Van Doorne

Corporate and M&A

Matthijs Driedonks is a partner in Van Doorne's Corporate M&A practice, focusing on complex Dutch and cross-border transactions in the upper mid-market. He has 20+ years of M&A experience across the full deal cycle: from structuring and negotiation through to signing and closing. Matthijs has a particular specialism in technology, digital infrastructure and tech-enabled businesses.

His technology sector work covers software, SaaS, digital platforms, fintech, AI-driven businesses, and cybersecurity. He acts for both strategic acquirers and financial sponsors on buy- and sell-side mandates, carve-outs, joint ventures, and management buy-outs. He is regularly instructed on cross-border transactions involving Dutch targets and outbound acquisitions, including deals subject to foreign direct investment screening and sector-specific regulatory clearances.

Representative matters include advising Currence iDEAL on the sale of the iDEAL payment platform — a landmark fintech transaction involving ABN AMRO, ING, and Rabobank as sellers and the European Payments Initiative (EPI) as buyer, which was awarded Best M&A Deal of the Year 2023 at the Dutch M&A Awards. Matthijs has also advised on transactions nominated for the same award in 2021 and 2022.

In the PE sector, Matthijs has worked with a range of PE firms.

Before joining Van Doorne, Matthijs spent 12 years in the international Corporate/M&A practice at Allen & Overy (now A&O Shearman) and eight years as a partner at HVG Law (EY Law), where he successfully built the Corporate M&A practice from the ground.

Dutch, English

Netherlands Bar Association (Nederlandse Orde van Advocaten) since 2004

Matthijs graduated from Utrecht University with an LL.M. in Dutch Law in 2004 and from Maastricht University with an MSc in International Business Studies in 2002.