
Matt represents publicly traded companies and companies on their way to going public, especially in capital-raising transactions and mergers and acquisitions. With nearly 30 years of experience, Matt has deep industry knowledge of the life sciences, healthcare and technology sectors. He handles IPOs, reverse mergers, private placements, and follow-on offerings for companies whose business depends on well-executed access to the capital markets. With respect to M&A, Matt regularly advises companies, boards of directors, special committees, investment banks and investors in both buy and sell-side M&A, other strategic transactions and defensive measures. In addition, Matt counsels public companies on a broad range of corporate, securities and business-related matters, including fiduciary duties, corporate governance, stockholder activism, and SEC reporting. He is consistently recognized by the publication Best Lawyers in America for corporate governance and other areas. For his M&A work, Matt is recognized by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business.
Experience
Mergers & Acquisitions
- Syncona Ltd. (LSE: SYNC) in its acquisition of Freeline Therapeutics (Nasdaq: FRLN) (pending)
- Standard BioTools (Nasdaq: LAB) in its stock-for-stock merger with SomaLogic (Nasdaq: SLGC) (pending)
- F-star Therapeutics (Nasdaq: FSTX) in its $161 million sale to invoX Pharma, a subsidiary of Sino Biopharma Limited (HKEX 1177 HK), with voluntary CFIUS and NSIA filings and full foreign investment regulatory review and clearance. This transaction is the first successfully completed acquisition by a Chinese entity of a U.S. publicly traded biotech company in over a decade
- Syncona Ltd. (LSE: SYNC) in its acquisition of Applied Genetics Technologies (Nasdaq: AGTC) for $23.3 million in cash, plus up to $50 million payable pursuant to contingent value rights
- Viela Bio (Nasdaq:VIE) in its $3.05 billion sale to Horizon Therapeutics (Nasdaq: HZNP), ranked in Fierce Biotech’s “The Top 10 Biopharma M&A Deals in 2021”
- QIAGEN N.V. (NYSE: QGEN; Frankfurt: QIA) in its $12.5 billion proposed sale to Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. (NYSE: TMO)
- Netsmart Technologies in multiple acquisitions
- Synlogic, Inc. in its merger with Mirna Therapeutics, Inc. (Nasdaq: MIRN)
- Molecular Templates, Inc. in its merger with Threshold Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: THLD)
- Synta Pharmaceuticals (Nasdaq: SNTA) in its merger with Madrigal Pharmaceuticals
- Atlantic Tele-Network (Nasdaq: ATNI) in its $145 million acquisition of Innovative Group
- Essilor International SA in its $270 million acquisition of Costa Inc. (Nasdaq: ATX)
- FGX International in its acquisition of Stylemark
- ASSA ABLOY AB in its $80 million acquisition of LaserCard Corporation (Nasdaq: LCRD)
- ABRY Partners, a private equity firm, in its $1.3 billion acquisition of RCN Corporation (Nasdaq: RCNI)
- Cequent Pharmaceuticals in its sale to Marina Biotech, Inc. (Nasdaq: MRNAD), formerly known as MDRNA, Inc.
- Dynasil Corporation of America (Nasdaq: DYSL) in its acquisition of Hilger Crystal Limited, a U.K. subsidiary of Newport Corp. (Nasdaq: NEWP)
- Management team of Netsmart Technologies, Inc. in connection with the acquisition of Netsmart by private equity firm, Genstar Capital, including terms of management’s “roll-over” and co-investment arrangements and related employment and compensation arrangements
- Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited (TSE:4502) in its $8.8 billion acquisition of Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq: MLNM), one of the largest foreign acquisitions by a Japanese company, the largest by a Japanese company in the pharmaceutical industry and IDD magazine‘s “Healthcare Deal of the Year” in 2008
- Lane, Berry & Co. International LLC in its sale to Raymond James Financial, Inc.
- XIUS – bcgi in its sale of substantially all of its interests in its Israeli subsidiary, Puresight Technologies Limited
- Boston Communications Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: BCGI) in its $65 million merger with Megasoft Limited
- Helix Technology Corporation (Nasdaq: HELX) in its agreement to merge with Brooks Automation in a $450 million stock swap
Securities Offerings
- Freeline Therapeutics in its $26.1 million follow-on offering (investor’s counsel)
- Rezolute, Inc. in its $41 million PIPE in connection with a Nasdaq uplisting (lead investor’s counsel)
- Spero Therapeutics, Inc. in its IPO and multiple follow-on offerings
- Molecular Templates, Inc. in multiple follow-on offerings
- Adaptimmune Therapeutics plc in its $100 million follow-on offering (investors' counsel)
- Synlogic, Inc. in multiple follow-on offerings
- WAVE Life Sciences Ltd. in its $102 million IPO
- Achillion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its $141.4 million follow-on offering (underwriters' counsel)
- TECO Energy in its $280.5 million public offering of common stock
- Stemline Therapeutics, Inc. in its $30 million IPO
- Recapitalization transaction of SofTech, Inc.
- Atlantic Tele-Network in its $68 million public offering of common stock
viewpoints
Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Advance Waiver of Statutory Appraisal Rights — Affirms Key Component of “Drag Along” Critical for M&A Exits for Venture-Backed Companies
November 23, 2021 | Alert | By Matthew Gardella, Brendan J. Chaisson
COVID-19 and Poison Pills: The Right Prescription?
April 30, 2020 | Advisory | By Matthew Gardella, Scott M. Stanton, David G. Conway
Preserving Net Operating Losses (NOL) Carryforward: What Are You Doing to Protect Your Company’s Valuable Tax Assets?
April 8, 2015 | Blog | By Matthew Gardella
News & Press
3 Reasons Why The Biopharma M&A Market Is Ready For Takeoff
August 21, 2023
Biotech M&A Activity Gains Momentum
August 10, 2023
Pfizer/Seagen And What May Follow
May 12, 2023
Delaware Supreme Court Upholds Advance Waiver Of Statutory Appraisal Rights
September 15, 2022
Events & Speaking
Protecting Shareholder Value Today
Poison Pills and Takeover Defense Considerations During Pandemic Times
View the Webinar Recording
Recognition & Awards
- Chambers USA: Massachusetts – Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions (2022 – 2023)
- Named Lawyer of the Year in the area of Corporate Governance Law (Boston) by Best Lawyers in America (2017, 2022)
- Best Lawyers in America: Corporate Compliance Law, Corporate Governance Law, Corporate Law (2006 – 2024)
- Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for M&A: Middle-Market (2017)
- Named Lawyer of the Year in the area of Corporate Compliance Law (Boston) by Best Lawyers in America (2018, 2024)
Involvement
- Co-chair, Securities Law Committee, Boston Bar Association (2005 - 2007)
- Member, Board of Overseers, Boys & Girls Club of Boston (2007 - 2013)
- Trustee, South Kent School (2009-2014)
- Elected member of Waban Area Council in Waban, Massachusetts (2013 - 2015)