Matthew T. Shiels
Partner
Experience
Matt is an experienced and trusted advisor to senior executives, executive teams, and investment professionals, offering strategic guidance on employment, separation, restrictive covenant, equity, and cash incentive arrangements. His expertise extends to advising executives and investment professionals in connection complex transactions, including mergers, acquisitions and other high-stakes business initiatives.
With deep expertise in executive compensation, Matt frequently represents private equity firms, their portfolio companies and other strategic investors. He assists clients with structuring, drafting, and implementing a variety of arrangements, including deferred compensation, equity, change-in-control, employment, separation, consulting, retention, restrictive covenant, bonus, and other cash incentive arrangements. He also provides guidance on compliance with the Internal Revenue Code (including Sections 280G and 409A), federal securities laws, exchange regulations, and corporate governance.
Matt’s work with executives and investment professionals, combined with his extensive deal experience representing private equity firms and companies, enables him to offer invaluable insights into current market trends and a broad range of legal and business terms in the compensation landscape—giving his clients a significant edge.
Education
- New York University School of Law, LL.M. in Taxation (2008)
- Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, J.D. (2007)
- State University of New York at Albany, B.S. in Business Administration (Concentration: Finance and Management Science Information) (2003)
Prior Experience
- Partner at Massumi + Consoli LLP (2021 – 2024)
- Partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP (2015 – 2021)
- Associate at Morrison & Foerster LLP (2013 – 2015)
- Associate at Kirkland & Ellis LLP (2011 – 2013)
- Associate at Proskauer Rose LLP (2008 – 2011)
- United States Marine Corps Reserve (1998 – 2004)
Distinctions
Recognized as a Rising Star (Super Lawyers) in New York, New York (2014 – 2020)
Bar Admission
New York (2008)
By the numbers
- Company Side: Advised buyers and sellers in over 1,000 corporate transactions, totaling more than $100 billion in deal value.
- Employee Side: Represented several hundred executives and investment professionals in corporate transactions, as well as in hiring and separation matters.