Matt Friendly
Associate
Office: Miami
Years at Firm: 5
What is your favorite part about practicing health care law?
I appreciate that health care is constantly evolving and changing. While the vastness of the field can be intimidating for some, it provides career-making opportunities to gain experience in a sub-specialty and build a reputation within that space. I am also grateful for the heavy volume of deal activity in health care – with no signs of slowing down – which presents constant opportunities to learn, grow and support clients who are shaping the health care landscape.
What is the biggest opportunity and greatest challenge facing clients in your area of focus today?
The greatest opportunity for many of our clients is selling their business or portfolio company at a time when the market is ripe for health care acquisitions, with valuations trending upwards and buyers with tremendous amounts of capital to deploy. This dealmaking climate presents a challenge for our clients who must determine how to make smart health care investments and navigate a complex regulatory framework once they own the company. That’s where McDermott comes in – our team is experienced in getting deals done and providing creative, business-focused solutions at every stage of the transaction process.
Who is your favorite health care leader or influencer to read, watch or follow and why?
Physical health and mental health are key components of health care. There is currently a lot of attention on physical and mental wellbeing in law firms and I try to prioritize both to perform at my best in both law and life. On the physical health side is David Goggins, a retired Navy SEAL and current ultra-endurance athlete, whose videos and talks inspired me to get in shape and start training during law school. On the mental health side, I strongly recommend Sam Harris‘ meditation app “Waking Up,” which has become the most valuable 10-15 minutes of my day.
What is the proudest moment of your career to date?
I remember the joy I felt getting an offer to be a summer associate at McDermott in 2012 and I maintain that sense of immense pride every day that I get to practice here as a member of an industry-leading health care team. As for individual moments, I feel proudest every year when I receive positive feedback from clients and guests that attend our Health Care Services Private Equity Symposium (HPE) in Miami, an event that I have helped organize since starting at McDermott and which has grown every year. It felt incredibly gratifying to hear one of our biggest clients say at this year’s event that HPE and the JPMorgan Health Care Conference have become the two highlights of their networking calendars.
Do you have any volunteer or pro bono work you focus on?
My pro bono work focuses on helping students and young people navigate education and challenges they may be facing in their lives. I lead our Miami office’s efforts with an after-school program called “All-Aboard” at Comstock Elementary School in Allapattah, Florida, where we organize and volunteer at events for the students. Recent events have included a back-to-school supply drive, a Halloween party and a toy drive/holiday party. This past school year we also donated spare computers to create a “McDermott Computer Lab” at the school. I also volunteer with Lawyers for Children America, where I mentor my pro bono client, a 14 year old foster child, and help him navigate through the foster system. I thank McDermott for encouraging us to contribute to these efforts.
