Osborne Clarke LLP

Covering early-stage investment rounds, high-value fundraisings, and complex funding rounds, the ‘impressive, knowledgeable, and detail-oriented’ Osborne Clarke LLP works with a global client roster. Especially renowned for its work in the life sciences, renewable energy, and financial services sectors, the team routinely acts on behalf of both investors and investees in pre-seed investments, as well as spinouts and exits. Based in Thames Valley, practice head Robert Wood covers all aspects of the venture and growth capital market. Reading-based Justin Starling is noted for his tech sector expertise, while Thames Valley-based Rob Hayes advises clients on buy-and-build strategies and M&A activity. From London, Mathias Loertscher primarily focuses on the media and communications industries, while Matthew Edwards concentrates on strategic transactions and exits. Bristol-based James Taylor regularly advises investors and management teams. The Reading-based Elizabeth Yell is also recommended.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

‘The entire VC team at OC is impressive, knowledgeable, detail oriented and a pleasure to work with. In addition to being excellent lawyers they are incredibly knowledgeable about the market, its key players and the relevant terms. They are our go-to firm for everything from investments to exits because they make a genuine effort to understand and get to know our team and our business (and the quirks to the way we need deals done) and implement all of that learning on every deal we do with them. Seriously impressive, and a skill that not a single other firm has managed.’
‘Rob Hayes is a partner who leads from the front and is genuinely over all the key details of every deal. Incredibly commercial and practical in getting the deal done. Quite simply, he's the best.'
'Elizabeth Yell is an incredibly talented rising star. A standout lawyer who is incredibly detail-oriented but still commercial and pragmatic in the way she leads deals. We always know we're in very safe hands with Elizabeth.’

Key clients

Highland Europe and Frog Capital
Highland Europe
Wesfarmers Limited
Jiminny
Advent Life Sciences
UCL Technology Fund
Optellum
Albion VCT
Nexeon
Econic
Spirea
IAG Silverstripe
MOV.IA
Turbine
Super Payments
Fintern
Basecamp Research
Business Growth Fund
Shareholders of Capdesk, including Fidelity International Strategic Investments

Work highlights

Advised Fintern on its consumer arm Abound, a personal lending start-up that uses artificial intelligence and Open Banking to provide more accurate and affordable loans, as it raises up to £500m.
Advised Brompton Bicycle on a £19m investment round led by BGF.
Advised Highland Europe on its lead investment in consumer technology brand, Nothing's US$96m fundraising round to scale its product and technology portfolio.