Catherine Williams

Catherine advises businesses on mergers, acquisitions, restructures, and management buyouts.

• Acted for large UK-based medtech company in the acquisition of French and Australian businesses.
• Acted for almost 20 years for a large international group (luxury refurb/construction) in multiple management buyouts.
• Acted for the shareholder of an organic cosmetic business in its corporate restructure.
• Advised the founders in the sale of shares in a UK IVF business to a Swedish listed company.
• Acted for a leading coffee chain from inception throughout bank financings and in its acquisition of a chain of coffee shops from an international chain.
• Acted for the venture arm of an international energy producer in the acquisition of a UK company.
• Acted for the management team of a national insurance group in the sale of the shares to a large Australian insurance group.
• Acted for institutional investors of a UK company in the sale of the shares to the UK arm of large telecoms company.
• Acted for the shareholders of a London coffee chain in the sale of shares to a US PE-backed coffee chain.

Catherine advises companies and investors on debt, equity, and private equity transactions.

• Acted for a Spanish space investor on their NSI clearance, corporate structure, and fundraising into a Cambridge spinout company.
• Advised the board of a Cambridge spinout company on follow-on fundraises.
• Acted for a UK EV charging company in its receipt of a large investment from the corporate venture arm of two international energy companies.
• Advised the board of a precision medicine company in various fundraises, bridge facilities, and acquisitions.
• Advised a large international medtech venture company on multiple investments into UK medtech companies.
• Acted for a publishing company in its Series A Fundraise.
• Acted for a celebrity-backed beauty business from incorporation and throughout various fundraises.
• Advised the founders of a venture-backed beauty business from incorporation to exit to a large high-street chain.
• Acted for the board of a production company from startup to exit, including advice on the shareholders’ agreement, the issues of shares, and growth shares to employees.
• Advised a large UK law firm on the acquisition of smaller specialist law firms.

Catherine drafts and negotiates joint ventures, and shareholder and partnership agreements, and advises clients on shareholder disputes.

• Advised on the establishment of a publishing joint venture.
• Advised the board of a consultancy company on a dispute with a shareholder.
• Acted for the boards of companies on removal of directors and shares of employees upon their departure.
• Advised on a complex shareholder agreement for a tech start-up involving multiple founders, institutional investors, and a growth share scheme.
• Advised a large construction company on the sale of shares by founders to EOT.
• Advised a large UK law firm (LLP) on the retirement of partners and amends to constitutional documents.

Catherine advises biotech and life science companies on acquisitions, financings, and restructurings.

• Advised the founders on the sale of shares in an IVF company to a Swedish listed company.
• Advised the board of precision medicine company on acquisitions, corporate governance, restructurings and financings.
• Advised the board of a healthtech company on multiple financings.
• Advised a large international medtech venture company on multiple investments into UK medtech companies.
• Advised the board of a biotech startup advancing research into MND.

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Venture Capital 2018–2026

Recognised by The Legal 500 for M&A: Smaller deals, up to £50M 2018–2023