Matthew E. Waters

Matthew E. Waters is a general corporate and transactional attorney who represents clients across settings and industries. He advises businesses and individuals on acquisitions, divestitures, commercial finance, real estate transactions, partnership governance, healthcare matters, cannabis matters, private equity investments, and small and medium-sized business concerns in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Matthew earned a J.D. from Boston University School of Law in 2012, an M.A. from Columbia University in 2008, and a B.A., cum laude, from The George Washington University in 2002. His education supports his work in business, corporate, public finance, venture capital, mergers, acquisitions, tax, and real estate matters.

Matthew works with clients in healthcare, medical device, dental, software, cannabis, maritime, nonprofit, and real estate matters. He has represented purchasers, sellers, owners, borrowers, and organizations in acquisitions, practice sales, financings, convertible notes, governance matters, partner redemptions, bankruptcy-related facility acquisitions, and court-sponsored dissolution proceedings in complex regulated industries and transactions.

Matthew previously worked as an attorney for the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. He also handled international shipping disputes for a law firm in Seoul, South Korea. Earlier, he served as a judicial law clerk to the Justices of the Rhode Island Superior Court during the 2012-2013 term.

Matthew earned honors. Legal 500 named him US Elite: New England, 2026, Corporate M&A. Best Lawyers selected him as Ones to Watch, 2021 to 2026, in Corporate Law and Public Finance Law. He received Rhode Island Monthly’s Professional Excellence Award and was a Rhode Island Rising Star from 2015 to 2023.

Matthew E. Waters represents clients in business and corporate, public finance, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, commercial finance, real estate, tax, maritime law, cannabis, and health care matters. He drafts local counsel legal opinions for financings secured by Rhode Island real estate and advises on alternative investments and joint ventures.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, Adler Pollock & Sheehan P.C.
• Member, Rhode Island Bar Association
• Member, Maritime Law Association of the United States

Licensed State

• Rhode Island
• Massachusetts
• New York

EducationThe

• Boston University School of Law
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Columbia University
  Master of Arts (MA)
• The George Washington University
  Bachelor of Arts (BA)

Awards & Badges