Matthew M. McDonald

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Matt is co-chair of the Corporate and Securities Department. Matt’s broad-based legal skills have been honed through both private practice and in-house positions. While his practice focuses on advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, investments, securities compliance and corporate governance, he also has extensive experience in contract drafting and negotiation, litigation management, regulatory compliance and HR legal support. Matt has extensive experience representing startup entities with corporate formation including, capital structure, restricted stock/employee incentive plans, fundraising and more.

Prior to joining the firm, Matt served as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc., a NYSE-listed provider of foreign exchange and over-the-counter derivative trading services. As Deputy General Counsel, Matt was primarily responsible for all legal matters at GAIN Capital, such as the drafting and negotiation of a variety of stock and asset purchase agreements, stockholder agreements and operating agreements, as well as securities reporting, litigation management and corporate financings, including revolving credit facilities and the private issuance of convertible senior notes. Matt’s in-house experience gives him a practical perspective and allows him to provide insight into what is truly important when advising business executives and other clients.

Prior to joining GAIN Capital, Matt worked as partner in the corporate and securities group at a large national firm, where he represented private and public clients in private equity and PIPEs transactions, mergers and acquisitions, securities reporting and public offerings, and corporate governance.

Presenter, “M&A From All Angles,” accredited CLE program, April 23, 2025

Panelist, “State of the M&A Market (3rd Quarter 2024),” Klehr Harrison M&A Summit, September 20, 2024

Presenter, “Choose Wisely: Business, Legal and Tax Considerations in Selecting the Right Entity Type for Your Business’ Future,” accredited CLE Program, May 30, 2024 

Co-Author, “Delaware Court of Chancery Imposes Limits on Internal Governance Arrangements through Stockholder Agreements,” April 30, 2024

Co-Author, “Shareholder Suit Against Dollar General Directors and Officers Highlights Need for Corporate Oversight,” July 10, 2023

Presenter, “Current Trends in Structuring Acquisitions — A View From the Business, Legal and Tax Perspective,” accredited CLE Program, June 14, 2023

Author, “Regulation A: “Mini” Public Offerings Provide Capital Raising Options,” June 2, 2023

Co-Author, “Corporate Transparency Act Effective Date Approaches,” May 11, 2023.

Author, “Delaware Chancery Court Ruling Expands Fiduciary Duties for Delaware Officers,” February 15, 2023

Presenter, “Navigating PPP Appeals,” accredited CLE Program, December 1, 2022

Author, “M&A and COVID-19: Two Years Later,” January 19, 2022

Presenter, “M&A in a Post-COVID-19 World,” accredited CLE program, November 17, 2021

Author, “COVID-19 Relief Bill Includes “Second Draw” PPP Loans,” December 23, 2020

Co-author, “Small Businesses in Pennsylvania May Apply for COVID-19 Relief Grants,” July 1, 2020

Author, “Courts to Decide Whether COVID-19 Triggers MAE Clauses,” June 22, 2020

Author, “Enhanced Transparency Regarding the Paycheck Protection Program,” June 22, 2020

Author, “SBA Issues PPP Interim Final Rules on Loan Forgiveness and Loan Review Procedures,” May 27, 2020

Author, “Paycheck Protection Program – Loan Forgiveness Application,” May 19, 2020

Author, “SBA Extends Deadline for Returning PPP Loan Funds,” May 15, 2020

Author, “SBA Issues New FAQs Regarding Certification Requirements,” May 13, 2020

Co-Presenter, “WEBINAR: You’ve Gotten a PPP Loan. What Now?” May 12, 2020

Mentioned, “South Jersey company approved for PPP loan, ruled ineligible on same day,” Philadelphia Business Journal, May 8, 2020

Author, “SBA Issues New FAQs Extending Repayment Deadline and Clarifying Treatment of Foreign Employees,” May 6, 2020

Author, “SBA Imposes Loan Limit and Audit Requirement for Certain PPP Borrowers,” May 1, 2020

Author, “Pennsylvania Adds $13.5 Million in Emergency Funding for Small Businesses,” April 28, 2020

Author, “SBA Issues New Interim Final Rule and FAQs,” April 27, 2020

Presenter, “Continuing Legal Education: Navigating COVID-19: The Path to Recovery for Small Businesses,” April 22, 2020

Author, “Paycheck Protection Program – SBA Issues Additional Eligibility Criteria,” April 17, 2020

Author, “New Jersey Funding Programs for Businesses,” April 16, 2020

Author, “Pennsylvania Offers Funding Programs for Businesses Impacted by COVID-19,” April 14, 2020

Author, “Paycheck Protection Program – New FAQs May Prompt Application Updates,” April 7, 2020

Author, “Paycheck Protection Program – SBA Issues Additional Guidance,” April 5, 2020

Author, “SBA Interim Final Rules Issued for PPP,” April 3, 2020

Co-Presenter, “How the CARES Act Loan Program Can Help Your Small Business or Nonprofit,” April 2, 2020

Author, “SBA Offers $10,000 Disaster Loan Advance Within Three Days,” April 1, 2020

Author, “Paycheck Protection Program – Updated Application Requirements Small Businesses Should Know About,” March 31, 2020

Author, “FAQs About the Paycheck Protection Program for Small Businesses,” March 30, 2020

Author, “How Does The $2 Trillion Stimulus Package Provide Assistance to Small Businesses?” March 26, 2020

Author, “Congress Proposes Keeping Workers Paid and Employed Act to Protect Small Businesses,” March 22, 2020

Author, “COVID-19: Getting Deals Done in Turbulent Times,” March 20, 2020

Author, “Lawmakers Prepare COVID-19 Relief for Small Businesses,” March 17, 2020

Author, “COVID-19: Keeping Potential Acquisitions Healthy,” March 15, 2020

In-House Counsel Experience: 

• Sale of GAIN Capital’s institutional ECN business to subsidiary of an international capital market company for $100 million
• Acquisition of all U.S.-domiciled customers of a foreign exchange company, making GAIN Capital the largest U.S. retail forex broker at the time
• Acquisition of the capital stock of City Index Ltd. for a combination of cash, stock and convertible debt totaling approximately $115 million
• Acquisition of majority ownership interest in Global Asset Advisors, LLC, a futures brokerage business, along with follow-on exercise of put option for remaining ownership interests
• 20% investment in a German startup offering game-like trading experiences
• Acquisition of intellectual property and technology comprising GAIN’s institutional ECN platform
• $75 million acquisition of Global Futures & Forex Ltd.

In Private Practice: 

• Represented a multinational lifestyle retail corporation in connection with a variety of securities matters, including periodic reporting and a $56 million public offering of its common shares
• Represented an American telecommunications conglomerate in acquisitions of three separate online service and internet businesses
• Represented multinational information technology company in the acquisition of the assets of a managed document solutions company
• Represented a clinical development and biomedical services company in its $250 million sale to a private equity investment firm
• Represented various hedge funds in PIPEs investments ranging from $5-$50 million