About

I am a London-based corporate lawyer with a focus on M&A and fundraising, predominantly in the technology sector, but across many others as well. I work closely with founders, boards, owners and investors in executing growth strategies and supporting clients across all legal aspects of both the day-to-day business and the big impact events. Many of my clients are non-UK businesses expanding their business or their investment portfolios in the UK / Europe and I am experienced in advising clients who are doing their first deals in the jurisdiction. I also advise regularly on significant board and shareholder issues with a focus on avoidance or fast tactical resolution.

Away from corporate law I am also the Chair of the firm's Responsible Business group, a role I have proudly held since 2015. This is a real passion, ask me about it only if you have a spare hour.

Experience

Mergers & acquisitions

  • Acting for large UK and international businesses on the execution of the acquisition element of their growth strategies
  • Acting for sellers (often founders, owner-managers or families) on the disposal of their shares to
  • Acting for management teams, sellers or investors on management buy outs / MBOs
  • Acting for investee companies taking equity, quasi-equity and debt investment from individual investors, HNW investors, family offices and institutional investors

Private equity & venture capital

  • Acting for investors and investees alike on transactions at all stages of investment from seed through to exit
  • Acting for non-UK investors investing into the UK / Europe

Board and shareholder issues

  • Advising boards, shareholders or individual directors in relation to boardroom or shareholder tensions, in particular how to navigate these issues swiftly without eroding company value

Corporate

  • Group restructuring (distressed or otherwise)
  • Share capital restructuring
  • Share buybacks
  • Founder exits
  • Shareholder agreements
  • Share incentivisation

Testimonials

"Sam Pennington and Sadiq Tajbhai are gold dust on any transaction - they go over and beyond to ensure our in-house legal team is supported, but also our finance and corporate development teams. The level of service and advice they have given means they are trusted by our key stakeholders."
Legal 500

Services

Sectors