Matthew J Richards

Practice Areas

Matt Richards is a partner in Ropes & Gray’s private equity transactions group in Chicago. He is a versatile practitioner who represents a diverse set of clients in an equally diverse spectrum of transactions and industries. The breadth of his practice enables him to bring an exceptionally well-informed perspective to transactional matters.

Matt principally advises private equity funds, their portfolio companies, large family offices, and private and public companies on a variety of complex transactions. His work encompasses large-cap and middle-market leveraged acquisitions, growth equity and venture financing transactions, dispositions, restructuring transactions, and strategic acquisitions. Beyond transactions, he advises clients on governance, management compensation and equity arrangements, and compliance matters.

Clients particularly appreciate Matt’s ability to assess the complexities of a transaction and find a way forward that works for all parties. “He is able to balance the legal risks with the business objective of getting the transaction done,” notes Chambers. “He’s a pragmatic and responsive attorney.”

Matt’s creative problem solving has benefited clients in a wide variety of industries, including telecommunications, life sciences, software, business services, consumer products, manufacturing, and distribution. He has particularly extensive experience with financial services transactions, including those involving insurance brokers, broker-dealers, advisers to registered and unregistered funds, and other asset managers.