Biography
Matthew S. Connors is a partner in Weil’s Securities Litigation practice group, where he focuses on litigating securities, M&A, derivative, fiduciary duty, and other complex corporate matters in federal and state courts throughout the country. Matthew also counsels boards of directors, board committees, and senior management on a broad range of corporate governance, business, and regulatory matters, and provides representation in connection with proxy contests and governmental, regulatory, and internal investigations.
Recent experience includes:
- AMC Entertainment – representing AMC and its board of directors in expedited Delaware fiduciary duty litigation relating to AMC’s issuance and conversation of AMC Preferred Equity Units.
- The Gores Group – representing Gores and its SPAC directors and officers in litigations arising out of de-SPAC transactions.
- Willis Towers Watson – representing Willis and certain of its officers and directors in connection with federal securities and state fiduciary duty litigation relating to Willis’s “merger of equals” with Towers Watson.
- Brookfield – representing Brookfield in stockholder litigation relating to Brookfield’s acquisitions of Rouse Properties and GGP, as well as Delaware appraisal actions relating to Rouse.
- Churchill Capital – representing Churchill and its SPAC directors and officers in litigation arising out of a de-SPAC transaction.
- Fidelity National Financial – representing FNF in a Delaware appraisal action seeking $90 million in additional consideration in connection with FNF’s $4.2 billion acquisition of Lender Processing Services. Following a four-day trial, the court ruled that petitioner, an appraisal arbitrageur, was entitled to no additional consideration.
- iStar – representing the outside, non-management directors of iStar, a Maryland real estate investment trust, in responding to a stockholder demand concerning an equity incentive compensation plan and related litigation in Maryland state courts, including an appeal to the Maryland Court of Appeals. Motion to dismiss all claims affirmed.
- Morgan Stanley – representing Morgan Stanley as a financial advisor in stockholder litigation relating to Endurance International’s acquisition of Constant Contact. Plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their claims following motion to dismiss argument.
- AMC Entertainment – representing AMC and certain of its officers and directors in connection with federal securities and derivative litigation arising out of AMC’s acquisitions of Carmike and Odeon.
- ATMI – representing ATMI and its board of directors in stockholder litigation in Connecticut state court arising out of Entegris’s acquisition of ATMI. Motion to strike all claims granted.
- A private software company – counseling the board of directors regarding an internal investigation into revenue recognition and sales practices.
Matthew also devotes time to pro bono matters, including having argued a criminal appeal before the New York Supreme Court, Appellate Division (First Department).
Prior to joining the Firm, Matthew served as a law clerk to Vice Chancellor John W. Noble (retired) of the Delaware Court of Chancery.
Awards and Recognition, Speaking Engagements, Guides and Resources, Latest Thinking, Firm News & Announcements
Latest Thinking
- 2023 Going Private Study Alert — By Christopher R. Machera, Craig W. Adas, Robert Rizzo, James R. Griffin, Sachin Kohli, Brittany Butwin, Douglas P. Warner, Courtney S. Marcus, Evert J. Christensen, Benton Lewis, Dorothy Coco, Parker D. Collins, Matthew S. Connors, Geoff Greenspoon, Jason Klig, Robert Sevalrud and Honghu Wang — PDF — January 29, 2024
Firm News & Announcements
- Weil Elects 18 New Partners and Announces New Counsel Class Firm Announcement — November 26, 2024
- Weil Advises AMC in Major Liability Management Refinancing Transactions to Extend Up To $2.45 Billion of Debt Maturities Deal Brief — July 24, 2024