Corporate, Commercial & Finance

We specialise in acting for entrepreneurs, owner managed businesses (OMBs) and investors. We advise in relation to corporate transactions, banking, financing, commercial contracts and on all aspects of running and growing a business in the UK. Our lawyers combine strong technical expertise with a track record in delivering flexible and creative solutions for our clients.
 

Much of our advice is for early stage companies and startups in the technology and media sectors or for those investing in such entities. We host and sponsor Angel Academe, an award-winning network of angel investors whose members are mainly women, which primarily invests in UK businesses led by women.

We also work closely with our Real Estate team to advise those investing in or developing commercial property on all of their financing, banking and related security issues.

Startup investments

We act for startup companies, as well as for those VCs, angel syndicates and individual angels making investments. We have particular experience of acting for founders: not only in terms of guiding them through the investment process, but also in resolving problems which may have arisen in earlier rounds. Read more about how we help startups.

Commercial and Technology contracts, outsourcing and data

With backgrounds in private practice and senior in-house counsel roles, our seasoned commercial, technology, outsourcing and data lawyers work with businesses of all shapes and sizes, from SMEs to blue chip companies, helping them to navigate complex legal and regulatory challenges with confidence. Find out more by reading our Commercial & Technology Contracts, Outsourcing & Data page.

Banking and Finance

Our banking and financing advice is primarily to entrepreneurs, owner managed businesses and funds on the borrower side, though we also advise a number of smaller banks. We also advise on any related security, and in relation to acquisition finance, the leveraged loan market, and development/real estate finance.  Read more about how we can advise on banking and finance.

Mergers and acquisitions

• Buying Another Business
• Selling Your Business

CAPITAL MARKETS

Our capital markets experience is primarily advising small and mid-cap companies listed on AIM, the standard segment of the Official List and the Aquis Exchange, and advising other market players such as Nomads, corporate advisers and brokers. We focus on ensuring that your transaction is completed on time and on budget, so that you can focus on the continuing success of your business. Read more about our capital markets service.

Setting Up Your Company or LLP

We will help you to take the necessary steps to establish your business in the UK, whether you wish to set up a new venture or expand an overseas operation. Our business services teams work closely with other specialists to take care of all your initial and ongoing legal and operational needs, allowing you to focus on selling your products or services. Read more about how we can help you set up your company or LLP.

Our Recent Work

Startup Investments

• Acting for a social impact startup on a £500,000 equity raise 
• Advising a data tech startup on a £400,000 investment via advance subscription agreements
• Advising a social impact startup on a £150,000 raise, via advance subscription agreements 
• Advising a construction tech startup on a £1.3m investment from VCs and angel investors 
• Acting on a $30m investment into a tech and digital investment company 
• Advising a wellness tech startup on a £350,000 follow-on fundraise from angel investors 
• Advising a health tech startup on a £100,000 equity fundraise 
• Advising a tech startup on a £1.3m follow-on fundraise from angel investors 
• Advising a startup in the retail space on a £450,000 investment from angel and strategic investors 
• Advising a startup in the retail space on a £3.5m follow up investment from a VC via a convertible loan note 
• Advising a wellness tech startup on a £350,000 equity fundraise from a VC 
• Advising Hambleden Capital LLP on its co-investment into Titan Wealth Holdings Ltd to fund its proposed acquisitions of Tavistock Wealth Ltd and Global Prime Partners Ltd
• Advising a family investment company on its £3.5m co-investment into a new wealth and asset management group to fund its various acquisitions
• Advising the founder of a mental health tech startup on his exit from the company and, in particular, the sale of his shares to the  existing VC investors 
• Advising a tech startup on a £1m follow-on fundraise from angel investors 
• Advising a retail investor on a £7.5m investment into a wearable technology business 
• Advising an AI startup on the exit of 2 shareholders and a follow-on raise via convertible loan notes 
• Advising an online marketplace on a bridging round 
• Advising a tech startup on a follow-on equity round 
• Advising a vegan foods startup on an £800k follow-on investment from a VC
• Advising a venture capital company on a £1m investment into a deep-tech startup 
• Advising a venture capital company on an investment into a software startup 
• Advising a startup in the wellbeing space on a strategic partnership 
• Advising an e-commerce startup on its equity seed round 
• Advising an angel investor on a convertible loan investment into a immunotherapy and vaccine high-growth company 

Technology

• Drafting a collaboration agreement and a related privacy notice for a medtech startup in relation to the pilot of its digital platform to support a GP surgery’s patients with their treatment of certain long term illnesses 
• Drafting account terms and conditions for a reputable foreign currency exchange service provider for use with its customer base of individuals, SMEs, large financial institutions and FTSE listed companies 
• Drafting a software as a service (“SaaS”) subscription agreement for a tech company that supplies outsourced business support software together with a privacy notice, cookie policy and website terms of use 
• Advising a software developer on the terms of use for its visual artificial intelligence app 
• Drafting terms and conditions relating to a client’s online auction of digital art NFTs 
• Advising an eco-friendly logistics company on the drafting of its fulfilment terms and conditions and preparing new online platform terms of use, an API licence agreement and website notices including a GDPR compliant privacy policy 
• Advising a cloud computing software developer on software licence and maintenance agreements and consultancy services terms 
• Advising a motor dealership group on its digital transformation programme, in particular advising on the terms of an agile software development agreement in relation to a new e-commerce platform 
• Advising executive board members of a digital advertising business in connection with its admission to trading on AIM 
• Advising the founder of a mental health tech startup on his exit from the company and, in particular, the sale of his shares to the  existing VC investors 
• Advised a smart city as a service technology firm on the terms of a software as a service subscription agreement for interactive transport facilities
• Advising a tech startup on a £1m follow-on fundraise from angel investors 
• Advising a retail investor on a £7.5m investment into a wearable technology business 
• Advised a fire risk assessment technology firm on the preparation of its terms of service for business customers (B2B) together with its app terms of use and an online privacy policy and other legal notices 
• Drafted consumer facing (B2C) terms of use and business facing (B2B) terms of service for operators to be listed on a luxury travel booking platform together with associated website notices 
• Advising an AI startup on the exit of 2 shareholders and a follow-on raise via convertible loan notes 
• Advising an online marketplace on a bridging round 
• Advising an IT managed-services provider on a virtual server hosting arrangement with a key client 
• Advising a tech startup on a follow-on equity round 
• Advising a venture capital company on a £1m investment into a deep-tech startup 
• Advising a venture capital company on an investment into a software startup 
• Advising an e-commerce startup on its equity seed round 
• Advising an angel investor on a convertible loan investment into a immunotherapy and vaccine high-growth company 
• Advising the sellers of an edtech startup on the sale of the business 

Banking and Finance

• We worked alongside our property and tax colleagues in connection with acting for two Jersey incorporated borrowers (ultimately owned and controlled by an ultra-high net worth tech entrepreneur) in relation to the £25,000,000 acquisition financing of super prime property in London 
• Advising a borrower on its £25m acquisition finance relating to the purchase of a PRS portfolio 
• Advising an alternative lender on its warehousing facility with a financial institution 
• Advising a borrower on its £143m loan extension secured on super-prime property in London
• Acting for the borrower in relation to a £1.38m acquisition finance transaction in relation to the purchase of commercial property in north west London
• Acting for the lender in relation to a £1.1m loan for the purpose of purchasing a hotel in Norwich
• Acting for a residential investment company in connection with the restructuring of its intra-group facilities across fifteen of its group entities 
• Acting for an alternative lender in relation to a development bridging facility secured on a mixed use development site on the South Coast 
• Advising a developer on its £14m development facility for a mixed use scheme in London with an international bank 
• Advising a lender on its loan-on-loan facilities with a UK challenger bank 
• Advising a property development company in relation to its acquisition of a prime site in London for residential development 
• Acting for an alternative lender in relation to the provision of working capital facilities secured on a portfolio of residential care homes owned by a private equity fund 
• Acting for three offshore borrowers ultimately controlled by an Ultra High Net Worth family in relation to the £40m refinance of four super-prime properties in and around London 
• Advising a Private Family Office on its £143m multi-currency facility with an alternative lender secured on luxury real estate assets in the US, UK and Europe 

Corporate Transactions

• Acting for a buyer on the purchase of funeral services businesses 
• Acting for two of the founders on the establishment of an art advisory joint venture
• Advised the administrators of an authorship and publication business on the pre-pack sale of the company’s assets 
• Advised the administrators of a cloud platform communication service provider on the sale of the company’s assets 
• Acting for the buyer on the acquisition of a financial services business 
• Acting on a purchase of business and assets out of a company in administration 
• Advised on a founder exit and subsequent restructure 
• Advised on the reconstruction of a family business with various assets 
• Acting for the sellers on a sale of a digital marketing company for £6.2m 
• Acting for a co-founder on the buyout of a commercial property business 
• Acting for the buyer on the purchase of an accounting and tax advisory firm 
• Acted for the buyer on the purchase of a media business 
• Advised on acquisitions of professional services firms and the reorganisation of various UK entities 
• Acting for a substantial family-owned property investment and development company in connection with the £20,000,000 re-finance of part of its residential property portfolio in London with a high street lender 
• Acting for an alternative lender in connection with funding the acquisition of a purpose built student accommodation block in Greater London and taking additional security over a high value Central London HMO 
• Advising shareholders on a €6.4million buyback of their shares 
• Acting for an alternative lender on the acquisition financing of a country house hotel in the Midlands
• Acting for the sellers on the sale of a property development company for £2.5m 
• Acting for a startup on a acquisition of its tech by a fintech company 
• Acting for the administrators of a confectionary company in relation to a pre-pack sale of the company's business and assets 
• Acting for the liquidators of a company in relation to the sale of the company’s assets 
• Acting for the seller on the sale of web game to a listed company 
• Acting for a family office on its £15m sale of hotel interests 
• Acting for the founders on a $20m sale of a technology business to a listed company 
• Acting for the parent company in a reorganisation of its UK entities 
• Advising the shareholders of Plasma App Limited in relation to its sale to Meta Materials Inc, a NASDAQ listed company, for all-share consideration of US$20m 
• Acting for Bloc Ventures Limited on the sale of Marmalade Game Studio to LDC
• Acting on the corporate acquisition of a super-prime property in Kensington
• Acting on the corporate sale of One Palace Green
• Advising a hospitality business in connection with resolving a shareholder dispute 
• Advising the sellers on the sale of a waste transfer station and skip hire business 
• Advising Feralco AB on its acquisition of Venator Wasserchemie GmbH, the German water treatment chemicals business, from Venator Materials plc 
• Advising Frank Hirth plc on the sale of its business and assets to Ernst & Young Services Limited 
• Advising the shareholders of a fitness business on a sale of the company 
• Advising on a £6m sale of interests in a business specialising in PE fund administration and depositary services
• Advising on the circa £8.5m sale of the entire issued share capital of a SPV holding land in London, to a housing association 
• Advising on the acquisition of an insurance company based in the US 
• Advising the administrators of a UK-based audio distribution company on the disposal of certain company assets 
• Advising the sellers of an edtech startup on the sale of the business 
• Advising the founders on the sale of a accountancy business 
• Advising a family office on its £45m purchase of an Isle of Man-incorporated SPV, holding a commercial property in Central London 

Commercial and Contractual

• Advising a top 20 accountancy firm on its client terms of business and data privacy notice
• Advising an entrepreneur on the terms of an introducer agreement with a leading independent energy trading company operating in the Mediterranean region 
• Advising a high profile sportsman on an ongoing basis on various endorsement and sponsorship agreements, including those relating to the endorsement of:
  • a provider of nutritional supplements and   
  • an online education platform  and
  • an energy sports drink brand 
  • a sponsorship agreement with a producer of plant-based foods 
• Advised a smart city as a service technology firm on the terms of a software as a service subscription agreement for interactive transport facilities 
• Drafted a copyright licence agreement between a consumer goods retailer and an artist for the use of imagery on certain licensed products 
• Advised a fire risk assessment technology firm on the preparation of its terms of service for business customers (B2B) together with its app terms of use and an online privacy policy and other legal notices 
• Drafted consumer facing (B2C) terms of use and business facing (B2B) terms of service for operators to be listed on a luxury travel booking platform together with associated website notices
• Advising a lottery operator on its proposed postal direct marketing campaign, focussing on compliance with the UK GDPR 
• Advising an IT managed-services provider on a virtual server hosting arrangement with a key client

Capital Markets

• Advising Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited, the broker, in relation to a three-phase placing for DeepVerge plc 
• Advising Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Limited, the broker, in relation to a cash-box placing for Ironveld plc
• Advising Peterhouse Capital Limited on a placing agreement in relation to a reverse takeover  of East Star Resources plc and connected fundraising 
• Advising Vector Capital plc on its secondary fundraising by way of placing 
• Advising executive board members of a digital advertising business in connection with its admission to trading on AIM
• Advising Peterhouse Capital Limited in relation to a placing agreement in connection with the reverse takeover of Spinnaker Opportunities Limited by Kanabo Research Limited 
• Advising Wildcat Petroleum Limited on its admission to the Official List and to trading on the Standard Segment of the London Stock Exchange 
• Advising Vector Capital plc on its admission to trading on AIM 
• Advising a director of a public company operating in the cladding industry on his duties