Specialising in financing transactions for international banks, Matt has acted for a wide range of Jersey, UK and European financial institutions, senior and mezzanine lenders.
He has particular expertise in the financing and structuring of commercial real estate transactions and loan portfolio sales and acquisitions, alongside experience in fund finance and general banking transactions.
Matt also works on a broad range of corporate transactions, including establishing investment vehicles, particularly JPUTs, to acquire a range of assets including real estate, private M&A, group reorganisations and advising listed clients on general company law and corporate governance matters. He advises high net worth individuals and family offices on the reorganisation and redomiciliation of multi-jurisdictional holding structures as well as philanthropic transactions.
Background
Prior to joining Collas Crill in 2019, Matt worked for another leading offshore law firm in Jersey. He is a qualified Solicitor of England and Wales (non practising) and an Advocate of the Royal Court of Jersey.
Matt is ranked as a Next Generation Partner by Legal 500.
^ not a member of Collas Crill LLP in Jersey
I consider Matthew Gilley and Alexander Price the go-to team for banking and finance transactions with an offshore, Channel Island element. The service they provide is professional, commercial and technically great.
Legal 500 (UK) 2024
Gives a great level of service
Client feedback
He understands teamwork, how this should apply to cross-border transactions, and how it is best achieved when working with other lawyers. Matthew is a class act.
Legal 500 (UK) 2024
Provides an all round service.
Client feedback
Very responsive.
Client feedback
Matthew Gilley is an excellent lawyer: personable, competent and always willing to go the extra mile to provide support for our clients. He has a positive and progressive attitude, and nothing is too much trouble.
Legal 500 (UK) 2024
Matt Gilley is a pocket battleship of a banking lawyer. Skilled, erudite, much cleverer than he lets on, and extremely commercial and very good at coming up with practicable solutions to transaction options. Alex Price is a star assistant, and possibly the best thing to come out of Birmingham since custard.
Legal 500 (UK) 2026
Expertise
The importance of managing risk across all types of banking and financial transactions has never been more apparent. International and multi-jurisdictional activity, particularly in new and emerging markets, is driving creativity in structuring and transactions which requires a team of lawyers who know how to get the optimal results from each deal.
In today's economic climate lawyers need to be more innovative and more efficient in navigating the increasing complexity of the regulatory environment.
Our clients choose us because of our ability to understand how to structure complex securities and how to execute complex capital raisings in challenging market conditions. We pride ourselves on being responsive and pragmatic, working closely with our clients and other advisers and drawing on our substantive securities and capital markets experience.
Our capital markets team have significant onshore as well as offshore experience, giving us an in-depth understanding of all aspects of security issues and capital markets transactions.
We advise on the structuring of securitisation vehicles, the promotion of securities and the full range of equity and debt capital markets transactions, including both public equity and debt offerings and mergers and acquisitions, including schemes or arrangement and reverse takeovers.
We can also provide listing sponsor and agent assistance for both The International Stock Exchange and the Cayman Islands Stock Exchange.
Good corporate governance and a sound understanding of directors duties is critical. Regardless of size, establishing a best practice approach should be fundamental to all boards.
The board of directors are responsible for ensuring the company achieves its objectives and the corporate governance framework they adhere to should underpin their accountability to the company and its members. We advise company boards at all stages in the corporate lifecycle, in solvent and insolvent scenarios.
We have also acted on some of the largest pieces of litigation brought against directors offshore.
When customers or clients do not pay on time, we provide timely and effective advice on recovering debts and enforcing judgments. We help businesses, service providers, lenders and borrowers – including banks, funds, directors, and insolvency practitioners – recover commercial debt swiftly and strategically.
Our services cover court proceedings, arrets, saisies, statutory demands, insolvency proceedings, désastre, realisation, dégrèvement, and enforcement of security interests. We conduct thorough security reviews and advise on pre-emptive measures, ensuring prompt, decisive action with discretion to minimise reputational risk.
We can advise in relation to the financing of investment funds in Guernsey, Jersey, BVI and Cayman, advising both borrowers and lenders. Fund financing covers a range of financing possibilities including mezzanine financing or acquisition finance, but most commonly involves capital call or subscription facilities. It is a specialist area that requires an understanding of fund structuring, the risks involved in lending to funds and specific security requirements.
Underlying relationships between investors, borrowers and lenders are key to the success of the industry. We work with lenders and borrowers to maintain these relationships at every stage of the process, with our commercial, efficient and pragmatic approach to managing transactions.
Demand continues to rise for legal professionals with a strong knowledge and understanding of Shariah law concepts continues, a reflection of the growth in Islamic finance products and services for institutions and private clients.
Our team of experienced finance lawyers regularly works with onshore law firms, banks, managers and service providers to assist clients in the UK, the Middle East and Asia, as well as trust and corporate service providers servicing clients in this area.
Our teams have been involved in some of the most innovative finance structures, including the first public-private finance initiative in Guernsey, a care home. We regularly advise housing associations on funding their projects. Internationally we work with clients on key infrastructure projects, including power stations and railway links.
Our securities and capital markets team advise on all aspects of securitisation transactions, including the structuring of securities and securitisation vehicles, producing the prospectus, providing regulatory advice and advising on promotion restrictions and requirements. Our clients include both offshore and onshore banks as well as other financial instructions.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the world. With diversifying markets and governments keen to enact strategies and legislation to bring further innovation, MENA is primed for further transformation and growth.
The demand for professional advisers who understand this rapidly changing environment and the opportunities and challenges it brings has never been higher or more important.
Regional clients with worldwide investments as well as international clients conducting business in the area trust Collas Crill to guide them through their business dealings and wealth planning, with expertise in Shariah-compliant products allied with decades of experience using traditional structures to meet the needs of clients wherever their focus lies.
The Middle East is one of the most dynamic and fastest growing regions in the world. With diversifying markets and governments keen to enact strategies and legislation to bring further innovation, the region is primed for further transformation and growth.
The demand for professional advisers who understand this rapidly changing environment and the opportunities and challenges it brings has never been higher or more important.
Regional clients with worldwide investments as well as international clients conducting business in the area trust Collas Crill to guide them through their business dealings and wealth planning, with expertise in Shariah-compliant products allied with decades of experience using traditional structures to meet the needs of clients wherever their focus lies.
Successfully navigating the modern global business environment, taking advantage of opportunities as they arise while avoiding legal and regulatory pitfalls, is a challenge for any entrepreneur, business or corporation, during all phases of the corporate life cycle.
Regulation and legal risk management are placing increasing burdens on companies and businesses in terms of time, costs and resources, and the consequences of getting this wrong can be severe.
We can assist with all regulatory and compliance issues in Jersey, Guernsey, BVI and Cayman including:
anti-money laundering and proceeds of crime legislation
FATCA and CRS reporting
licensing
economic substance
beneficial ownership
sanctions
tax information exchange requests
AIFMD
Additionally we can help with regulator investigations and visits, enforcement and remediation including representation before regulators, tribunals committees and courts. We have an excellent record in defending corporates and their directors and officers in regulatory proceedings.
Please view our Regulatory page for more information.
Offshore vehicles are used for a huge range of purposes either standing alone or as part of large multi-jurisdictional structures.
Our highly commercial team specialises in advising clients on the most effective uses of such vehicles and their on-going operation, including normal and cellular companies as well as foundations, unit trusts, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, segregated portfolio and restricted purpose companies.
We are able to advise what jurisdiction among the 'Big Four' that we advise on will best suit our client's needs and regularly advise on solvent restructuring by way of merger, consolidation, continuation or balance sheet optimisation as well as court based corporate procedures such as schemes and plans of arrangement.
With our mix of non-contentious and litigation restructuring specialists, Collas Crill offers the unique advantage of having being able to provide a team to seamlessly take a transaction from start to finish.
