Matthew T. Harris

Partner

Direct: 404.873.8118
Fax: 404.873.8119
Atlanta
171 17th Street NW
Suite 2100
Atlanta, Georgia 30363

Biography

Matt is a partner in the Corporate & Securities, Healthcare, and Real Estate practice groups, and is the leader of the firm’s Private Equity practice. Matt works with private equity and real estate funds, institutional limited partners, family offices, investors, entrepreneurs, operators, and developers to bring deals together from both a legal and business perspective.

Clients rely on him to guide them through critical business milestones such as the formation of joint ventures, acquisitions, dispositions, private offerings, and syndications. He is experienced in the drafting and negotiation of complex partnership/operating agreements for corporate and real estate investments and executes upon a variety of transactions and financings.

Matt’s private equity practice is enhanced through positions he has held at operating companies and investment firms. He served as general counsel and chief credit officer for a privately held business with operations in over 40 states. He was also previously associated with a large, international Atlanta-based law firm. Prior to law school and business school, Matt worked in the financial sector at Morgan Stanley and SunTrust Capital Markets Inc. He pulls from all of this experience for his clients’ benefit, providing the guidance businesses need to make important decisions for the best possible outcome.

Matt is the current President and Board Member of Buckhead Baseball, Inc., a youth baseball organization located in Historic Bagley Park since 1952.  He is also the Chair of the Governance Committee and Board Member of The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia.

Related Services

Related Industries

Experience

  • Represented a private equity fund in their lead co-investment in a take-private transaction in the hospitality sector valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
  • Represented a private equity fund in its sale of a portfolio company for approximately $250+ million to a strategic buyer.
  • Represented Sharp Residential, one of the largest private home building companies in Atlanta, in its sale to Toll Brothers, Inc. (NYSE: TOL) for approximately $100 million.
  • Represented a private equity-backed healthcare operating company as part of a global roll-up strategy in numerous transactions ranging from approximately $5 million to $125 million.
  • Represented a leading multi-billion dollar private equity fund in numerous transactions in the hospitality sector, with purchase prices ranging from approximately $15 million to $100 million.
  • Represented a large family office in numerous transactions in the manufacturing sector.
  • Represented a real estate private equity fund in multiple $100+ million hotel transactions.
  • Represented, in two separate transactions, sellers of healthcare services businesses in sell-side transactions (one for approximately $65 million and one for $70 million).
  • Represented a founder-led business in the franchise sector with approximately 500 locations in its sale to family office for approximately $70 million.
  • Represented a leading private equity fund in its acquisition of an industrial refrigeration company for approximately $20 million.
  • Represented a custom manufacturing business in its sale to a strategic buyer for approximately $100 million.
  • Represented general partners in connection with the formation of multifamily, commercial office, preferred equity, and residential real estate funds.
  • Represented an investment vehicle in the acquisition, financing and syndication of a portfolio of multifamily properties to foreign and domestic investors.
  • Represented Fortune 100 company in its equity and convertible note investment in a distribution company.
  • Represented a $150 million private equity fund focused on the medical office sector in its formation, capital raising, and joint venture investments.
  • Represented a private equity fund in its formation of multiple private REITs and related stock offerings.
  • Represented a retail real estate focused operator in a complex partial disposition of partnership interests.
  • Represented a state pension fund as the anchor investor in a distressed residential mortgage opportunity fund.
  • Represented energy/logistics operating company as outside general counsel handling all legal matters, including financings, general contract negotiations, and special capital projects.
  • Represented one of the largest multifamily developers in the country in acquisitions, dispositions, and financings.
    Client Successes

    Credentials

    Education
    • Cornell University, Master of Business Administration
    • Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Master of Business Administration
    • Mercer University, Juris Doctor
    • Vanderbilt University, Bachelor of Arts
    Admissions
    • State of Georgia – 2006
    Associations
      • State of Georgia Bar Association
      • President, Board Member, Buckhead Baseball, Inc.
      • Chair, Governance Committee, Board Member, The Catholic Foundation of North Georgia

    Recognition

    • Best Lawyers in America®, Corporate Law, Mergers and Acquisitions Law, Private Funds / Hedge Funds Law, Real Estate Law, Venture Capital Law, 2024-25
      • “Lawyer of the Year,” Venture Capital Law, 2025
    • “Rising Star,” Georgia Super Lawyers, 2011, 2014-19
    • “Legal Elite,” Georgia Trend, 2014

    News & Insights

    View More