Cravath’s London Office Moves to 100 Cheapside
Partner, Executive Compensation and Benefits
Matthew J. Bobby focuses his practice on executive compensation and employee benefit aspects of complex mergers and acquisitions, spin‑offs, initial public offerings and other business transactions. He also regularly advises clients on the design, negotiation and implementation of incentive compensation arrangements and the negotiation of executive employment and separation agreements, as well as on SEC disclosure regarding such arrangements.
Mr. Bobby’s clients have included ADT, AerCap, Afterpay, AmerisourceBergen, Aras, AveXis, BDT, British American Tobacco, Canadian National Railway, Centrica, Costamare, Crown Castle, CyrusOne, DiaSorin, FactSet, GreenSky, Hasbro, Honeywell, Illumina, Johnson & Johnson, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Kenvue, Light & Wonder, Lindsay Goldberg, Martin Marietta, National Grid, Northrop Grumman, Novartis, Olin, Owl Rock, Peugeot, RWE, SMBC Aviation Capital, Starwood Hotels, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Time Warner, US Foods, Viacom, Viatris and WestRock.
Mr. Bobby’s notable matters include representing:
Mr. Bobby has been recognized for his work in the employee benefits and executive compensation arena by Chambers USA and he has also received Euromoney Legal Media Group’s 2022 Americas Rising Star Award for “Best in Labor & Employment.” Mr. Bobby is a frequent author and speaker on executive compensation and employee benefits topics and spoke on a panel at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Business Law Section Hybrid Spring Meeting.
Mr. Bobby was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. summa cum laude in mathematics and physics and an M.A. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2012, where he was an Executive Editor of the National Security Journal and the International Law Journal. Following his graduation, Mr. Bobby served as a law clerk to Hon. Joseph Jerome Farris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Bobby joined Cravath in 2013 and was elected a partner in 2020.
Mr. Bobby’s clients have included ADT, AerCap, Afterpay, AmerisourceBergen, Aras, AveXis, BDT, British American Tobacco, Canadian National Railway, Centrica, Costamare, Crown Castle, CyrusOne, DiaSorin, FactSet, GreenSky, Hasbro, Honeywell, Illumina, Johnson & Johnson, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Kenvue, Light & Wonder, Lindsay Goldberg, Martin Marietta, National Grid, Northrop Grumman, Novartis, Olin, Owl Rock, Peugeot, RWE, SMBC Aviation Capital, Starwood Hotels, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Time Warner, US Foods, Viacom, Viatris and WestRock.
Mr. Bobby’s notable matters include representing:
Mr. Bobby has been recognized for his work in the employee benefits and executive compensation arena by Chambers USA and he has also received Euromoney Legal Media Group’s 2022 Americas Rising Star Award for “Best in Labor & Employment.” Mr. Bobby is a frequent author and speaker on executive compensation and employee benefits topics and spoke on a panel at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Business Law Section Hybrid Spring Meeting.
Mr. Bobby was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. summa cum laude in mathematics and physics and an M.A. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2012, where he was an Executive Editor of the National Security Journal and the International Law Journal. Following his graduation, Mr. Bobby served as a law clerk to Hon. Joseph Jerome Farris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Bobby joined Cravath in 2013 and was elected a partner in 2020.
Americas Rising Star Awards - Best in Labor & Employment, Euromoney Legal Media Group (2022)
Chambers USA
Deals & Cases
June 23, 2025
On June 23, 2025, Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Standard BioTools under which Illumina will acquire SomaLogic, a leader in data‑driven proteomics technology, and other specified assets for $350 million in cash payable at closing, subject to customary adjustments, plus up to $75 million in near-term performance‑based milestones and performance‑based royalties. Cravath is representing Illumina in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
June 17, 2025
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $683.6 million registered underwritten offering of Class A common stock of Galaxy Digital Inc., a global leader in digital assets and artificial intelligence infrastructure, delivering enduring solutions that accelerate the future digital economy. This was Galaxy Digital Inc.’s first underwritten public offering of its Class A common stock as a listed company on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The transaction closed on June 3, 2025.
Deals & Cases
June 12, 2025
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $1.25 billion registered senior notes offering of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (“Wabtec”), one of the world’s largest providers of value‑added, technology‑based locomotives, equipment, systems and services for the global freight rail and passenger transit industries, and also serves customers in the mining, marine and industrial markets. Proceeds of the offering will be used to partially finance Wabtec’s acquisition of Evident Corporation’s Inspection Technologies division. The transaction closed on May 29, 2025.
Deals & Cases
May 07, 2025
On May 7, 2025, Costamare Inc. (“Costamare”) announced that it has completed the spin‑off of its dry bulk business into a standalone public company, Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited (“Costamare Bulkers”). Each holder of Costamare common shares received one common share of Costamare Bulkers for every five Costamare common shares held as of the close of business on April 29, 2025. Cravath represented Costamare in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
March 21, 2025
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million fixed rate/floating rate senior notes offering of First Horizon Corporation, a holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The transaction closed on March 7, 2025.
Activities
February 28, 2025
On February 26, 2025, Cravath and Harvard Law School hosted a program to celebrate the work of the Cravath International Fellows, which was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 2006 by Cravath partners who are Harvard Law School alumni, under the leadership of the late Robert D. Joffe, the Cravath International Fellowships program provides financial assistance, including travel and living expenses, to students pursuing academic projects during their Winter Term with an international, transnational or comparative law focus. Approximately 12 Cravath International Fellowships are awarded annually.
Publications
January 22, 2025
On January 21, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “IRS Publishes Proposed Regulations to Expand Denial of Compensation Deduction Under Section 162(m).” The memo examines the Internal Revenue Service’s proposed regulations to expand the group of employees covered by Section 162(m), as required by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Publications
August 22, 2024
On August 21, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Texas Federal Court Invalidates FTC’s Noncompete Ban Nationwide.” The memo examines the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas’s recent opinion and order setting aside the Federal Trade Commission’s new final rule banning all noncompete agreements with employees and preventing its implementation nationwide.
Publications
April 25, 2024
On April 25, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “FTC Adopts Rule “Banning” Non‑Compete Clauses with Workers.” The memo examines the Federal Trade Commission’s recently adopted final rule broadly deeming non‑compete clauses with “workers” to be an “unfair method of competition” under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The memo outlines how the final rule does not necessarily constitute a ban on non‑compete clauses, potential legal challenges to the final rule and expected future enforcement. The memo concludes with recommendations for companies to consider to ensure they are in position to adapt to the changing landscape.
Publications
November 13, 2023
On November 7, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “New York Passes Law Restricting Scope of Employee IP Assignment Agreements.” The memo examines the new Section 203-f of the New York Labor Law recently signed by Governor Hochul, which renders unenforceable assignment provisions with respect to certain inventions in employment agreements. The memo outlines what types of agreements the law renders unenforceable, its exceptions, the consequences of violating the law, notice requirements and next steps for employers to consider.
Matthew J. Bobby focuses his practice on executive compensation and employee benefit aspects of complex mergers and acquisitions, spin‑offs, initial public offerings and other business transactions. He also regularly advises clients on the design, negotiation and implementation of incentive compensation arrangements and the negotiation of executive employment and separation agreements, as well as on SEC disclosure regarding such arrangements.
Mr. Bobby’s clients have included ADT, AerCap, Afterpay, AmerisourceBergen, Aras, AveXis, BDT, British American Tobacco, Canadian National Railway, Centrica, Costamare, Crown Castle, CyrusOne, DiaSorin, FactSet, GreenSky, Hasbro, Honeywell, Illumina, Johnson & Johnson, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Kenvue, Light & Wonder, Lindsay Goldberg, Martin Marietta, National Grid, Northrop Grumman, Novartis, Olin, Owl Rock, Peugeot, RWE, SMBC Aviation Capital, Starwood Hotels, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Time Warner, US Foods, Viacom, Viatris and WestRock.
Mr. Bobby’s notable matters include representing:
Mr. Bobby has been recognized for his work in the employee benefits and executive compensation arena by Chambers USA and he has also received Euromoney Legal Media Group’s 2022 Americas Rising Star Award for “Best in Labor & Employment.” Mr. Bobby is a frequent author and speaker on executive compensation and employee benefits topics and spoke on a panel at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Business Law Section Hybrid Spring Meeting.
Mr. Bobby was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. summa cum laude in mathematics and physics and an M.A. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2012, where he was an Executive Editor of the National Security Journal and the International Law Journal. Following his graduation, Mr. Bobby served as a law clerk to Hon. Joseph Jerome Farris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Bobby joined Cravath in 2013 and was elected a partner in 2020.
Mr. Bobby’s clients have included ADT, AerCap, Afterpay, AmerisourceBergen, Aras, AveXis, BDT, British American Tobacco, Canadian National Railway, Centrica, Costamare, Crown Castle, CyrusOne, DiaSorin, FactSet, GreenSky, Hasbro, Honeywell, Illumina, Johnson & Johnson, Just Eat Takeaway.com, Kenvue, Light & Wonder, Lindsay Goldberg, Martin Marietta, National Grid, Northrop Grumman, Novartis, Olin, Owl Rock, Peugeot, RWE, SMBC Aviation Capital, Starwood Hotels, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Time Warner, US Foods, Viacom, Viatris and WestRock.
Mr. Bobby’s notable matters include representing:
Mr. Bobby has been recognized for his work in the employee benefits and executive compensation arena by Chambers USA and he has also received Euromoney Legal Media Group’s 2022 Americas Rising Star Award for “Best in Labor & Employment.” Mr. Bobby is a frequent author and speaker on executive compensation and employee benefits topics and spoke on a panel at the American Bar Association’s 2023 Business Law Section Hybrid Spring Meeting.
Mr. Bobby was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He received a B.A. summa cum laude in mathematics and physics and an M.A. in mathematics from the University of Pennsylvania in 2009, where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, and a J.D. magna cum laude from Harvard Law School in 2012, where he was an Executive Editor of the National Security Journal and the International Law Journal. Following his graduation, Mr. Bobby served as a law clerk to Hon. Joseph Jerome Farris of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Mr. Bobby joined Cravath in 2013 and was elected a partner in 2020.
Americas Rising Star Awards - Best in Labor & Employment, Euromoney Legal Media Group (2022)
Chambers USA
Deals & Cases
June 23, 2025
On June 23, 2025, Illumina, Inc. (“Illumina”) announced it has entered into a definitive agreement with Standard BioTools under which Illumina will acquire SomaLogic, a leader in data‑driven proteomics technology, and other specified assets for $350 million in cash payable at closing, subject to customary adjustments, plus up to $75 million in near-term performance‑based milestones and performance‑based royalties. Cravath is representing Illumina in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
June 17, 2025
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $683.6 million registered underwritten offering of Class A common stock of Galaxy Digital Inc., a global leader in digital assets and artificial intelligence infrastructure, delivering enduring solutions that accelerate the future digital economy. This was Galaxy Digital Inc.’s first underwritten public offering of its Class A common stock as a listed company on the Nasdaq Global Select Market. The transaction closed on June 3, 2025.
Deals & Cases
June 12, 2025
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $1.25 billion registered senior notes offering of Westinghouse Air Brake Technologies Corporation (“Wabtec”), one of the world’s largest providers of value‑added, technology‑based locomotives, equipment, systems and services for the global freight rail and passenger transit industries, and also serves customers in the mining, marine and industrial markets. Proceeds of the offering will be used to partially finance Wabtec’s acquisition of Evident Corporation’s Inspection Technologies division. The transaction closed on May 29, 2025.
Deals & Cases
May 07, 2025
On May 7, 2025, Costamare Inc. (“Costamare”) announced that it has completed the spin‑off of its dry bulk business into a standalone public company, Costamare Bulkers Holdings Limited (“Costamare Bulkers”). Each holder of Costamare common shares received one common share of Costamare Bulkers for every five Costamare common shares held as of the close of business on April 29, 2025. Cravath represented Costamare in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
March 21, 2025
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million fixed rate/floating rate senior notes offering of First Horizon Corporation, a holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The transaction closed on March 7, 2025.
Activities
February 28, 2025
On February 26, 2025, Cravath and Harvard Law School hosted a program to celebrate the work of the Cravath International Fellows, which was held in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 2006 by Cravath partners who are Harvard Law School alumni, under the leadership of the late Robert D. Joffe, the Cravath International Fellowships program provides financial assistance, including travel and living expenses, to students pursuing academic projects during their Winter Term with an international, transnational or comparative law focus. Approximately 12 Cravath International Fellowships are awarded annually.
Publications
January 22, 2025
On January 21, 2025, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “IRS Publishes Proposed Regulations to Expand Denial of Compensation Deduction Under Section 162(m).” The memo examines the Internal Revenue Service’s proposed regulations to expand the group of employees covered by Section 162(m), as required by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
Publications
August 22, 2024
On August 21, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “Texas Federal Court Invalidates FTC’s Noncompete Ban Nationwide.” The memo examines the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas’s recent opinion and order setting aside the Federal Trade Commission’s new final rule banning all noncompete agreements with employees and preventing its implementation nationwide.
Publications
April 25, 2024
On April 25, 2024, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “FTC Adopts Rule “Banning” Non‑Compete Clauses with Workers.” The memo examines the Federal Trade Commission’s recently adopted final rule broadly deeming non‑compete clauses with “workers” to be an “unfair method of competition” under Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act. The memo outlines how the final rule does not necessarily constitute a ban on non‑compete clauses, potential legal challenges to the final rule and expected future enforcement. The memo concludes with recommendations for companies to consider to ensure they are in position to adapt to the changing landscape.
Publications
November 13, 2023
On November 7, 2023, Cravath prepared a memo for its clients entitled “New York Passes Law Restricting Scope of Employee IP Assignment Agreements.” The memo examines the new Section 203-f of the New York Labor Law recently signed by Governor Hochul, which renders unenforceable assignment provisions with respect to certain inventions in employment agreements. The memo outlines what types of agreements the law renders unenforceable, its exceptions, the consequences of violating the law, notice requirements and next steps for employers to consider.
Celebrating 200 years of partnership. In 2019, we celebrated our bicentennial. Our history mirrors that of our nation. Integral to our story is our culture.
Attorney Advertising. ©2025 Cravath, Swaine & Moore LLP.