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Matt Dennis

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

matt.dennis@keystonelaw.co.uk

Matt is a corporate partner with over 35 years of experience in advising on all aspects of corporate law in particular domestic and international M&A, equity financings and venture capital, joint ventures, and group reorganisations.

He frequently acts for large corporates and PE-backed businesses acquiring growth companies or SMEs, for founders and management teams on sale transactions, for early-stage/growth companies on fundraisings, and for investors.

Throughout his career, Matt has built up extensive experience in corporate transactions for clients across a variety of sectors and in particular tech, telecoms, media, sports, and life sciences.

He has considerable experience in W&I insurance-backed transactions.

Expertise

Matt advises on domestic and international M&A, with a focus on mid-market transactions across sectors including technology, telecoms, media, sports, and life sciences. 

Experience

Sell side: 

 

  • Acted for the founders and sellers on the sale of live event broadcast production business Done & Dusted Productions to a NYSE listed US entertainment business. 
  • Acted for Nordic telecoms business OnePhone AB on its £97m sale of its interest in the BTOnePhone JV to BT.  
  • Acted for Schibsted Media on its sale to eBay of Kapaza! online classified business. 
  • Acted for the founders and sellers of photography cooperative OJO Images on its sale to a listed US company.  
  • Acted for the founders and sellers of Toptable.co.uk on its US$55 million sale to OpenTable Inc.  
  • Acted for Isle of Man Enterprises plc on its sale of the Shoprite supermarket chain to Tesco.  
  • Acted on the sale of Levelise, a business providing a smart energy trading network for residential customers, to BUUK. 
  • Acted for Calibrand on the sale of its e-education business to Civica. 
  • Acted for Canon on the sale of print-on-demand business Kite.ly to Prodigi. 
  • Acted for marketing personalisation technology business Peerius on its sale to Episerver (part of Accel-KKR).  
  • Acted for US payments technology business VeriFone Inc on its disposal of Global Bay UK. 
  • Acted for Cadence Design Systems Inc, the US computer-aided design technology company, on the disposal of its 802.11 IP division to TTPCOM. 
  • Acted on the sale of Cambridge-based therapeutics company Aculive to a US biotech.  
  • Acted for healthcare clinic Central Health on its sale to Central Health Holdings Ltd. 

 

Buy-side: 

  • Acted for Sure Telecom on its acquisition of Airtel Vodafone.  
  • Acted for Swedish fintech Lumera on its acquisition of ITM UK, a data management and technology solutions business in the UK life and pensions markets. 
  • Acted for listed company Bekaert S.A on the acquisition of Flintstone Technology, a provider of offshore mooring technology solutions. 
  • Acted for Swedish edtech eEducation ALBERT AB on its acquisition of maths and spelling app Sumdog. 
  • Acted for ed tech business Blackboard on its acquisition of Remote-Learner, provider of open source solutions to the education industry. 
  • Acted for Blackboard on its acquisition of ed tech company Fronteer. 
  • Acted for Blackboard on its acquisition of Requestec Saypage, a browser-based ed communications technology.  
  • Acted for Canon on its acquisition of Lifecake, the photo-sharing app. 
  • Acted for Canon on its acquisition of print-on-demand business Kite.ly. 
  • Acted for Cadence Design Systems Inc, the computer-aided design technology company, on its acquisition of Evatronix’s IP business in Poland. 
  • Acted for Adobe Systems Inc on its acquisition of the UK and European elements of Accelio, the electronic forms software company. 
  • Acted for US payments technology business VeriFone Inc on its acquisition of Taxi Media. 
  • Acted for Neuraxpharm on its acquisition of the pharmaceuticals portfolio of Glenmark Poland. 
  • Acted for Neuraxpharm on its acquisition of STU GmbH, a cannibidiol distribution business.  
  • Acted for Omnicell, Inc on its acquisition of pharmacy automation business Surgichem, a BUPA subsidiary.  
  • Acted for Nordic diagnostics company Orion Diagnostica Oy on its acquisition of Geneform Technologies Limited. 
  • Acted for Tularik Inc on its acquisition of the computer-aided molecular design business of Protherics Ltd. 
  • Acted for BEI Technologies Inc on the acquisition of the business of Newall Measurement Systems Ltd, a digital readout and linear encoder business. 
  • Acted for Lynx Therapeutics Inc on the $155m reverse takeover all share offer with Solexa Ltd. 
  • Acted for Gen-Probe Inc on its acquisition of the MLT group of companies. 
  • Acted for Abbey Group on the sale of its solar business Abbey Renewables Limited. 
  • Acted for marketing agency Emperor Design on its acquisition of Accrue Fulton Ltd. 
  • Acted for marketing agency Emperor Design on its acquisition of Tsuko Ltd. 
  • Acted for sports talent agency Ace Group International on the acquisition of a minority interest. 
  • Acted for Sportfive GmbH on its acquisition of FoxSports group of companies from Formation Group plc. 
  • Acted Teamtalk GmbH on its acquisition of MMC Sport. 
  • Acted for Rovi/TV Guide Data Solutions Inc on the UK elements of its acquisition of Muze UK & Europe. 
  • Acted for EADS Astrium on the acquisition of satellite business SSTL from the University of Surrey. 
  • Acted for EADS/Eurocopter SA on the acquisition of McAlpine Helicopters Limited. 
  • Acted for Toptable on its acquisition of London Eating Group. 

Matt guides investors and early-stage companies through venture capital deals and equity and convertible debt financings. 

Experience

  • Master Moley/Two Daughters Entertainment: rights issue and successive financing rounds.  
  • OXIS Energy Ltd: rights issue and successive financing rounds totalling over £30m with Samsung Ventures, Umicore, Arkema, DBW and Aerotec.  
  • OXIS Energy Ltd: £15 million strategic investment by SASOL. 
  • Acted for Aculive on its Series A investment by Bitbio. 
  • Acted for Adevinta Ventures on its Series A investment transaction in fintech. 
  • Acted for Edgewell on Wilkinson Sword’s investment in Shavekit. 
  • Acted for Petspyjamas on its early-stage equity financings. 
  • Acted for ABC Medicover on its investment in fertility clinic RHG. 
  • Acted for Yieldify on its convertible loan financing. 
  • Acted for Toptable.co.uk on its first-round funding and second-round investment by Diageo plc. 
  • Acted for Moonpig.com on its first and second-round equity fundings. 

Matt supports clients on PE investment transactions. 

Experience

  • Acted for Lumera, owned by Swedish PE firm Monterro, on its acquisition of ITM UK. 
  • Acted for Swedish PE firm, Mimir AB, on a number of UK transactions. 
  • Acted for Waterland Private Equity on the post-completion reorganisation of the Priory Group including sale and leasebacks. 
  • Acted for Apposite Capital LLP on various investment transactions. 
  • Acted for the management team of Toptable.co.uk on its MBO. 

Matt supports clients on joint ventures and consortium arrangements. 

Experience

  • Acted for Kaluza, a cloud-based software platform for energy companies’ retail operations, on the establishment of a JV between Kaluza and Mitsubishi.  
  • Acted for OnePhone AB, the Nordic telecoms holding company, on the establishment of its  joint venture with BT, and subsequent £97m sale of its interest to BT. 
  • Acted on the establishment of Cambridge City Fibre JV.  
  • Cadence Design Systems Inc disposal of interest in joint venture. 
  • Acted on the consortium and shareholder arrangements with West Indies Cricket Board for the establishment of the Caribbean Premier League. 
  • Abbey Group: establishment of AXY Energy Enterprises joint venture. 
  • Macquarie Bank: joint venture and property development agreement relating to former King Edward VII hospital site in Sussex. 
  • Acted for BT plc on its exit from the Open TV platform joint venture. 
  • Acted for Canal Plus on the consortium arrangements, and licensing arrangements, for the £100m joint acquisition of FA Premier League TV rights; acquisitions and disposals of satellite transponder capacity. 
  • Acted for various cable TV networks on the establishment of a number of joint ventures in the UK and the Netherlands. 

Matt advises companies on a range of company law advice including on intra group reorganisations. 

Experience

  • Acted for Eutelsat on its UK group reorganisation including intra group sale of Greek DTH business. 
  • Acted for Nordic online classifieds business Adevinta on its UK group reorganisation including the intra group sale of its UK technology business. 
  • Acted for a major UK broadband network provider on its group reorganisation. 
  • Acted for Nordic online classifieds business Schibsted Media on the intra group sale of its UK technology business. 

Matt is experienced in advising across the technology sector, with experience spanning acquisitions, joint ventures, and financing rounds for IT, data, fintech, cleantech/clean energy and edtech businesses, and innovative technology developers. 

Experience

  • Acted for Swedish fintech Lumera on its acquisition of ITM UK, a data management and technology solutions business in the UK life and pensions markets. 
  • Acted for Swedish edtech eEducation ALBERT AB on its acquisition of maths and spelling app Sumdog. 
  • Acted for ed tech business Blackboard on its acquisition of Remote-Learner, provider of open source solutions to the education industry. 
  • Acted for Blackboard on its acquisition of ed tech company Fronteer. 
  • Acted for Blackboard on its acquisition of Requestec Saypage, a browser-based ed communications technology.  
  • Acted for Adevinta Ventures on its Series A investment in a UK fintec. 
  • Acted for Canon on its acquisition of Lifecake, the photo-sharing app. 
  • Acted for Canon on its acquisition of print-on-demand business Kite.ly. 
  • Acted for OXIS Energy, the lithium sulphur battery technology company, on a rights issue and successive financing rounds totalling over £30m with Samsung Ventures, Umicore, Arkema, DBW and Aerotec, plus a £15 million strategic investment by SASOL. 
  • Acted for Cadence Design Systems Inc, the computer-aided design technology company, on its acquisition of Evatronix’s IP business in Poland. 
  • Acted for Adobe Systems Inc on its acquisition of the UK and European elements of Accelio, the electronic forms software company. 
  • Acted for US payments technology business VeriFone Inc on its acquisition of Taxi Media. 
  • Acted on the sale of Levelise, a business providing a smart energy trading network for residential customers, to BUUK. 
  • Acted for Calibrand on the sale of its e-education business to Civica. 
  • Acted for Canon on the sale of print-on-demand business Kite.ly to Prodigi. 
  • Acted for marketing personalisation technology business Peerius on its sale to Episerver (part of Accel-KKR).  
  • Acted for US payments technology business VeriFone Inc on its disposal of Global Bay UK. 
  • Acted for Cadence Design Systems Inc, the US computer-aided design technology company, on the disposal of its 802.11 IP division to TTPCOM.  

Matt is experienced in advising in the telecoms sector, having acted for many years in this sector on M&A and joint ventures for telecoms operators and network providers. 

Experience

  • Acted for Sure Telecom on its acquisition of Airtel Vodafone.  
  • Acted for OnePhone AB, the Nordic telecoms holding company, on the establishment of its  joint venture with BT, and subsequent £97m sale of its interest to BT.   
  • Acted on the establishment of Cambridge City Fibre JV.  
  • Acted for BT plc on its exit from the Open TV platform joint venture. 
  • Acted for Eutelsat on its UK group reorganisation including intra group sale of Greek DTH business. 
  • Acted for a major UK broadband network provider on its group reorganisation. 
  • Acted for various cable TV networks including NTL and Kingston Communications on the establishment of a number of joint ventures in the UK and the Netherlands. 

Matt has acted for businesses in the media industry, in particular broadcasting, for over 30 years. 

Experience

  • Acted for the founders and sellers on the sale of live event broadcast production business Done & Dusted Productions to a NYSE listed US entertainment business.   
  • Acted for animation production company Two Daughters Entertainment on a rights issue and successive financing rounds.  
  • Acted for Schibsted Media on its sale to eBay of Kapaza! online classified business and on the intra group sale of its UK technology business. 
  • Acted for Rovi/TV Guide Data Solutions Inc on the UK elements of its acquisition of Muze UK & Europe. 
  • Acted for the founders and sellers of photography cooperative OJO Images on its sale to a listed US company.  
  • Acted for BT plc on its exit from the Open TV platform joint venture. 
  • Acted for QVC on the corporate and commercial arrangements for DTT launch and distribution in the UK. 
  • Acted for Canal Plus on the consortium arrangements, and licensing arrangements, for the £100m joint acquisition of FA Premier League TV rights, and acquisitions and disposals of satellite transponder capacity. 
  • Acted for various cable TV networks on the establishment of a number of joint ventures in the UK and the Netherlands. 
  • Acted on various consortia and shareholder arrangements for the launch of multiplex and digital terrestrial channels in the UK. 

Matt is experienced in advising on sports transactions.

Experience

  • Acted on the consortium and shareholder arrangements with West Indies Cricket Board for the establishment of the Caribbean Premier League. 
  • Acted for the founders in connection with launch of Team Lotus in 2010 F1 Championship. 
  • Acted for Canal Plus on the consortium arrangements, and licensing arrangements, for the £100m joint acquisition of FA Premier League TV rights and acquisitions and disposals of satellite transponder capacity. 
  • Acted for sports talent agency Ace Group International on the acquisition of a minority interest. 
  • Acted for Sportfive GmbH on its acquisition of FoxSports group of companies from Formation Group plc. 
  • Acted for Teamtalk GmbH on its acquisition of MMC Sport. 
  • Acted on major private equity investments in F1 and Arrows racing team. 
  • Acted for WWE on commercial, regulatory and licensing arrangements in the UK. 

Matt is experienced in advising on transactions in the life sciences and healthcare sectors. 

Experience

  • Acted for Neuraxpharm on its acquisition of the pharmaceuticals portfolio of Glenmark Poland. 
  • Acted for Neuraxpharm on its acquisition of STU GmbH, a cannibidiol distribution business.  
  • Acted for Aculive on its Series A investment by Bitbio. 
  • Acted for ABC Medicover in its equity investment in fertility clinic RHG. 
  • Acted for Omnicell, Inc on its acquisition of pharmacy automation business Surgichem, a BUPA subsidiary.  
  • Acted for Nordic diagnostics company Orion Diagnostica Oy on its acquisition of Geneform Technologies Limited. 
  • Acted for Tularik Inc on its acquisition of the computer-aided molecular design business of Protherics Ltd. 
  • Acted for BEI Technologies Inc on the acquisition of the business of Newall Measurement Systems Ltd, a digital readout and linear encoder business.   
  • Acted for Lynx Therapeutics Inc on the $155m reverse takeover all share offer with Solexa Ltd. 
  • Acted for Gen-Probe Inc on its acquisition of the MLT group of companies. 

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recommended by The Legal 500 for M&A: Smaller Deals, £10m-£100m 2023–2025  

Recommended by The Legal 500 for Venture Capital 2025 

“I was particularly impressed by Matt Dennis’ ability to go straight to the crucial points, which were sometimes outside of the corporate area. He anticipates the potential difficulties, is very hands-on, and a pleasure to work with.”  The Legal 500 2025  

“Matt Dennis is noted for his focus in the technology and IP-rich industries.” The Legal 500 2024 

“Matt Dennis has a particular focus on advising clients in the technology and IP sectors. Recent engagements include acting for Blackboard on its purchase of Remote-Learner UK.” Chambers and Partners 2017 

 Matt qualified as a solicitor in 1990. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, he worked at the following firms: 

  • Bristows 
  • Bird & Bird 
  • Ashurst