Matthew Durward-Thomas
Partner
Areas of Focus
- Tax
- International Tax
- Investment Management & Transactional Tax
- Financial Restructuring
- Credit Funds
- Tax Structuring & Equity Financing
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Energy & Infrastructure
- Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits
- Restructuring & Special Situations Tax
- Private Capital
- Represents investment funds as well as domestic and multinational private and public companies in all aspects of corporate tax matters.
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.
- 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.
“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
EducationL.P.C., The College of Law, London, 2012
LL.B., University of Warwick, 2011
L.P.C., The College of Law, London, 2012
LL.B., University of Warwick, 2011
Bar AdmissionsSolicitor, England and Wales
Solicitor, England and Wales
- Chambers UK, Up and coming: Tax, 2025.
- Chambers Global, Tax, 2022.
- The Legal 500 UK, Corporate Tax, 2021-2024.