Mark is a corporate and commercial transactions specialist with a practice that has a particular focus on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, corporate and project finance and all manner of commercial agreements. He has significant experience in dealing with clients across a range of industry sectors including manufacturing, railways, aerospace, defence, telecommunications, leisure and financial services.
Mark contributes regularly to industry publications and authored five chapters to “Practical Company Law” by Mark Stamp. He is also an experienced public speaker on a range of corporate related topics.
Expertise
- Mergers and acquisitions, private equity, joint ventures and reorganisations.
- Project finance and privatisations.
- Private fund structures, including limited liability partnerships and limited partnerships
- Commercial contracts, including supply of goods and services, international trade and outsourcing.
Experience
Commercial Property
- Acted on setting up a complex fund structure to invest in developing high-specification university student accommodation. The structure was created around a limited partnership with groups of investors and the management participating through separate Scottish registered limited liability partnerships and fund regulation outsourced under a service agreement.
- Acted on the establishment of a pension fund to acquire and operate major shopping centres. The fund assets were held through special purpose vehicle companies. The fund was structured in the form of a limited partnership with a general partner and the investors as limited partners.
- Acted on a corporate joint venture to create a commercial property agency and surveying business.
- Acted on setting up a complex fund structure to invest in developing high-specification university student accommodation. The structure was created around a limited partnership with groups of investors and the management participating through separate Scottish registered limited liability partnerships and fund regulation outsourced under a service agreement.
- Set up a closed fund in the form of a limited liability partnership to acquire a hotel. The fund was designed to avoid it being classified as a collective investment scheme.
Financial Services
- Acted on the sale of a UK financial services company with completion accounts, an earn-out mechanism and part of the consideration being paid in new shares issued by the acquiring company.
- Acted for a small private equity group investing into a financial technology company.
- Drafted the fund documentation for an open-ended investment fund which was listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Media & Technology
- Acted for a software supplier on a group reorganisation with companies registered in 20 countries. The restructuring included moving companies and businesses around the group with corresponding share transfers, new share issues, repayment of loans and creating new loan agreements, transfers of employees and assignment of contracts after obtaining all necessary banking and other consents. Also managed the overseas lawyers and liaised with the group’s accountants.
- Led a small team on the acquisition of a digital media group. There were 7 classes of shares with over 30 shareholders and a similar number of loan note holders holding 4 classes of loan notes. There were four other firms of solicitors acting on the transaction. It also included the settlement of potential claims and obtaining the consent of lending banks. It was completed within five weeks of agreeing heads of terms.
Railway
- Acted on a contractual joint venture to develop the next generation of railway signalling systems.
- Drafted and negotiated a wide range of agreements for turnkey projects involving communication systems and railway signalling systems around the world, including framework agreements, teaming agreements, supply agreements, subcontractor agreements, support agreements and licensing agreements, and advised on related warranties, liabilities, indemnities, logistic support, escrow arrangements and bonds.
Other
- Acted for a private equity group investing in a recycling facility in the UK.
- Drafted the legal documentation for the founder of a new fund set up to invest in emerging market opportunities. Regulatory compliance was outsourced to a specialist provider.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Career
Mark qualified as a solicitor in 1995. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2017, he worked at the following firms:
- DMH Stallard
- Thrings
- Druces
- Linklaters & Paines