The ‘highly responsive’ team at Osborne Clarke LLP provides a ‘very efficient, pragmatic and cost-effective service’ to investors and investees seeking or providing financing at an early through to late stage of the investment cycle. Its longstanding presence in the market, particularly as it relates to technology and life science spin-outs, scale-ups and exits, ensures that it is able to provide ’an excellent balance between legal and commercial expertise’, while its international footprint enables the team to excel in multi-jurisdictional mandates. ‘Intelligent’ Reading-based team head Robert Wood deploys ’great organisational and legal skills’ to good effect for funds and companies, particularly on later stage mandates often involving investor syndicates. Leveraging his broader corporate/M&A capabilities to good effect, London-based Mathias Loertscher is a popular choice among tech-focused companies on Seed and Series A financing, as well as on investment later in the growth curve – to include advise to shareholders on exit strategies. The ‘brilliant’ Rob Hayes displays a ’very calm’ demeanour with a particular focus and expertise in working with high growth businesses and institutional investors in the technology and life sciences sectors. Justin Starling has a strong grounding in the life sciences and healthcare sector, utilising this very capably on pure venture capital deals, as well as for university spin-outs seeking to commercialise their innovations. ‘Superstar’ associate director Elizabeth Yell continues to gain market traction and is a firm favourite for both institutional investors and venture-backed companies as a result of her ’incredible eye for detail whilst having the skills to drive and manage everything’. All partners are based in Reading, unless otherwise indicated.
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'It is a responsive team that is thoughtful and knowledgeable.'
- 'They are experts in technology and life science spin-outs, scale-ups and exits.'
- 'They provide an excellent balance between legal and commercial expertise.'
- 'It is a highly responsive team, who all work well in the same direction to provide a very efficient, very pragmatic and cost-effective service.'
- 'Robert Wood - intelligent, completely on top of things, great organisational and legal skills.'
- 'Rob Hayes is very calm and in charge throughout. A brilliant lawyer who I am always happy to instruct on deals.'
- 'Elizabeth Yell is a superstar who is always across every bit of detail on a deal. She has an incredible eye for detail whilst having the skills to drive and manage everything.'
- 'Robert Pook - gets the job done every time.'
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
Lawyers
Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Robert Wood