Matthew Schonholz

Matthew Schonholz is a Tax and Executive Compensation partner based in Baker McKenzie's Los Angeles office. Matthew counsels clients on tax and executive compensation law, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, private equity and debt investments, public securities offerings, joint ventures and investment fund formation. Matthew has been recognized by Chambers USA for Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation, most recently in 2024, with clients describing him as "...excellent. He is responsive, thoughtful and knowledgeable," "...never loses focus of his clients' interests and effortlessly translates their desire to effective negotiation," and "...sharp, responsive and provides great counsel."

Matthew regularly advises public and private companies, investment funds and portfolio managers, family offices, founders, C-suite executives and management teams on the design, negotiation, documentation and implementation of compensation and employment arrangements, including cash and equity-based incentive compensation arrangements, severance, and transaction bonus and other incentive arrangements in both transactional and non-transactional settings.

Additionally, he guides client through complex transactional tax issues. He regularly counsels public and private companies, investment fund sponsors, and boards of directors in the tax structuring and documentation of mergers, equity and asset acquisitions and dispositions. He also advises on private equity, real estate, direct lending and hedge fund formations, joint ventures and operating partnerships well as on transactions involving S corporations, partnerships, LLCs and disregarded entities.

Following law school, Matthew clerked for Judges Nora M. Manella and Dikran Tevrizian of the US District Court for the Central District of California.

Matthew was also an adjunct professor of law at Loyola Law School Los Angeles.