Matthew J. Smith

Partner Investment Funds

Boston +1 617 385 7417

Matthew J. Smith

Practices

Overview

Matthew Smith, a partner in Kirkland’s Investment Funds Group, represents a variety of venture capital and private equity firms, from large asset managers to first-time funds. Matt has been named a “Rising Star” in Business and Corporate Law by Massachusetts Super Lawyers from 2016–2021 and was selected to the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list by Best Lawyers® for 2021 and 2022.

During the past five years alone, Matt has advised on the formation and fundraising of venture capital, private equity and other investment funds and accounts with total capital commitments exceeding $50 billion — ranging in size from $150 million to approximately $8 billion.

Matt advises venture capital and private equity firms on all aspects of their businesses, including forming investment funds, GP-led transactions, fund regulatory and compliance matters, complex business transactions and firm ownership and operational issues. He also advises funds and institutional investors in connection with complex secondaries transactions, including traditional portfolio sales, stapled secondary offerings, continuation transactions and fund restructurings.

Representative Clients

Andreessen Horowitz, Ares Management, Audax Group, Axum Capital Partners, Blue Owl Capital, First Eagle Investments, Galvanize Climate Solutions, General Catalyst, Haun Ventures, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, Quiet Capital, Sapphire Ventures, Thomas H. Lee Partners, Transformation Capital Partners, Warren Equity Partners and Willowridge Partners.

Matt has been involved in the following representative matters:

  • Ares Management in connection with the establishment of Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund VI and other investment funds, separately managed accounts, co-investment vehicles and certain transactions
  • Audax Group in connection with the establishment of Audax Private Equity Fund VI and Audax Mezzanine Fund V
  • Blue Owl Capital in connection with the establishment of Owl Rock First Lien Fund and Owl Rock Opportunistic Fund 
  • General Catalyst in connection with the establishment of General Catalyst Group XI - consisting of an "Ignition Fund", "Endurance Fund" and "Creation Fund" 
  • Haun Ventures in connection with its launch and the establishment of its inaugural funds - consisting of an “Early Stage Fund” and “Acceleration Fund” 
  • J.P. Morgan Asset Management in connection with the establishment of Lynstone Special Situations Fund
  • Lexington Partners in connection with certain investments and transactions
  • THL Credit (now First Eagle Alternative Credit) in connection with the establishment of THL Credit Direct Lending Fund IV
  • Thomas H. Lee Partners in connection with transactions related to investments in 8th Avenue Food & Provisions, AbacusNext, AmeriLife Group, AutoStore, Bazaarvoice, the semiconductor automation business of Brooks Automation Inc., Care Hospice, Dun & Bradstreet, FourKites, Insurance Technologies, Material Handling Systems, Nextech Systems, Smile Doctors and Ten-X
  • Transformation Capital in connection with the establishment of Transformation Capital Fund III 
  • Warren Equity Partners in connection with the establishment of Warren Equity Partners Fund II, Warren Equity Partners Fund III, Warren Equity Partners ELIDO Fund I and WEP SSP Continuation
  • Willowridge Partners in connection with the establishment of Amberbook VIII and certain investments and transactions

Prior to joining Kirkland, Matt was involved in the following representative matters:

  • ABS Capital Partners in connection with the establishment of ABS Capital Partners VIII
  • Anthos Capital in connection with the establishment of Anthos Capital III
  • ARCH Venture Partners in connection with the establishment of ARCH Venture Fund IX
  • Ares Management in connection with the establishment of Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund V, Ares Commercial Finance and multiple other investment funds, separately managed accounts and co-investment vehicles and certain transactions
  • Atomico in connection with the establishment of Atomico IV
  • Battery Ventures in connection with the establishment of Battery Ventures XI
  • Clarus (now Blackstone Life Sciences) in connection with the establishment of Clarus IV
  • Commonfund in connection with certain investments and transactions
  • Emerson Electric Co. Retirement Master Trust in connection with certain investments
  • HQ Capital in connection with certain investments and transactions
  • NEA in connection with the establishment of New Enterprise Associates 15 and New Enterprise Associates 16
  • Willowridge Partners in connection with the establishment of Amberbook VII and certain transactions

Prior to joining Kirkland, Matt was an associate in the Private Investment Funds Group of Proskauer Rose LLP

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Credentials

Admissions & Qualifications

  • 2014Massachusetts

Education

  • Suffolk University Law SchoolJ.D.summa cum laude2014

    Editor, Suffolk University Law Review

  • University of Central FloridaB.A.2011