Matthew Schwartz’s practice focuses on public and private mergers and acquisitions, private equity investments, and sports law.

He regularly represents private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, and their portfolio companies on leveraged buyouts, growth equity investments, and other transactions. In addition, Matthew has developed extensive experience in the technology, media, sports, and entertainment sectors, and served as the Chief Legal Officer of LIV Golf from January 2023 to November 2024.

Matthew joined the firm as a partner in 2026 from another major international law firm.

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Notable Experience (including those prior to joining Cleary)

Mergers and Acquisitions and Private Equity

  • MidOcean Partners in numerous transactions, including the acquisition of, or investments in Music Reports, Hanley Wood, BDX, Pragmatic Institute, and Casper’s Ice Cream, and the sale of the Planet Group and Hunter Fan.

  • Quad-C Management in numerous transactions, including the acquisition of, or investments in, Astrix Technology Group, Learner’s Edge, NightOwl Global, and Legacy Food Group, and the sale of Stanton Carpet Corp., Galleher Corp., @properties, and S.i. Systems.

  • Epilog Partners in its acquisition of Care Connectors Medical Group.

  • KKR in numerous transactions, including the acquisition of, or investments in, CA Media and establishment of Emerald Media, Weststar Aviation Services Sdn. Bhd. (Malaysia), PT Tiga Pilar Sejahtera Food Tbk. (Indonesia), Goodpack Limited (Singapore), Avendus Capital (India), and Alliance Tires Group B.V. (India), and the sale of Capsugel ($5.5 billion) and Oriental Brewery (Korea) ($5.8 billion).

  • Primavera Capital Group and Ant Financial Services Group in connection with an aggregate $460 million investment in Yum China, concurrent with its spin-off from Yum! Brand’s.

  • ATL Partners in connection with its investment in Arrive Logistics and $1.7 billion sale of Pilot Freight Services to A.P. Moller-Maersk.

  • Littlejohn & Co. in its acquisition of Cook & Boardman and sale of a majority interest to Platinum Equity.

  • Blackstone in its A$750 million acquisition of Orical Chemicals (Australia) and its investment in NantWorks.

  • Investcorp in its acquisition of Mercury Capital, investment in and establishment of a real estate management JV, and sale of Nobel Learning Communities.

  • True Wind Capital in its strategic partnership with, and carve-out involving, the American Institute of Architect’s Contract Documents Business.

  • Alibaba in numerous transactions, including the $1.6 billion take-private transaction involving AutoNavi Holdings.

  • Kuadi Dache in its strategic stock-for-stock merger with Didi Dache Compania de Petroleos de Chile in connection with its acquisition of Terpel S.A. and $535 million acquisition of Delek US Holdings.

  • NextEra Energy in connection with its $760 million sale of its interest in the Marcus Hook generating assets to Starwood Energy.

  • Ungerer & Company in its acquisition by Givaudan.

  • FTI Consulting in its acquisition of Delta Partners.

  • General Electric in the spin-off of GE HealthCare.

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Sports and Entertainment

  • PIF, in connection with the formation and establishment of LIV Golf, as well as Acting Chief Legal Officer of LIV Golf from January 2023 to November 2024, including advising LIV Golf on its corporate structure, all player agreements, sponsorship rights and related agreements, and material broadcast agreements (including with Fox).

  • Beemok Capital in numerous transactions, including the acquisition of the M1000 Cincinnati Open from the United States Tennis Association, the governing body of U.S. tennis.

  • David Tepper in his $2.275 billion acquisition of the Carolina Panthers.

  • The lead minority investors in their investment in the Seattle Kraken and acquisition of the NHL’s 32nd expansion franchise.

  • RedBird Capital Partners in a number of significant acquisitions, including Italy’s Associazione Calcio Milan (AC Milan Football Club), and the acquisition from The Walt Disney Company of the YES Network.

  • Affiliates of Yankee Global Enterprises and the Dallas Cowboys in connection with the sale of a stake in Legends Hospitality to Sixth Street and the acquisition by Legends Hospitality of ASM Global.

  • An investor in the Miami Marlins.

  • The Weinstein Company in its proposed sale.

  • A tennis equipment manufacturer in drafting form sponsorship agreement for Tennis athletes.

  • The American Flag Football League in connection with its Series A financing and broadcasting partnership with the NFL.

  • Two of the original 12 founders of the Overwatch League (Envy Gaming and Gen. G (formerly KSV Esports International)) in their negotiation of Team Participation Agreements and related corporate matters.

  • Envy Gaming in its Series A financing with Hersh Interactive Group.

  • ReKTGlobal Inc., an esports company, in the acquisition of Rogue, a Las Vegas-based esports team.

  • Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones and the Jones family in connection with the acquisition of esports entity, compLexity Gaming.

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