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Matthew Devine

Senior associate | | Corporate

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About Matthew

Business isn’t just about contracts, deals, and growth. It’s about people. It’s about building something meaningful, securing the future, and ensuring that hard work doesn’t go to waste. I help business owners, directors and leadership teams do just that.

I joined Moore Barlow LLP in 2015 as a Trainee solicitor, gaining experience across Litigation, Corporate, Employment, and Commercial property. Now a Senior associate in the Corporate team, I advise businesses and their owners on all aspects of company law—from incorporation through to exit and everything in between.

My expertise lies primarily in private company M&A, having worked on and led transactions valued in the tens of £millions, often involving overseas parties, and for both buy-side and sell-side. Beyond transactional work, I advise on matters such as shareholder and partnership agreements, loan notes, option and incentive schemes, intra-group reorganisations, and governance strategies for owner-managed businesses, SMEs, and private equity-backed groups. Whether you own the business or help run it, I’ll ensure you’re fully supported in making key strategic decisions and implementing them.

I take a collaborative, pragmatic approach to every transaction, ensuring that deals progress smoothly while my clients remain fully protected and confident in their decisions. My focus on precision and practical advice, alongside collaboration, has led to me being twice shortlisted for ‘Emerging Dealmaker of the Year’ at the Insider South East Dealmaker awards. One client described me as “as sharp as a razor… and very easy to work with” (Legal 500), while a General Counsel at a PE-backed client remarked that “some of the City law firms could certainly take a leaf out of [my] book!”

How I can help you:

  • Protect your business and its leadership – From bespoke shareholder and partnership agreements to directors duties, risk mitigation and governance.
  • Structure deals for success – Whether acquiring, merging, or fundraising, I ensure strategic and smooth transactions.
  • Plan and execute your exit – So your hard work rewards you in the future and so that the business can thrive even after you (or the founder(s)) have stepped back.
  • Incentivise and retain key people – Through EMI schemes and other strategies to drive business growth and long-term success.
  • No jargon. No unnecessary complications. Just clear, strategic advice tailored to you.

Outside of work, while my background includes rowing, triathlons and cricket, these days most of my time goes to my young family!

I’d be delighted to hear from you.

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Hear from Matthew…

Hear from Matthew, Senior associate in Moore Barlow’s Corporate team.

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Matthew’s accreditations

Don’t take our word for it…

I am delighted with the result of your endeavours. We have been very pleased at the service you have given, your commitment to us, your client, and your attention to the detail of the transaction were exemplary and we thank you very sincerely for your considerable efforts to achieve a very good result for me and for the company.

The acid test in these situations is to answer the question “would you recommend them to a friend?” I would have no hesitation in giving a very positive response.

Owner on the occasion of a partial sale, and further investment by the buyer

Matt is always responsive and timely and his advice and documentation always seem thorough and pro-active but also very pragmatic and commercial. We appreciate the way that he has got to know the business (at least the corporate side of it) so that he can really act as part of the team on the projects that we have been undertaking with his help.

In-house senior counsel

Matthew Devine is as sharp as a razor and completely dedicated to his job. I found him very easy to work with. Always several steps ahead looking at every angle and very fast to respond during and outside office hours.

Legal 500

Matthew Devine did a splendid job and I always felt that Mark was in the background with his finger on the pulse.

Legal 500