Clarkslegal LLP

Corporate and Commercial

Ashan Arif is head of corporate and commercial team and Director of forburyTECH, a tech start-up advisory of Clarkslegal.

Ashan provides corporate, company and banking advice to a wide range of businesses including start-ups, owner-managed businesses, SMEs and large listed corporates.

His expertise includes mergers & acquisitions, private equity, corporate, investments, restructurings, asset and business transfers, joint ventures, commercial agreements, banking, finance, alternative finance, fund raisings, general company and corporate matters.

Ashan acts for clients from across a range of sectors with a particular focus on the technology, media & entertainment, motor and hotel industries.

Experience

Start ups, university spin-outs and early stage

Ashan advises start-ups, mainly in the technology sector, university spin-outs and early stage companies, finding ways to help grow the business quickly and efficiently through Clarkslegal’s relationships with investors and financiers.

Mergers, acquisitions and disposals

Ashan regularly advises clients on mergers, acquisitions and disposals, including management buy-outs and buy-ins, advising clients from a commercial and strategic perspective, as well as legal, getting involved in transactions as early as possible.

Fundraising – angels, private equity, venture capital

Ashan has extensive experience and understanding of raising equity finance, from angel investment, private equity or venture capital.

Owner managers

Ashan regularly acts for exiting owner managers and shareholders of SMEs on the sale of their company.

Banking and finance

Advises clients on debt finance and related security documentation, whether as part of a corporate transaction or a stand-alone financing. This includes advising on loan agreements, debentures, charges, guarantees and other forms of security as well as satisfying the lender’s requirements, and Islamic Finance.

Reorganisations and demergers

Ashan works closely with the client’s accountants and tax advisers during the reorganisation of a company, group of companies or a specific part of their business.

Business divorce

Ashan has advised numerous clients on successfully settling shareholder disputes aiming to preserve the integrity of the ongoing business.

Shareholders’ agreements and joint ventures

Ashan regularly advises on shareholders’ agreements and joint venture arrangements, helping clients to understand the importance of documenting key issues governing the relationships of the parties.