Matthew Townsend
Partner
London
Matthew Townsend
Partner
London
Contact Details
Matt is a Partner in, and global co-head of, the International Trade and Regulatory Group and advises extensively on a range of global trade and compliance issues including:
- International trade law;
- Sanctions and export controls;
- Anti-bribery policies, due diligence and compliance;
- Environmental, health and safety risks;
- Chemicals and product regulation;
- Climate change and carbon trading;
- Nuclear regulation;
- Transparency and disclosure requirements;
- Business ethics and supply chain controls;
- Human rights.
“Very experienced and technically superb, he is very good at what he does. He’s great to deal with and he knows his subject inside out.” Chambers Europe 2021 (Regulatory)
"He is unique because he's an environmental lawyer and an expert in that space, but he's also a top-notch corporate lawyer so he can understand the commercial tensions." Chambers UK 2020 (Environment)
Expertise
Practices
Bribery and Corruption Investigations
Environmental, Climate and Regulatory Law
Sanctions, International Trade and Investment Compliance
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Public International Law and Investment Disputes
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1996
Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2018
Academic
BA (Hons), University of Birmingham, 1992
Diploma, Law, The College Of Law, York, 1993
Diploma, Legal Practice, The College Of Law, York, 1994
News & insights
Publications: 15 OCTOBER 2021
A number of deadlines are looming for private banks, wealth managers and advisers as the next stage of the EU’s Sustainable Finance Disclosure Regulation (SFDR) and Taxonomy Regulation begins to apply…
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Publications: 14 OCTOBER 2021
Podcast: Annual Reports and AGMs: What’s new for the upcoming season
In our latest podcast our team of A&O experts bring you up to speed with the key issues companies secretaries and their teams need to think about when preparing for their next Annual Report and AGM.
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Blog Post: 08 OCTOBER 2021
International reaction to the EU's proposed CBAM
There has been something of a mixed response to the EU’s proposed Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). At the seventh meeting of BRICS environment ministers in New Delhi in August, the statement…
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Publications: 07 OCTOBER 2021
Is sustainability really changing the M&A deal landscape?
A broad range of sustainability issues are now clearly affecting the way some investors assess potential M&A deals and allocate capital. But many are only just getting to grips with the fast-evolving…
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Expertise
Practices
Bribery and Corruption Investigations
Environmental, Climate and Regulatory Law
Sanctions, International Trade and Investment Compliance
Litigation, Arbitration and Investigations
Public International Law and Investment Disputes
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1996
Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2018
Academic
BA (Hons), University of Birmingham, 1992
Diploma, Law, The College Of Law, York, 1993
Diploma, Legal Practice, The College Of Law, York, 1994
Published work
- Co-editor: "REACH - Best Practice Guide to Regulation 1907/2006" (Hart/Beck)
- Contributor: "Project Finance" by G. Vinter (Sweet & Maxwell)
- Contributor: "EPC Contracts and Major Projects" by N. Pritchard (Sweet & Maxwell)
- Matt is a regular speaker and commentator on business compliance issues.
Pro-bono experience
- Ambassador for Hope and Homes for Children
- Executive member of the Legal Sector Alliance
