972.665.9600

Matt Smith, JD

Partner

Matt Smith, JD

Partner

CONTACT

8150 N. Central Expressway
Suite 1100
Dallas, Texas 75206

(972) 665-9600
contact@atwoodmccall.com

Matt Smith, JD

Matt is a trusted advisor and deal lawyer: He focuses his practice on corporate and transactional matters, including M&A, corporate finance, joint ventures, and commercial transactions. He acts as external general counsel for day-to-day legal and operational matters.

Matt advises founders, companies, investors, and their boards on key transactions, and he provides related strategic, governance, and tax advice. That includes advising on succession planning, asset protection, trusts & estates, and related transactions for family-run businesses and family offices.

Before joining Atwood & McCall, Matt spent more than a decade as in-house counsel for Solera Holdings, the D. E. Shaw Group, and Goldman Sachs. He is also a veteran of the Corporate Departments of the leading law firms Latham & Watkins and Paul Hastings.

An outdoor enthusiast and avid skier, Matt has a particular interest in America’s national parks and promoting outdoor activities for Texas’s next generation. He is passionate about supporting youth camps, performing arts, and sports programs. In addition, Matt has held executive and director positions for various private funds, charitable, church, and non-profit organizations.

Experience – Representative Matters

Mergers & Acquisitions:

  • >50 recent deals ranging from >$2 billion down to <$1 million in transaction value
  • Tax, asset protection, and succession planning for founders and operators
  • PE fund and Portfolio Company tuck-in transactions and spin-offs
  • Roll-up structuring and transactions


Corporate Finance and Securities:

  • >30 public and private offerings of debt, equity, and equity-linked securities (including IPOs) that have raised more than $40 billion in capital
  • Capital raises large and small from Series Seed or SAFE to late-stage venture rounds
  • Company formation, governance, and investor relations
  • SEC and FinCEN Compliance, including for Corporate Transparency Act compliance


Contracts: Service agreements, technology transactions, license agreements, RFPs and contract bid documents, as well as other commercial agreements

Liquidity Solutions: Secondaries, block trades, and follow-on offerings

Finance: Secured finance, distressed, and special situations transactions

Education

  • Columbia Law School, JD, 2007, Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar; Editor, Journal of Asian Law
  • University of California, Los Angeles, B.A., 2003, summa cum laude

Professional Licenses

  • Licensed to Practice Law in the State of Texas
  • Licensed to Practice Law in the State of California

Organizational Involvement

  • Local Select Baseball Club, Board Member (2017-2023)
  • Moody YMCA, Volunteer Coach (football, basketball, soccer)
  • Dads Clubs: HPUMC Day School, June Shelton School, McCulloch Intermediate and Armstrong Elementary
  • J. Reuben Clark Law Society, Former Chapter Chair (2010-2016)
  • Eagle Scout, Former Assistant Scoutmaster
  • Viking Maccabee Opportunities Fund, Advisory Board