Gould + Ratner

Matthew

Goldfarb

Partner

Recognized as a strategic, practical, and innovative problem solver focusing on client needs, Matt Goldfarb deeply understands his clients’ businesses and the industries he serves.

As a partner in Gould & Ratner’s Corporate Practice Group, Matt enjoys a practice that presents new and varied challenges, allowing him to devise strategies that align with his clients' goals. Matt frequently advises privately held companies, middle-market businesses, start-ups, private equity funds, family offices and entrepreneurs across various industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, hospitality, food and beverage and technology. His broad industry expertise and commitment to client satisfaction make him a trusted advisor in today's dynamic legal landscape. 

Matt helps businesses successfully navigate the complexities of their transactions. For more than a decade, he’s handled mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments, and negotiated and structured sophisticated commercial arrangements.

Some of Matt’s most recent successful transactions and matters include:

  • Represented and advised a food products distribution company in connection with its strategic acquisitions and U.S. growth.
  • Represented and advised a private equity fund in the agribusiness industry in connection with its platform and add-on acquisitions.
  • Represented AI-driven foodservice technology company in connection with its receipt of multiple rounds of private debt and equity financings.
  • Represented and advised beer, wine and spirits distributor in connection with its sale to private equity-backed purchaser.
  • Represented and advised telemedicine and virtual healthcare technology company in all aspects of its majority recapitalization.
  • Represented digital marketing agency in pharmaceutical space in connection with an auction sale process.
  • Represented private equity fund in dental care industry in connection with platform and add-on acquisitions.
  • Represented industry-leading global equipment manufacturing company in connection with strategic purchases.
  • Represented industry-leading equipment manufacturer in its purchase of multi-million-dollar facility equipment.
  • Represented private equity fund in manufacturing space in connection with platform and add-on acquisitions.

In addition to successfully handling significant transactions, Matt also provides day-to-day general counsel services for companies ranging from start-ups to firms with billions in revenue. His outside GC experience includes drafting and negotiating significant commercial contracts, equity incentive plans, debt instruments, corporate governance matters, website terms and conditions and employment-related issues.

Matt has been included in U.S. News – Best Lawyers “Ones to Watch” list in the category of venture capital law from 2024-2025.

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Connect with Matthew

(312) 899-1681 Office
(312) 965-8653 Mobile

Connect with Matthew

(312) 899-1681 Office
(312) 965-8653 Mobile

Credentials

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Education

  • Illinois Institute of Technology, Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D., 2012
  • Tulane University, B.S., Psychology, 2008

Bar Admissions

  • Illinois

Affiliations

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  • American Bar Association, Corporate and Business Law Section

  • Illinois State Bar Association, Corporate Law Department
  • America-Israel Chamber of Commerce
    - Board of Directors
  • Chicago Urban League
    - Business Coach

Key Cases or Transactions

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  • Represented private equity fund in its acquisition of food and beverage manufacturing and distribution business.
  • Represented leading national food products distribution company in its purchase of separate businesses throughout Midwest, Northeast and Southwest.
  • Represented international environmental solutions firm in its sale to private equity purchaser, including management of all aspects of auction sale process.
  • Represented an industry leading global trailer manufacturer in selling its aftermarket parts business to a national aftermarket parts supplier.
  • Represented industry leading equipment manufacturer in its purchase of facility equipment.
  • Represented a Chicago-based digital agency focusing on the pharmaceutical space in an auction sale process. 
  • Represented an international industry leading global equipment manufacturing company in auction purchase process.
  • Represented food products distribution company in strategic purchase of competitor and in its strategic investment in the cannabis space.
  • Represented a family office in its investment in a battery technology company.
  • Represented a software development company in angel and series capital raises and provided general counsel services.
  • Represented an international drug development company in the divestiture of its international subsidiaries.
  • Represented software development company in the licensing of software to a third party.
  • Represented packaging manufacturing company in strategic purchase for over $50 million.
  • Represented a private equity backed company in sale of assets of a business services consulting firm division for $10 million.
  • Represented a private equity investment fund in sale of propane distribution company for $100 million.
  • Represented an industry leading global trailer manufacturer in selling its aftermarket parts business to a national aftermarket parts supplier. 
  • Represented a real estate investment fund with its formation and private offering of up to $50 million of preferred equity in the manufactured housing space.
  • Represented a software development company in angel and series capital raises and provided general counsel services.
  • Represented a venture backed investment fund in angel and series round investments in various sports technology companies.
  • Represented a venture backed investment fund in angel and series round investments in various healthcare technology companies.
  • Represented a sports technology company in its angel, seed and equity financings and provide general counsel services.
  • Provide day-to-day general counsel services for companies, including, without limitation drafting and negotiations of significant commercial contracts, equity issuances, corporate governance, website terms and conditions, employment related issues, in each case, ranging across the United States from start-up to $900 million and in industries including manufacturing, distribution, food, service, healthcare, software and technology. 
  • Represented an ESOP owned lighting company in the sale of its stock.
  • Developed and negotiated necessary form agreements to operationalize the business for start-up technology companies.
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For more than a decade, he’s handled mergers and acquisitions, venture capital and private equity investments.