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Matthew J. Gardella

Member

[email protected]

+1.617.348.1735

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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)
  • Standard BioTools (Nasdaq: LAB) in its stock-for-stock merger with SomaLogic (Nasdaq: SLGC)
  • 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
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viewpoints

This alert discusses the Delaware Supreme Court’s decision in Manti Holdings v. Authentix Acquisition Co. that upheld the enforceability of an advance waiver of statutory appraisal rights by common stockholders.
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COVID-19 and Poison Pills: The Right Prescription?

April 30, 2020 | Advisory | By Matthew Gardella, Scott M. Stanton, David G. Conway

The coronavirus pandemic continues to have profound effects on the U.S. and global economies. Investor concerns about the impact of COVID-19 and government-imposed restrictions on individuals and businesses have led to unprecedented market volatility. Further material volatility is anticipated. In this environment, publicly traded companies may want to evaluate the adequacy of their corporate defenses to protect their stockholders from such predatory activities.
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A company’s past NOLs can be used to offset taxable income in future years, subject to certain limitations. For companies that have operated at a significant loss and expect to turn a profit in the foreseeable future, the value of their NOL carryforward may be one of their most valuable assets on their balance sheet.
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News & Press

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187 Mintz attorneys have been recognized by Best Lawyers® in the 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, three Mintz attorneys received 2025 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 64 firm attorneys were included in the 2025 edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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Mintz announced today that 42 of its practices and 83 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2024 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms. Of those included in the guide, 18 attorneys and seven practice areas were awarded Chambers’ highest ranking, Band 1. The firm obtained new listings in three practice areas and 10 of its lawyers were recognized for the first time.

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Mintz biotech M&A lawyer, Matt Gardella, was quoted in MedCity News article “3 Reasons Why The Biopharma M&A Market Is Ready For Takeoff". This article discusses the pace of biopharma M&A in 2023 and the factors driving it.

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Mintz is pleased to announce that 120 firm attorneys have been recognized as leaders by Best Lawyers® in the 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©.

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M&A lawyer Matthew Gardella spoke to the Wall Street Journal about factors driving the biotech M&A boom. He cited big drugmakers’ acquisitions of companies with promising assets as a strategy to offset upcoming patent expirations, low public valuations of biotech companies, a slow IPO market, and concerns about increased antitrust scrutiny.

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BOSTON – Mintz has earned top rankings in the 2023 edition of Legal 500 United States guide. The firm is recognized in 14 practice categories, and 59 individual attorneys are also recognized in the guide, some in more than one category.

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BOSTON –Mintz announced today that 39 of its practices and 81 of its attorneys earned recognition in the 2023 edition of Chambers USA, a guide to the country’s leading law firms.

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Member Matthew Gardella was a panelist on Scrip's M&A Podcast, where he discussed the state of biopharma M&A, including the record pace of activity in 2023 and the implications of mega deals like the Pfizer/Seagen merger.

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Best Lawyers® recognized 108 firm attorneys in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America©. Notably, two Mintz attorneys – Poonam Patidar and Scott M. Stanton – received 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” awards, and 28 firm attorneys were included in the inaugural edition of Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch.

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Firm plays a key role in the largest health care acquisition to date in 2020.
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Best Lawyers named 85 Mintz attorneys to its 2018 list of The Best Lawyers in America. In addition, Mintz attorneys Matthew J. Gardella and Samuel M. Tony Starr were named “Lawyer of the Year” in their respective practice areas.
Best Lawyers named 73 Mintz attorneys to its 2017 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Mintz attorneys selected for inclusion in this year’s list span 44 practice areas. 
Best Lawyers named 73 Mintz attorneys to its 2017 list of The Best Lawyers in America. Mintz attorneys selected for inclusion in this year’s list span 44 practice areas. 
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Events & Speaking

Speaker
Jul
8
2020

Protecting Shareholder Value Today

Poison Pills and Takeover Defense Considerations During Pandemic Times

View the Webinar Recording

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Speaker
Jun
3
2016
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Recognition & Awards

  • Chambers USA: Massachusetts – Corporate/Mergers & Acquisitions (2022 – 2024)

  • 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 – 2025)

  • Recommended by The Legal 500 United States for M&A: Middle-Market (2017, 2024)

  • Named Lawyer of the Year in the area of Corporate Compliance Law (Boston) by Best Lawyers in America (2018, 2024)

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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)
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