Matthew represents investment funds as well as multinational private and public companies on a broad range of corporate tax matters, including domestic and international corporate and finance transactions and investment fund structuring. He has a particular focus on UK and EU financial restructurings. These matters often involve the resolution of novel and complex UK and cross-border tax issues. Matthew helps to develop and apply tax-efficient structures while achieving desired commercial outcomes for clients.

Representative Work

Represented the ad hoc group of noteholders of Metrocentre’s £485 million of debt in relation to a restructuring involving a transfer of the ownership of the Metrocentre Group, which owns the Metrocentre shopping complex, one of Europe’s largest covered shopping and leisure destinations, in Gateshead, U.K.
Advised private placement noteholders of over $2 billion in the global $6 billion financial restructuring of Nordic Aviation Capital Designated Activity Company (NAC), the largest lessor of regional aircraft in the world.
Represented an ad hoc committee of noteholders in relation to the further deleveraging and reorganization of commodities trader Noble Group (Noble), involving a consensual restructuring in excess of $1.5 billion of liabilities and the transition of ownership of a significant part of Noble to the noteholders.
Advised MFS Africa, the largest pan-African digital payments platform, on the acquisition of Capricorn Digital, owner of Baxi, one of Nigeria's leading super-agent networks processing over $1 billion in transaction annually through a network of more than 90,000 agents.
Advised Croatian conglomerate Fortenova Grupa d.d., on the €615 million sale of its frozen food business, the Frozen Food Business Group, to Nomad Foods, owner of Birds Eye and Findus, among others.

Advised Fairhold Securitisation Limited in connection with the £1 billion restructuring of its distressed securitisation structure, which included its £443.5 million of debt as well as its swap liabilities. The restructuring resulted in the transfer of the property-owning companies in the Fairhold Group to a new group ultimately owned by Fairhold’s noteholders and swap counterparties.
Advised Royalty Pharma plc on its $2.5 billion initial public offering and listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. Royalty Pharma is the largest buyer of biopharma royalties and a leading funder of innovation across the biopharmaceutical industry.
Advised funds managed by Strategic Value Partners LLC in relation to the restructuring of a US$611 million senior secured credit facility to Dolphin Drilling ASA (formerly Fred. Olsen Energy ASA), an Oslo Børs-listed international drilling contractor.
Represented the ad hoc committee of unsecured creditors in the financial restructuring of over US$3.5 billion of debt issued by Noble Group Limited, the SGX listed holding company of a worldwide commodities supply chain and trading business.
Acted for a leading U.S. hedge fund and counseled it on the establishment of a novel Luxembourg-based investment structure through which the U.S. hedge fund made high-value and complex investments, including a €690+ million investment in a Spanish residential mortgage loan portfolio and a €180+ million investment in a U.K. mortgage loan portfolio.
Advised Global Parametrics in connection with the establishment of NDF (UK) LP, a U.K.-based international disaster relief fund established in conjunction with the U.K. government (DiFID).

“Matthew Durward-Thomas is one of the rising stars in the London tax advisory market. He is really sharp and provides excellent, commercially-focused advice.”

Chambers & Partners UK 2025, Tax