Matthew M. McDonald

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 start-up 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.

• Author, “M&A and COVID-19: Two Years Later,” January 19, 2021
• 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