Bryan Cave Leighton Paisner

Corporate Transactions

Counsel - Corporate and Finance Transactions

Matthew Johnson serves as Counsel in BCLP’s Corporate and Finance Transactions Department.  Matthew advises technology and life sciences companies and investors on a variety of transactions, including venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings, corporate governance, and strategic alliances.  He also advises corporate clients and their boards of directors on securities law, SEC reporting, and corporate governance matters.

Matthew previously practiced in the Silicon Valley office of another major international law firm, where he advised venture capital funds, high-growth public and private life sciences and technology companies, private equity funds, and corporate venture groups of Fortune 100 companies on venture capital investments, initial public offerings, and strategic transactions.

Earlier in his career, Matthew gained unique in-house experience as Senior Counsel (M&A and Corporate Governance) at Monsanto Company. He was lead counsel to Monsanto Growth Ventures, the company’s venture capital group, and handled multiple M&A transactions, strategic investments, and collaborations. He also managed various corporate governance and board matters, as well as SEC registration statements and public company reporting.

Matthew received his J.D. from The University of Chicago Law School, where he worked as a research assistant for Nobel laureate Dr. Richard Thaler, Cass R. Sunstein, and Judge Richard A. Posner.