Emerging companies & venture capital

We advise on high profile, complex transactions for an increasingly impressive client roster and have an enviable reputation in the venture and growth capital market, with many of our team recognised by Chambers and Legal 500.

As market-leaders on SEIS, EIS and VCT structuring, our specialist knowledge sets us apart and allows us to develop solutions which others assume are not achievable.

As well as acting for institutional investors, we act for numerous early and scaling companies in various sectors. Recent highlights include advising:

• BGF on leading a £19 million investment into Brompton Bicycle Limited
• Clean Growth Fund as co-lead investor in the £8.3 million Series B investment for Open Utility Limited
• YFM Private Equity on a £6.2 million investment round into Workbuzz Analytics and acquiring a portion of the founder’s shares
• Speechmatics in raising $62 million in Series B funding
• Electric vehicle charging company EVC on a deal securing up to £165 million capital from funds managed by Denham Sustainable Infrastructure, an arm of global energy transition investment firm Denham Capital

We also act on a serial basis for the likes of Business Growth Fund, Octopus Ventures, Foresight, Gresham House Ventures, Triple Point Ventures, Pentech Ventures, Oxford Capital, Mercia Ventures, Edge, Hambro Perks, Blackfinch and other high-profile institutional investors.

With our company side work, this gives us an ‘all round’ perspective on the negotiation steps and an ability to keep deals moving and on track, resulting in cost effective advice. We offer a seamless transition for investors and companies from early-stage seed investments to series A, series B and later investment rounds and through to exits.

Advice for Founders

To assist entrepreneurs navigating the world of venture capital funding, we have a dedicated founders portal, covering key topics.

Further support can be found through Shoosmiths’ Accendo subscription service, providing legal services tailored specifically for start-ups and scale-ups. Accendo provides a single point of contact with a team of advisors who understand the legal challenges faced by entrepreneurs.

Shoosmiths’ spHERe network supports female founders and venture capitalists within the venture capital space. Its goal is to create a forum for meaningful networking opportunities, helping to address the disparities that exist between female and male entrepreneurs.