About
Matthew VanWasshnova, a partner at Honigman LLP, represents private equity funds in domestic and cross-border acquisitions. Family offices, independent sponsors, and their portfolio companies hire him for sales and divestitures. He advises public-company boards, committees, and managers on leveraged buyouts and mergers. He negotiates recapitalizations, joint ventures, and financings that use equity or debt. He prepares executive employment terms and equity incentives that accompany a sale. He earned his J.D. at Case Western Reserve University School of Law. Among the hundreds of acquisitions and sales he has closed are deals for healthcare companies, manufacturing and industrial companies, and services firms. He has also closed automotive, retail, and information technology transactions.
Who is a good fit for Matthew VanWasshnova
- Private equity funds buying or selling a portfolio company.
- Family offices pursuing a cross-border acquisition or divestiture.
- Independent sponsors completing a leveraged buyout.
- Healthcare, manufacturing, or automotive companies preparing a sale.
Education and admissions
- Education
- Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D.
- University of Michigan, B.A. in Economics and Political Science
- Bar admissions
- Michigan
Recognition
- The Best Lawyers in America, 2027, Recognized in practice area of Corporate Law
- Michigan Super Lawyers, 2025-2026, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2013-2018
- ACG Detroit, Advisor of the Year, 2025
- DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2026
Specialties
Representative matters
As described on the firm’s website.
- Assisted Los Angeles-based private equity client with various acquisitions and divestitures
- Advised Utah-based private equity client with the sale of a Washington-based aerospace supplier to a Fortune 100 company
- Advised Washington-based private equity client with its acquisition of a California-based wholesale food business
- Represented NASDAQ-listed developer and manufacturer of thermal management technologies with various governance and transaction-related matters, including several acquisitions and the sale of its industrial test chamber business
- Represented NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company in connection with a reverse merger with a privately held pharmaceutical company
- Represented NASDAQ-listed media company with acquisitions and sales of online businesses
- Represented the special committee of the board of directors of a company in connection with the sale of the company to a Canadian-based public company (seller side)
Deal profile
- Typical deal size
- Any deal size
- Remote work
- In-person / regional