Matthew Syken | Real-World Insights for General CounselWelcome to the informational blog of Matthew Syken — a seasoned corporate and securities attorney who has served as General Counsel to multiple companies, been nominated three times for General Counsel of the Year in Southern California, and has been featured in The New York Times. Drawing on more than two decades of experience — from advising FINRA-registered broker-dealers on Wall Street to representing startups and established companies across California and Texas — this site offers practical, founder-focused perspectives on the real-world challenges today’s General Counsel face. No legal advice, just honest conversation about mergers, fundraising, contracts, governance, and the business of being a lawyer. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn →
This blog is written for in-house counsel, General Counsel, legal ops professionals, startup founders, and business executives who want unfiltered, practical perspectives on the corporate legal role. Whether you’re a first-time GC at a fast-growing company or a seasoned leader navigating M&A and fundraising, you’ll find real-world discussions—not legal advice or sales pitches—covering board governance, contract strategy, outside counsel management, and the business side of law.
Matthew Syken is a corporate and securities attorney with over twenty years of experience. He started on Wall Street advising FINRA-registered broker-dealers and high-net-worth individuals, later serving as a FINRA Arbitrator. Now practicing in California and Texas, Matthew has served as General Counsel to multiple companies across hospitality, manufacturing, and financial services. He has co-founded several businesses, taught in the University of California system, and been nominated three times for General Counsel of the Year in Southern California.
Matthew Syken earned his Juris Doctor from the University of Notre Dame – Touro Law School, an MBA (thesis pending) from Johns Hopkins University’s Carey Business School, and a B.A. from Northeastern University (MMC-NYU). He is admitted to practice law in California, Texas, and New York, and holds active memberships in the Orange County (CA) Bar Association and the Collin County (TX) Bar Association. His professional recognition includes three nominations for General Counsel of the Year in Southern California, a feature in The New York Times for his legal work, and past service as a board member for a major fast‑casual restaurant group. Connect with Matthew on LinkedIn here:
A General Corporate Counsel sits at the intersection of law and business strategy, far more than a legal gatekeeper. From overseeing mergers, private placements, and capitalization structures to negotiating commercial leases, operating agreements, and complex contracts, the GC role spans hospitality, manufacturing, financial services, and beyond. This blog explores those responsibilities—including fundraising, asset sales, board dynamics, and the practical realities of being the company’s trusted legal leader—without offering legal advice or creating an attorney-client relationship.
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