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Charles Frank

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

charles.frank@keystonelaw.co.uk

“Charles Frank is an incredible person to have on the team. His knowledge of fundraising and venture is second to none. I always feel very confident in any advice he provides; I know all of the information and can make an informed decision.”

- The Legal 500 2025

Charles is an experienced corporate lawyer who advises businesses, shareholders, directors and investors. His specialisms include mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital transactions, reorganisations and joint ventures. Charles also regularly advises on non-transactional matters, such as shareholder/partnership agreements, business succession and a wide range of commercial agreements.

Charles’ clients range from start-ups to listed companies and he often advises clients who are based outside the UK.

Expertise

Charles advises on private equity and venture capital transactions, including investments, management buy-outs/-ins, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements, ensuring smooth deals and effective business growth strategies.

Experience

  • Advised The Nue Co on a £18 million Series B investment by Pamoja Capital.
  • Advised R.A.D Future on a venture capital investment by an ultra-high-net-worth family office, and related changes to its ownership and control structure.
  • Advised Delta.g, a developer of quantum sensors, on a  £4.6M equity funding investment led by Serendipity Capital.
  • Advised Kelpi, a sustainable packaging innovator, on a c£4.5M equity funding investment led by Blackfinch Ventures.
  • Advised Fyxer AI, an AI-powered digital assistant, on implementing a Delaware flip.
  • Advised senior management on its participation in a £30 million investment by Horizon. Capital in Ascent Software and TechHuddle. Also advised the Ascent Software owners on a sale of their shares into the ongoing trading group.
  • Advised a market-leading luxury brands recruitment business on a private equity fundraising.
  • Advised VFX Financial PLC on a significant new investment from a private investor to accelerate expansion plans.
  • Advised Luxury Promise, an online marketplace for luxury accessories, on its Series A fundraise.
  • Advised a regulated business-to-business SME lender on an equity/debt fundraising.
  • Advised several businesses on the negotiation and implementation of convertible loans, as well as their shareholder documents and secondary share sales.
  • Advised several businesses on the negotiation and implementation of advance subscription agreements.
  • Advised several businesses on the implementation of SEIS for founder shareholders.
  • Advised several businesses on the implementation of share option schemes.

Charles specialises in mergers and acquisitions, business reorganisations, and business succession planning.

Experience

  • Advised the founding shareholders of Realfin on its sale to With Intelligence.
  • Advised the purchaser of a majority equity stake in a well-known fast-food chain (confidential).
  • Advising the purchaser of an international drinks manufacturing and distribution business.
  • Advising the purchaser of a renewable energy business in the UK.
  • Advising the purchaser of an energy supply business in the UK.
  • Advising the purchaser of a high-value commercial property in London that is held in an SPV.
  • Advised the owners of Bright Cloud, a leading provider of contact centre and CX platforms services in the UK, on its sale to Gamma Telecom, a business listed on the UK’s AIM market
  • Advised the founding shareholders of Alaco Limited on its sale to Sigma 7.
  • Advised shareholders in toucanBox on its sale to Sandbox & Co.
  • Advised First Payment Merchant Services on its sale to the UK’s largest payments company, DNA Payments.
  • Advised the founding shareholders of BEP Systems on its acquisition by finova.
  • Advised an ultra-high-net-worth client on the purchase of a >£100M London residential property, via an acquisition of its holding company.
  • Member of team advising management on its acquisition of the Principles, Warehouse, Racing Green, and Hawkshead businesses, as well as their subsequent disposal.
  • Advised the owner of a market-leading healthcare software business on its sale to a private equity-backed management team.
  • Advised the owners of The Net Crowd on its sale to Daisy Group Plc.
  • Advised the owners of Layer 3 Advanced Business Solutions on its sale to Daisy Group Plc.
  • Advised a listed rights ownership business on its acquisition of several household names in the television and book sectors.
  • Advised the buyer and investors on an acquisition of the Altitude London events business in Millbank Tower.
  • Advised a leading sales and service agent for the air cargo industry on its acquisition of a well-known aviation publication.
  • Advised the senior management team of MiExact, a provider of events, data insights and data management solutions for the UK’s charity and commercial sectors, on its sale to Wilmington plc.

Charles advises on commercial agreements, supporting businesses with partnerships, joint ventures, and strategic contractual arrangements.

Experience

  • Advised a high-growth IT business on its fully outsourced IT services agreement with a leading UK university.
  • Advising a leading supplier of textiles to the luxury consumer market in relation to a museum grant.
  • Advised on a wide range of commercial contracts across multiple sectors.

Charles advises a range of diverse clients on business-related matters that are non-transactional.

Experience

  • Advised multiple HNW families on family investment companies.
  • Advised on the company law aspects of several shareholder/director disputes.
  • Advised on improving the shareholders’ agreement and articles of association for a large number of high-growth businesses.
  • Advised on several shareholder cross-option arrangements backed by insurance.
  • Advised on multiple contractual interpretation questions.
  • Advised on multiple share option schemes.

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Recognition

Recognised by The Legal 500 for M&A Smaller Deals: £10M – £100M 2024–2025

Recognised by The Legal 500 for Corporate and Commercial: Venture Capital 2023–2026

“Charles Frank is an incredible person to have on the team. His knowledge of fundraising and venture is second to none. I always feel very confident in any advice he provides; I know all of the information and can make an informed decision.”

The Legal 500 2025

Charles qualified as a solicitor in 2002. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2019, he worked at the following firms:

  • Thomas Eggar
  • Charles Russell Speechlys
  • Pinsent Masons