Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP maintains a strong offering in venture capital, working with a growing roster of tech and life sciences companies. Will Axtell is capable of managing multi-faceted and high-value mandates, with a particular specialism in M&A, venture capital funding rounds and spin-outs, while James Went is noted for his prowess in the realm of corporate transactions. Venture capital expert Kathy Potter further enhances the firm’s bench offering, and Dominique Sabatini holds a wealth of experience in spin-out and venture capital matters.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘This team is really proactive as well as responsive. They are very thorough and work as a team really well.’

  • ‘Will Axtell stands out as someone very commercial and very helpful.’

  • ‘The Penningtons Manches Cooper team advised us across a particularly time-critical M&A transaction with their characteristic aplomb and professionalism, helping our board and stakeholders to understand options, legal ramifications, and pitfalls.'

  • ‘Will Axtell leads a team who are very familiar indeed with the M&A process and all the complexities that can arise. In a time-constrained transaction, Will and colleagues did not miss a beat.’

  • ‘Penningtons Manches Cooper have been very helpful and understanding of our business position and provided excellent service and advice.’

  • ‘The team has built a longstanding relationship with us which brings significant advantages: instructions are quick and seamless, and advice is tailored to our circumstances. ’

  • ‘James Went is cool-headed and pragmatic, knowing when to push on negotiations and when to accept counter-proposals.'

  • ‘Speed of response and attentiveness of all staff is exceptional. Very engaging and prepared to offer a commercial view as well as the expected legal opinion.'

Key clients

  • Torpedo Factory Group
  • Cibus Fund
  • Echo Healthcare Inc
  • Elis UK
  • Tibbetts Group
  • Shareholders of Industrial Visions Systems
  • Shareholders of Oxlid
  • The Smithers Group Inc.
  • Stannah Lifts
  • Evotec
  • Oxford University Press
  • OrganOx
  • Open Cosmos
  • Pulsiv Ltd
  • Pictura Bio
  • SPARTA Biodiscovery
  • MitoRx Therapeutics
  • Go Assistive Technology
  • Myricx Pharma Limited
  • Deep Planet Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised leading medical technology company OrganOx, on a £25m growth round led by Lauxera Capital Partners.
  • Advised the shareholders of battery technology developer OXLiD on its acquisition by AIM listed Anglo-Australian battery innovator, Gelion.
  • Advised satellite technology company Open Cosmos on its $50m Series B funding round lead by leading impact investors, Trill Impact, A&G and ETF partners.

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Matthew Martin

Other key lawyers

James Went, Will Axtell, Kathy Potter, Dominique Sabatini