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Matthew Cole

Partner
Head of Corporate, Ireland
The technical expertise he has is extremely strong and his client service is excellent. He performs wonderfully well in a demanding environment.
— Chambers Europe 2020
Dublin
About

Matt Cole is Head of Corporate in Ireland and advises Irish, UK and international clients on M&A and Equity Capital Markets transactions as well as listed companies on their ongoing compliance obligations. He is Partner with joint-responsibility for ESG in Ireland.

Noted for his practical style and commercial attitude Matt has led some of the most complex and high profile M&A and private equity transactions in Ireland in recent years. Matt has particular experience in insurance, real estate and energy M&A and is co-head of our Insurance practice in Dublin.

Matt is also one of Ireland’s most experienced ECM practitioners having led the IPOs of a number of high profile companies listed in Ireland. He leads our Irish ECM practice and has almost 20 years of experience advising corporate issuers and major investment banks on a wide range of transactions including IPOs, right issues and equity placings in Dublin, London and internationally.

He is a regular speaker on M&A, ECM and corporate governance issues and author of the Irish chapters of 'Mergers & Acquisitions: International Series' (Second Edition) Sweet & Maxwell 2016, 'The Initial Public Offerings Law Review' (3rd Edition) Law Business Research 2019 and Initial Public Offerings (3rd Edition) GLG 2019. Matt regularly chairs a panel at the ABA/Law Society conference ‘Capital Markets in the 21st Century’.

Areas of FocusEnergy and Natural ResourcesFinancial ServicesInsuranceReal EstateCorporateTechnologyMergers and AcquisitionsEquity Capital MarketsIndustrialsPrivate EquityTechnology and Commercial TransactionsEmerging Growth and Venture Capital
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and WalesSolicitor regulated by the Law Society of Ireland

EXPERIENCE

Advising:

  • PIB Insurance on all aspects of their entry into the Irish market including the acquisitions of Optis Insurance, Creane and Creane, Campion Insurance, Oliver Murphy Insurance and Alan Tierney & Partners.
  • Keywords Studios plc on its acquisition of Australian studio Wicked Witch.
  • A major private equity backed consolidator on the acquisition of Ireland’s largest insurance broker.
  • Ogier on its merger with Leman Solicitors.
  • Xylem Inc on its acquisition and subsequent disposal of smart street light and meter developer SELC.
  • A US West Coast private equity firm on the acquisition of an Irish care homes business.
  • The management of Global Shares on its sale to JPMorgan.
  • Navitas Semiconductor Limited on its merger with Live Oak Acquisition Corp II, the first de-SPAC transaction involving an Irish target.
  • A major Irish housebuilder on its IPO on the Irish and London Stock Exchanges and subsequent secondary issuance and the underwriters on the IPO of another major Irish housebuilder.
  • Two of the four listed Irish REITs on their IPOs.
  • Advised Slate on its takeover Yew Grove REIT plc.
Languages
  • English
Education
  • London School of Economics and Political Science, BSc International History
  • College of Law London, CPE and LPC

Awards

  • Matthew Cole focuses on ECM matters, bringing significant experience from his professional background in the London market to advise clients on complex mandates. Sources say: "The technical expertise he has is extremely strong and his client service is excellent. He performs wonderfully well in a demanding environment." Chambers and Partners
  • For Commercial, Corporate and M&A, Matthew Cole is "a key name" Legal 500

Publications

Author of the Irish chapters of Mergers & Acquisitions: International Series (Second Edition) Sweet & Maxwell 2016, The Initial Public Offerings Law Review (3rd Edition) Law Business Research 2019 and Initial Public Offerings (3rd Edition) GLG 2019

Seminars

Matthew is regular speaker on ECM and compliance issues including chairing a panel at the annual American Bar Association and Law Society of England and Wales "Capital Markets in the 21st Century" conference.

Prior Experience

  • 2020 to Date, DLA Piper
  • 2013-2020, Corporate partner at leading Irish law firms
  • 2003-2012, London based global law firm

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+353 1 487 6669
(Work, Dublin)
+353 87 4498799
(Work)
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