Mr Thomas Colmer > Fieldfisher > London, England > Lawyer Profile

Fieldfisher
RIVERBANK HOUSE
2 SWAN LANE
LONDON
EC4R 3TT
England

Work Department

Corporate

Position

I am a Corporate transactional lawyer focussing on M&A, Private Equity, Venture Capital and Growth Equity deals.

I advise on legal aspects of deals: preparation, organisation, strategy, drafting, tactics, negotiating, reviewing, execution & completion of transactions.  My clients range from entrepreneurial founders, owner-managed or family businesses through to international corporate groups and financial investors.   I have particular experience in helping businesses internationalising (especially involving the US) or growing at pace, particularly where innovation or technology are involved, always with a focus on maximising value & managing risk.  I pride myself on providing timely, cost-effective, concise, pragmatic & robust legal advice in a commercial context that is of direct practical value delivered in a personable and dependable manner.  With +23 years of experience, I focus on:

M&A – buy & sell side mergers, acquisitions & disposals of shares, assets & businesses – involving strategic/trade, financial/PE & other buyers/sellers – both domestic & international (transatlantic & cross-border)

Emerging Companies & Venture Capital – fundraises, investments & strategic partnerships – especially Venture Capital, Growth Equity & Private Equity – from late seed, EIS/VCT, Series A, B, C & beyond to exit, including convertible loan notes, options, warrants & secondary sell downs

Legal Due Diligence, including vendor DD & vendor assistance, coordinating specialists across disciplines & territories

Joint Ventures & Shareholders’ Governance, including in a fundraising, family, disputes, real estate, market entry or succession context

Management Advisory & incentivisation plans, including growth shares

Equity Capital Markets transactions particularly on AIM, including initial public offerings (IPOs), private placements, rights issues and other secondary offerings

Carve Outs, Structuring & Reorganisations, including returns of capital, share exchanges, business transfers, demergers & corporate simplification

Career

I have worked:
* in large and mid market international law firms;
* in-house as GC & Head of M&A leading a multi-disciplinary team for a PE-backed global FinTech software vendor; and
* at a “Big 4” practice leading the UK Legal Deals and Private Business team.

I regularly project manage complex deals as transaction counsel even when there is no nexus to the UK & I’ve worked around the globe with an appreciation of local sensitivities.

Lawyer Rankings

London > Corporate and commercial > M&A: Lower Mid-Market Deals, £100m-£750m

Noted for its strength in the technology, life sciences, financial services, energy, and natural resources sectors, Fieldfisher frequently handles private equity, venture capital, and public M&A, as well as restructuring-related M&A and cross-border transactions. The team is jointly led by technology and fintech specialist Tim Bird, and financial services and life sciences expert Neil Matthews. Bird is noted for his experience leading on acquisitions and exits, with a focus on US and Japanese investment and private equity, while Matthews’ focus encompasses corporate finance, and public and private company fundraising. Thomas Colmer‘s workload encompasses private equity, venture capital, and growth equity deals, while Natalia Schuster advises clients on cross-border transactions, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures, and reorganisations. Other key figures include Nodir Sidikov, who is well regarded for his M&A, joint venture, and capital markets prowess, and Mark Walker noted for advising German and French clients on investments in the UK market.

London > Corporate and commercial > Venture capital

Praised for its commitment to securing the ‘utmost best outcome for the client in a timely fashion‘, the team at Fieldfisher has extensive expertise in the tech, media, and life sciences spheres, regularly assisting with all stages of venture capital financing work. Co-headed by the ‘incredible’ Tom Ward in Manchester, and the ‘exceptional leaderThomas Colmer in London, the duo specialise in private equity transactions, strategic investments, and complex funding rounds. Janita Good is knowledgeable in joint ventures and cross-border M&A, while the ‘exceptional’ Manchester-based Andrew Oliver is also recommended.