Matthew Russo

Matt advises clients on the federal income tax aspects of a wide range of domestic and cross-border transactions, including mergers and acquisitions, acquisition financing, and securities offerings. He counsels prominent U.S. and non-U.S. private equity funds in connection with the structuring, formation, and operation of investment funds utilizing diverse strategies, and he also has experience advising institutional investors and sovereign wealth funds in relation to their participation in private investment funds.

Work highlights

• Ardian: advising on the launch of numerous funds, including multiple generations of its secondary fund of funds, infrastructure funds, LBO funds, expansion funds, and mezzanine/private debt funds.
• Hines: advising on the establishment of Hines Asia Property Partners, its flagship pan-Asian open-ended real estate fund, and Hines European Property Partners, its pan-European real estate fund.
• CBRE Global Investors: advising on the fundraising, structuring, real estate transactions and on-going management of several of their funds.
• Various Sovereign Wealth Funds and Sovereign Canadian Pension Plans: advising on U.S. tax issues with respect to substantial investor commitments to U.S. and non-U.S. private investment funds, including in connection with co-investments and managed accounts.
• Getir: advised on the acquisition of online grocery company FreshDirect Inc. from Ahold Delhaize USA.
• Union Acquisition: advised Union on the successful closing of its business combination with Crynssen Pharma Group Ltd. (Procaps), a leading integrated international healthcare and pharmaceutical company, and related listing of the new holding company Procaps Group, S.A. on Nasdaq.
• Assa Abloy: advised on its US$4.3bn acquisition of Spectrum Brands' Hardware and Home Improvement division.

Prior to joining Linklaters, Matt worked in the international tax department (financial services group) of a Big 4 accounting firm.

Matt holds an LL.M. in Taxation from New York University School of Law and a Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, from Michigan State University College of Law, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Michigan State International Law Review. Matt obtained his undergraduate degree in accounting, magna cum laude, from the University at Albany.

Matt is a member of the New York Bar.