PITTSBURGH, February 3, 2025: Enhancing its robust employee benefits practice, Morgan Lewis welcomes back Matthew Chapman as a partner resident in Pittsburgh. Arriving from K&L Gates, Matt will continue his focus on employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) and pension risk transfer (PRT) matters. Matt will be joined by senior counsel Charles Smith.
“There is a growing interest in ESOP transactions and an increase in the pension risk transfer market throughout the business community,” said Firm Chair Jami McKeon. “As more companies explore these approaches, there is an essential need for sound guidance on navigating the many complex legal, financial, and operational considerations. With years of experience and significant ESOP and PRT representations under his belt, Matt brings a wealth of knowledge to these matters that will be tremendously valuable to our clients.”
Matt, who began his legal career as an associate at Morgan Lewis, focuses on advising public and private companies, boards of directors, special committees, senior management, trustees, and institutional fiduciaries on matters related to transformative corporate events and significant structuring and planning issues. He represents clients in domestic and international mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, and ESOPs, including ESOP refinancing and re-leveraging transactions, and general corporate matters. Matt has also negotiated hundreds of purchase/commitment agreements and group annuity contracts with leading insurers in pension risk transfers, and previously served as a corporate vice president of human resources.
“Matt brings additional strength to our ESOP capabilities as well as national recognition in the pension-risk transfer space that will be beneficial to many of our clients as their needs in this area continue to expand,” said Craig Bitman, leader of Morgan Lewis’s employee benefits and executive compensation practice. “We know Matt to be a smart, collaborative colleague and we are thrilled to welcome him back to Morgan Lewis.”