Paul RajputPartner

I specialise in:

• corporate advisory;
• growth, venture & private equity capital (from both an investor and investee perspective);
• mergers & acquisitions (from both a buyer and seller perspective);
• shareholder & joint venture arrangements.

Throughout my career I have worked with clients across a variety of industry sectors, but have significant expertise in the advertising & marketing, media & entertainment, technology and real estate & development sectors, acting in a range of transactions and working with clients through the lifecycle of their business from formation to exit. I act for some of the world’s largest names in advertising & marketing, media, mobile and digital/online.

I am described in Legal 500 as an ‘outstanding legal adviser’, 'extremely skilled', ‘fantastic’ and as being 'creative', ‘pragmatic’ and ‘reliable’.

I’ve had the following recommendation from one very longstanding global multinational client for whom I have acted on over a dozen M&A transactions: “Paul is an outstanding lawyer. He will think ahead of his peers on the other side and even ahead of his clients. He will come up with creative and elegant solutions to help negotiations move forward. He has an intimate knowledge of the law and at the same time a pragmatic approach to solving commercial, legal and tax issues.” 

Corporate

Mergers and Acquisitions

My main area of focus is advising clients on the sale and purchase of businesses and companies, acting on all sides of merger & acquisition transactions but with greater experience of acting for buyers. I regularly act for buyers of businesses on acquisitions with complex earn-out and retention arrangements. I have advised companies when buying assets or shares and companies selling businesses to trade buyers, financial buyers and management teams. I have also advised management teams and purchasers in management buy-out transactions. Many of the transactions I advise on are in the advertising & marketing, media & entertainment and related technology sectors. For many years, I have been the principal legal adviser for two of the world’s largest advertising & marketing networks advising on all of their UK merger & acquisition activity.

I’ve had the following recommendation from a client: “Paul is an invaluable partner in the company acquisition process, he is both technically and legally spot on, and is also very commercially astute. We don't talk to potential acquisitions without involving Paul in the process. His interpersonal skills make the process so much smoother.”

Corporate Advisory

I act for corporations in advising them on their statutory and constitutional liabilities and obligations and individuals on the appropriate structure, constitutional and contractual framework for their businesses. This includes drafting and settling bespoke constitutions and arrangements between shareholders, partners or LLP members which are appropriate for the business as it is and how the parties plan to develop and grow it. Further, I advise on shareholder disputes between individual shareholders working in conjunction with my colleagues in our dispute resolution team, to devise solutions such as staged exits and share buy-backs.

I’ve had the following recommendation from a client: “Paul is an enormously experienced and pragmatic advisor, who brings a wealth of strategic as well as legal input to the matters on which he advises. His support and flexibility is always valued, and I would have no hesitation in recommending him to others seeking corporate advice.”

Advertising & Marketing

I am a core member of the Advertising & Marketing sector focus group. I act for two of the world’s largest advertising & marketing networks advising on all of their UK merger & acquisition and corporate activity as well as acting for the individual agencies within such networks and independent agencies in traditional advertising, PR, design, digital and social media agencies. Apart from ongoing merger & acquisition activity, projects with clients in this sector include group re-organisations, joint ventures, start-ups and equity/debt investments.

I’ve had the following recommendation from a client: “Paul has been the Partner at Lewis Silkin responsible for the majority of our legal needs. In particular he oversaw our management buy-out. The work he has done has been faultlessly delivered with great efficiency. Paul has an easy to work with style. He is careful to explain in a way we all understand. He has a very good understanding of the advertising & marketing sector and so has no trouble dealing with creative types! He works hard at maintaining a great relationship with us and I would recommend him without hesitation.”

Technology

I am a member of the Technology sector focus group with particular expertise in innovative technology solutions, and advertising & marketing technology across all digital platforms. I have an additional focus on early stage and growth companies, helping with deal structures and preparing businesses for investment and exit.

I’ve had the following recommendation from a client: “Paul is commercially astute and has over the years proven to be a highly responsive and trusted advisor to me. Paul’s support has helped me build my advertising and technology businesses from start-up to fast growth. Paul’s practical and down-to-earth approach makes him a pleasure to work with. His advice on M&A transactions, structuring and strategic planning is always given with a real appreciation of our wider business objectives. Furthermore, Paul is always willing to go the extra mile. Paul would be an asset to any entrepreneur and is also a lovely chap to boot.”