Matthew is highly regarded for leading sophisticated mergers, acquisitions, and commercial transactions, often for high-profile clients pursuing disruptive change.
Matthew has been repeatedly ranked by Chambers & Partners, a peer-validated guide to the best lawyers in Canada, and is listed in the Canadian Lexpert Directory as a leading lawyer in the areas of Mergers & Acquisitions and Private Equity.
" ...intelligent, bright, thoughtful lawyer with a lot of good business sense "
Clients value Matthew’s extensive experience leading complex and important mergers, acquisitions and other commercial transactions. Matthew is often engaged on high-profile transactions, with particular experience advising clients pursuing disruptive or transformative change within an industry or organization. His matters often involve public and governmental sensitivities or diverse stakeholder interests.
" …very easy to deal with" [and the] “ability to navigate an extremely complex […] process. "
Recognized as a key player in high-profile transactions, Matthew represents industry-leading clients, including banks, private equity firms, pension funds, major corporations, and mid-sized businesses. Matthew brings the whole strength of the Firm to bear on a clients biggest opportunities and challenges. Some of his representative transactions include acting for:
- Building Products of Canada on the C$1.32 billion sale of its residential roofing shingles and wood fiber insulation panels manufacturing business to Saint-Gobain;
- EMCO Corporation on the acquisition of the Canadian assets and operations of MRC Global for an undisclosed amount;
- TSN/Bell Media on its multi-year agreement to establish FanDuel as the official sportsbook partner for TSN, TSN.ca and other Bell Media sports properties, including the integration of betting features into Bell’s live sports and editorial content;
- Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation on all aspects of its multi-year project to modernize its casino gaming business, including negotiating long-term operating agreements for 28 existing or planned casinos;
- Uber in connection with its acquisition of self-driving technology from leading researchers at The University of Toronto, and the formation of its Advanced Technology Group; and the subsequent sale of such assets and IP to a management-led venture;
- Uber in connection with various strategic matters relating to the establishment and growth of its Canadian operations and expansion;
- CIBC on the $2.0 billion acquisition of Citibank's Canadian MasterCard business;
- CIBC on the sale of certain credit card portfolios to TD Bank and the renegotiation of CIBC’s affinity program with Aeroplan;
- Kraft Foods Group on its $60 billion merger with H.J. Heinz;
- Mondelez Canada and Mondelez International on various strategic acquisitions and dispositions, and various complex commercial joint ventures;
- Kraft Foods on the global separation of its grocery and snacks businesses and the formation of Mondelez International;
- OMERS Private Equity and Berkshire Partners on the $2.1 billion acquisition of an advanced manufacturing business;
- OMERS/Oxford Properties on the acquisition of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
- The Lafarge Group in connection with several strategic acquisitions and divestitures of industrial and manufacturing businesses;
- Genius Sports, the leading sports data and technology business, on its strategic partnership with the Canadian Football League;
- The Government of Ontario in connection with the legalization and retail distribution of recreational marijuana in Ontario; and
- CIBC on its lead sponsorship of the Union-Pearson Express.
Matthew is an experienced corporate director, currently holding the following roles:
- Director of True Patriot Love Foundation, Canada’s national foundation supporting Canadian military service members, veterans, and their families; and
- Director of the 2017 Invictus Games (hosted in Toronto) and the 2025 Invictus Games (hosted in Vancouver/Whistler, an international sporting event for wounded, injured, and ill military personnel, a charitable initiative founded by the Duke of Sussex.
Matthew obtained his BA in 1997 and an LLB in 2000, both from the University of Western Ontario. He was called to the Ontario Bar in 2002. Matthew has completed the executive program at Harvard Business School in Accounting and Finance, and the executive program at MIT Sloan School of Business on Generative AI in Business.