Matthew T. Bush

Partner

San Diego
matt.bush@lw.com
+1.858.523.3962

PRACTICES

  • Capital Markets
  • Emerging Companies & Growth
  • Mergers & Acquisitions
  • Public Company Representation

INDUSTRIES

  • Healthcare & Life Sciences
  • Technology

BAR QUALIFICATIONS

  • California

EDUCATION

  • JD, University of Pennsylvania Law School, 2006
  • BSBA, Washington University, 1997

PROFILE

Matt Bush represents life sciences and technology companies, ranging from startups to publicly held corporations. He is a sought-after advisor in transactional matters ranging from company formation through maturing growth and exit strategy, which includes day-to-day guidance, venture financings, initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, SEC disclosures, corporate governance, and aftermarket capital raising. Matt is the former Chair of the San Diego office’s Corporate Department.

Prior to entering law school, Matt was a manager with Accenture, where he assisted clients with business process reengineering and enterprise software implementation.

EXPERIENCE

Matt's selected IPO, equity offering, and public company representation experience includes the following:

  • Representing the companies: Mineralys, HilleVax, Prometheus Biosciences, Icosavax, Erasca, Tyra Biosciences, Avidity Biosciences, Phathom Pharmaceuticals, Gossamer Bio, Cubic Corporation, Crinetics, Ignyta, Zogenix, Airgain, Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits, Exagen, Evoke Pharma, Conatus Pharmaceuticals, BIND Therapeutics, Orexigen, Cadence, Somaxon, and Santarus
  • Representing the investment banks: Structure Therapeutics, Longboard Pharmaceuticals, Janux, Reneo Pharmaceuticals, Synthorx, Equillium Bio, Mirati Therapeutics, Arrowhead, Iovance, Neurocrine, Heron, Travere Therapeutics, Poseida Therapeutics, CareDx, Acadia Pharmaceuticals, Arena Pharmaceuticals, Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Retrophin, AltheaDx, Tocagen, Tracon Pharma, Ambit, Cirius Therapeutics, Sophiris Bio, Optimer, Lumena Pharmaceuticals (prior to its sale), Horizon Pharma ARIAD, BioCryst, Ardea, Trius, Seattle Genetics, Genoptix, HTG Molecular, and Vical

Matt's selected deSPAC and reverse merger experience includes the following:

  • Ligand Pharmaceuticals in spin-off of OmniAb in one of the first ever Reverse Morris Trust (RMT) transactions combined with a deSPAC
  • eFFECTOR Therapeutics in its deSPAC merger with Locust Walk Acquisition Corp.
  • Oncternal Therapeutics, Conatus Pharmaceuticals, and Apricus Biosciences in reverse merger transactions

Matt's selected strategic merger and acquisition experience includes the following:

  • Prometheus in its US$10.8 billion sale to Merck
  • Zogenix in strategic acquisitions and its US$1.9 billion sale to UCB, S.A
  • Gossamer Bio in strategic acquisitions
  • Ligand Pharmaceuticals in strategic acquisitions
  • Santarus in its US$2.6 billion sale to Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd.
  • Ballast Point Brewing & Spirits in its US$1.0 billion sale to Constellation Brands
  • Cadence Pharmaceuticals in its US$1.4 billion sale to Mallinckrodt plc
  • Level Studios, an integrated digital marketing and product development agency, in its sale to Rosetta
  • DJO Incorporated in its US$1.6 billion sale to an affiliate of The Blackstone Group and acquisitions of Dr. Comfort and Elastic Therapy for US$300 million

Matt's investment banking clients include BofA Securities, Citigroup, Cowen, Credit Suisse, Evercore, Goldman Sachs, Jefferies, JP Morgan, Leerink Partners, Morgan Stanley, Piper Jaffray, and Stifel.

Matt's extensive experience in company formation and venture and crossover financings includes, among others, representation of: Airgain, Crinetics Pharmaceuticals, eFFECTOR Therapeutics, Elevation Pharmaceuticals, Erasca, Exagen, Gossamer Bio, Icosavax, Meritage Pharma, Mineralys, Prometheus Biosciences, Tealium, and Zogenix.

Representative Speaking Engagements

  • Speaker, “The Art of the Exit - IPOs, SPACs, and Reverse Mergers” Deloitte and Latham Program
  • Speaker, “Getting to the Field - IPO Execution,” Marsh & McLennan IPO Bootcamp
  • Speaker, “Your Company’s Next Step,” KPMG IPO Bootcamp
  • Speaker, “Business Structure and Tax Strategies for Start-ups,” Association of Bioscience Financial Officers (ABFO) National Conference