law after working four years as a federal judicial clerk in the Western District of Wisconsin. In 2014, he started MMG Law in Monona. Gillhouse has since moved his office to Madison and hired a second attorney.

Marsha Mansfield, director of the Economic Justice Institute at the University of Wisconsin Law School, has been Gillhouse’s mentor since he was a law student working for the institute’s family-court clinic. She says she is particularly proud that Gillhouse went on to start his own practice.

“He started it from nothing,” Mansfield said. ”And seeing it grow and seeing his success has been gratifying to me.”

Gillhouse says he owes much of that success to his wife, Cecilia, office manager of the firm.

“She’s helped me be a better person and better lawyer and to provide to the community,” Gillhouse said.

Mansfield says that Gillhouse’s work ties into his personal life. His wife, Cecilia, she notes, is from Argentina.

“He is devoted to his practice, community and family, and he’s just a wonderful person,” Mansfield said.