Business Law and Corporate Law

In this episode of Life Of A Dealmaker, host Tarun sits down with John Messer, Founder and Managing Partner of Copilot Capital, a European private equity firm specializing in B2B software investments. The conversation explores Messer's journey in building and leading a focused investment firm in the competitive European tech landscape.

For venture-backed biotech companies, intellectual property strategy must be designed from the outset with the end goal in mind. This article explores how aligning IP decisions with future acquirer expectations, understanding exit scenarios, and building defensible patent portfolios can dramatically increase both the probability and value of successful exits in the life sciences sector.

The UK venture capital market has rebounded from its 2022-2024 downturn, with funding activity recovering and larger rounds returning, particularly for AI and DeepTech businesses. However, despite improved market conditions, investors maintain strict deal terms focused on founder alignment, governance protections, and exit control. Analysis of proprietary deal data reveals how capital concentration, leaver provisions, liquidation preferences...

A landmark High Court ruling confirms that minority shareholders can pursue unfair prejudice claims under s994 Companies Act 2006 even when their losses mirror company losses, rejecting the reflective loss principle as a barrier. The decision provides crucial clarity on shareholder remedies when directors misappropriate company funds and establishes important precedent for structuring such claims.

The Supreme Court has delivered a landmark judgment clarifying the scope of directors' duties under section 172 of the Companies Act 2006, examining whether a director can act unilaterally based on personal belief when such action conflicts with fellow directors and established corporate governance arrangements. This decision has significant implications for directors, shareholders and those involved in corporate governance, particularly in private companies and investment-backed businesses with agreed exit

In a landmark High Court ruling, two former Petrofac directors facing bribery charges have secured the right to continue receiving defence cost coverage from their insurers under a Directors and Officers policy. The decision addresses fundamental questions about when insurers can avoid policies based on alleged fraud and establishes important precedents for executive protection during criminal proceedings.

The Solicitors Regulation Authority has intervened and closed down Traymans LLP's practice in London, freezing bank accounts and transferring client files and funds to regulatory control. Former clients must now find new legal representation while Lester Aldridge assists with the closure process and manages access to files and held monies.

Explore the latest commercial legal developments and regulatory updates from across Europe in this curated collection of insights. This edition covers key business law changes, compliance requirements, and strategic considerations affecting multiple jurisdictions from Austria to the United Kingdom.

As organisations continue to navigate their responsibilities under the Building Safety Act, understanding competence, organisational capability and governance has never been more important. This video explores how expectations around competence have evolved since the introduction of the Building Safety Act and what organisations should be doing to meet their legal obligations, covering both individual and organisational competence requirements.

The UK's takeover framework is transparent and internationally respected, yet overseas buyers often struggle not with technical provisions but with the transaction mindset required. Understanding the critical differences between UK public M&A and other jurisdictions—from the binding nature of Rule 2.7 announcements to strict financing requirements and limited contractual protections—can mean the difference between a successful acquisition and costly missteps.

The court applied the “no look through” principle, to find that the beneficial noteholders could not enforce an exclusive jurisdiction clause in an intercreditor agreement.

The London Stock Exchange has implemented sweeping reforms to the AIM Rules, fundamentally reshaping admission requirements, transaction thresholds, and governance obligations for companies on the Alternative Investment Market. These changes eliminate longstanding requirements like working capital statements and corporate governance codes while introducing new features such as capital access windows and special voting shares, marking the most significant overhaul of AIM regulations in recent years.