About me

Address: London: Eighth Floor, Ten Bishops Square, London E1 6EG

Areas of Focus: Tax; International Tax; Investment Management & Transactional Tax; Financial Restructuring; Credit Funds; Tax Structuring & Equity Financing; Mergers & Acquisitions; Executive Compensation & Employee Benefits; Restructuring & Special Situations Tax; Capital Solutions

Biography:
Matthew advises investment funds and multinational private and public companies on a wide variety of corporate tax matters, including domestic and international corporate, finance and funds transactions. He has a particular focus on UK and EU financial restructurings, investment fund structuring and related matters, which involve novel and complex UK and cross-border tax issues. Matthew advises on the design and implementation of tax-efficient structures to achieve the client’s commercial objectives.

Representative Work:
Financial Restructurings
- Cineworld : Advised the ad-hoc committee of creditors to the Cineworld Group in connection with its multi-jurisdictional Chapter 11 restructuring, involving circa US$4 billion in liabilities.
- OQ Chemicals : Advised lenders to the OQ Chemicals Group, one of the world’s largest suppliers of oxo chemicals, in connection with the group’s recapitalisation, and amendment of its credit facilities.
- GenesisCare: Advised an ad-hoc group of lenders to GenesisCare Group, a global healthcare provider specializing in cancer treatment, in connection with the lender-led Chapter 11 restructuring of its existing debt, and the separation of its Australian, US, UK, European and Asian business.
- Fortenova: Advised Fortenova Group, the largest private employer in Croatia, in relation to a complex financial restructuring of its debt profile following the 2019 restructuring of the Agrokor Group.
- Metrocentre: Represented the ad hoc group of noteholders of Metrocentre’s £485 million of debt in relation to a restructuring involving a transfer of the ownership of one of Europe’s largest covered shopping and leisure destinations, in Gateshead, U.K.
- Nordic Aviation : Advised noteholders in the $6 billion restructuring of Nordic Aviation Capital Designated Activity Company (NAC), the largest lessor of regional aircraft in the world.
- Nostrum : Advised the ad hoc committee of holders on the $1.125 billion financial restructuring of Nostrum Oil & Gas plc, an oil and gas company operating in Kazakhstan.

Credentials:
Education: L.P.C., The College of Law, London, 2012; LL.B., University of Warwick, 2011
Bar Admissions: Solicitor, England and Wales, 2014

Recognitions:
- Chambers Global, Tax, UK, Associates to watch: 2022-2023, Up and coming: 2025-2026.
- Chambers UK , Tax, Up and coming: 2025-2026.
- Chambers Europe , Tax, UK, 2025.
- The Legal 500 UK, Corporate Tax, 2021-2026.
- International Tax Review, Tax Lawyer Rising Star EMEA, 2025
- Diversity Journal , Diverse Lawyers Making a Difference Award, 2024.

Affiliations:
-

Insights:
- Akin Advises TPG, Oaktree and Oak Hill on Financing for Recommended Acquisition of evoke by Bally’s Intralot (June 9, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-tpg-oaktree-and-oak-hill-on-financing-for-recommended-acquisition-of-evoke-by-ballys-intralot
- Chambers Europe 2026 Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices (March 19, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-europe-2026-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices
- Akin Advises Kennedy Lewis on €2 Billion+ Strategic Partnership with Bank of Ireland (March 13, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-kennedy-lewis-on-euro2-billion-strategic-partnership-with-bank-of-ireland
- Chambers Global Recognizes Akin’s Lawyers and Practices in 2026 Edition (February 12, 2026): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-global-recognizes-akins-lawyers-and-practices-in-2026-edition
- Chambers UK Recognizes Akin Lawyers and Practices in 2026 Guide (October 17, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/chambers-uk-recognizes-akin-lawyers-and-practices-in-2026-guide
- Akin Advises Discover on $244 Million Sale of Company to Tenaz Energy (October 9, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-discover-on-dollar244-million-sale-of-company-to-tenaz-energy
- Matthew Durward-Thomas Named European Tax Rising Star (September 19, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/awards-and-accolades/matthew-durward-thomas-named-european-tax-rising-star
- Akin Advises Mubadala Capital in Connection with its Acquisition of CI Financial (August 13, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-mubadala-capital-in-connection-with-its-acquisition-of-ci-financial
- From Crackdown to Calibration: The UK’s Evolving Carried Interest Regime (June 6, 2025 ): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/alerts/from-crackdown-to-calibration-the-uks-evolving-carried-interest-regime
- Akin Advises Energy Equation Partners and Stonepeak in €2.5 Billion Acquisition of Majority Interest in JET (May 16, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-energy-equation-partners-and-stonepeak-in-euro25-billion-acquisition-of-majority-interest-in-jet
- 2025 Perspectives in Private Equity: Tax Analysis (April 17, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/articles/2025-perspectives-in-private-equity-tax-analysis
- Akin Advises Lenders to OQ Chemicals on Recapitalisation (April 9, 2025): https://www.akingump.com/en/insights/press-releases/akin-advises-lenders-to-oq-chemicals-on-recapitalisation