Matthew has built up a considerable track record across private and public companies, working across a variety of asset classes and complex situations.

He is best known for his time at Almacantar but also subsequently worked for an impact investment fund manager and he previously spent four years at Brookfield Asset Management as general counsel. 

Commenting on his appointment, Matthew said: “Birchwood has an amazing team and the opportunity to be part of another growth story was too good to turn down.

“The appeal of the firm is being able to work across many asset classes, disciplines and situations which, together with our experience as borrowers on the equity side, offers crucial benefits to both our clients and our investors.

“I am also excited to be joining during a formative period for the firm so we, as a team, can grow a unique culture and continually develop as professionals.

"Joining a new platform and moving into a period of huge financing opportunities within the sector will be equally exciting and challenging.

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“Growing transaction volumes in retail, a revival in some parts of the office market and a growing wall of capital targeting alternatives have created a huge pipeline of opportunities for Birchwood and I am confident that an increasing number of occupier-led strategies will drive value across the sector and should see more assets begin to trade during the second half of this year.”

Lorna Brown, founder of Birchwood Real Estate Capital, said: “Despite being a relatively young business, we have an incredibly experienced team that benefits from no legacy book yet an incredible track record of working with major players across every asset class.

“Matt’s addition to the senior management team broadens that mix and we are lucky to have him on board.

“In an environment where so many developments are operational and mixed-use, and in a landscape filled with so much uncertainty driven by both macro and sectoral factors, being able to collaborate closely with our clients — bringing our own client-side experience to the table — is an important USP that has allowed us to successfully deploy capital in a challenging market.”