Matthew is a partner in the Corporate group specialising in mergers and acquisitions, and joint ventures in the mining and resources sector.

Since joining Freehills, Matthew has been involved in a large number of transactions involving listed companies, private companies and private equity sponsors in a variety of industries. These include mining and resources, construction, travel and hospitality.

Matthew has advised on many noteworthy transactions including:

• Advising Santos Limited on its sell-down of a 22.5% stake in its Gladstone LNG Project to Total S.A. for consideration in excess of US$1 billion including related shareholder arrangements post-sale.
• Advising the Queensland Government on the sale of Forestry Plantations Queensland to Hancock Plantations Queensland for consideration in excess of $600 million.
• Advising Santos Limited on its sell-down of a 7.5% stake in its Gladstone LNG Project to Korea Gas Corporation for consideration of US$305 million including related shareholder arrangements post-sale.
• Advising Aston Resources Limited on its sale of a 15% stake in the Maules Creek Project to ITOCHU Corporation for consideration of $345m including related joint venture arrangements post-sale 
• Advised Aston Resources Limited on its initial public offering and listing on the Australian Securities Exchange.
• Advising Toyota Tsusho Mining (Australia) on its sell-down of a minority stake in the Integra Coal Joint Venture to Chubu Corporation and other existing Integra Coal Joint Venture participants
• Santos Limited’s sell-down of a 40 per cent interest in the Gladstone LNG Project to PETRONAS for consideration in excess of $2 billion
• the $17 billion takeover defence of Rinker Group Limited from the hostile takeover bid of CEMEX Australia Pty Limited
• the $1.1 billion recapitalisation of the Stella Group and the disposal of 65 per cent of the Stella Group to CVC Asia Pacific
• Australian Pipeline Trust’s takeover of the GasNet Australia Group
• AXA SA’s divestiture of Winterthur Hong Kong to AXA Asia Pacific Holdings Limited
• CHAMP’s acquisition of Golding Contracting Pty Limited
• CHAMP’s acquisition of the LCR Group
• National Hire Group Limited’s acquisition, with The Carlyle Group, of Coates Hire Limited, by scheme of arrangement, and
• Mitsubishi Development Pty Limited’s uranium joint venture with Cameco Corporation.  

Prior to joining Freehills, Matthew spent four years in London between 2002 and 2006. During his time in London, he advised a number of property development companies and corporates including British Land plc and Hexion Speciality Chemicals, Inc. (a United States company backed by Apollo Management, LP). While in London, Matthew also advised a number of private equity houses on recapitalisations, acquisitions and divestitures including Hermes Private Equity Limited, LMS Capital, Advent Venture Partners, Apax Partners and JP Morgan Partners. 

Transactions Matthew worked on in London include:

• JP Morgan Partners £1.65 billion recommended offer in respect to the issued shares of Warner Chilcott plc, by scheme of arrangement
• Apollo Management, LP, on its acquisition, through Hexion Specialty Chemicals, Inc., of the worldwide inks and adhesive resins business of Akzo Nobel BV
• Spectrum and Apax Partners, on their acquisition of all the assets of Visions Limited from The Television Corporation plc
• the acquisition by Hermes Private Equity of Deloitte & Touche’s funds management and advisory business in the Channel Islands
• the sale of Netik Holdings Limited by Advent Venture Partners to the Bank of America, Inc, and
• British Land plc’s divestiture of in excess of 90 public houses to Scottish and Newcastle plc.

Matthew holds bachelor degrees in law and business (accounting) from the University of Technology, Sydney. Matthew also holds a masters of law from the University of Sydney. Matthew is admitted to practice in New South Wales, England and Wales. He is also a qualified chartered accountant.