Matt Benson

Partner

Areas of Focus

Matt Benson

Partner

matt.benson@akingump.com

Areas of Focus

Save as PDF

Share This Biography

Biography
  • Represents clients on restructuring transactions and special situations globally.
  • Delivers bespoke solutions across the capital structure.

Matt advises clients on complex financial restructurings and special situations transactions. He has extensive experience counseling clients, exploring business opportunities and handling distressed situations across the capital structure in both public and private markets.

Having advised on some of Europe’s most high-profile restructuring transactions over the past decade, Matt’s practice encompasses complex balance sheet restructurings, loan-to-own transactions, liability management transactions and special situations financings.

Representative Work
  • Ares: Counsel on various European direct lending recapitalisation, refinancing and exit mandates.
  • Elliott Advisors: Counsel on various special situation financings and restructuring mandates involving some of Europe’s largest capital structures.
  • BlackRock / HPS: Counsel on a confidential A&E and recapitalisation.
  • Selecta: Counsel to the ad hoc group of first-lien bondholders in the novel €1 billion restructuring of Selecta Group.
  • Intrum: Counsel to the ad hoc group of 2024 bondholders.
  • McDermott International: Counsel to the ad hoc group of supporting senior creditors in relation to the global restructuring of the oil and gas EPC business by way of interconditional English restructuring plan and Dutch WHOA.
  • Galapagos Group: Counsel to the ad hoc group of senior bondholders of the German industrials business, on the restructuring of the Group implemented via a distressed disposal through Luxembourg share pledge enforcement.
  • Norske Skog: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders on the restructuring of the paper manufacturer with global operations, implemented via distressed disposal through a Norwegian share pledge enforcement.
  • Various European sponsors: Counsel on liability management, governance and coordinated exit mandates.
  • TalkTalk: Counsel to Ares on the recapitalisation and new financing of the telecommunications Group.
  • Ideal Standard: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to the leading bathroom brand’s distressed exchange offer and consent solicitation.
  • Hurtigruten: Counsel to the ad hoc group of noteholders in connection with the Norwegian cruise ship operator’s 2025 restructuring.
  • Worldwide Flight Services: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders on the Group’s tender offer.
  • Frigoglass: Counsel to the ad hoc group of noteholders in relation to the consensual recapitalisation and financial restructuring of Frigoglass.
  • Scandinavian Airlines: Counsel on its comprehensive debt and fleet restructuring.
  • Nordic Aviation Capital: Counsel to the ad hoc group of secured lenders to the world’s largest regional aircraft lessor, in relation to its restructuring by way of chapter 11 proceedings.
  • Dream Cruises: Counsel to a consortium of minority equity investors in a major Asia-based cruise operator, advising on its multi-jurisdictional restructuring and recapitalisation, alongside that of its parent company, Genting Hong Kong Limited.
  • OneWeb: Counsel to OneWeb and Bharti Global to provide more than $1 billion to acquire OneWeb and fund the restart of its business operations.
  • Obrascón Huarte Lain (OHL): Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders of the Spanish-based construction and civil engineering company in relation to the Group’s debt-for-equity swap, implemented through an English scheme of arrangement.
  • OHL: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to the comprehensive 2024 recapitalisation of the Group.
  • Odeon: Counsel to Europe’s largest cinema operator (part of the AMC Entertainment Group), in relation to the Group’s financial difficulties and the refinancing of its European business during Covid.
  • Noble Group: Counsel to the ad hoc group of senior creditors on the Group’s new financing and debt-for-equity swap, involving parallel schemes of arrangement in the UK and Bermuda and a “light tough” Bermuda provisional liquidation.
  • Frigoglass Group: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders in relation to the recapitalisation and financial restructuring of the Greek-listed glass and refrigeration business, involving a new capital injection and debt-for-equity swap implemented through a scheme of arrangement in the UK.
  • OSX 3 Leasing: Counsel to the ad hoc group of bondholders on its restructuring and asset disposal program, and the associated restructuring of the Brazilian-listed E&P operator Dommo Energia SA.

List may include matters worked on prior to joining Akin.

Education
  • LL.B., University of Technology Sydney

Bar Admissions
  • Law Society of New South Wales, Australia

  • Registered Foreign Lawyer in England and Wales

Affiliations and Public Service
  • Member, Australian Restructuring, Insolvency and Turnaround Association.
  • Member, Turnaround Management Association, Australia.

Related Content

People

Distinguished by our areas of focus, as a cohesive and integrated firm, we are defined by the caliber of our work, the responsiveness of our service and a culture that is rooted in collaboration and forward-thinking.

We Also Recommend

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...