Capital markets
Emerging companies
Freshfields’ unparalleled global platform serves emerging technology companies at all stages of growth, from early-stage startups to large global enterprises.
Freshfields has advised hundreds of growth investments across the globe since 2015. We have advised on $30bn worth of IPOs since 2017, including some of the world’s largest, such as China Tower and Budweiser, and on complex de-SPAC and exit transactions.
We represent issuers like Biotalys, Cazoo, Macromill Group, Auto1 Group, Scalable Capital and Razor Group, as well as financial sponsors, including venture capital, private equity, pension and sovereign wealth funds such as Affinity Partners, CVC, General Atlantic, GIC, Permira, Qatar Holding, Temasek, The Carlyle Group and Warburg Pincus. Our clients also include corporate investors such as Allianz, BBVA, Emerson, Geely, Paypal, Pepsico, PGGM, Visa and Volkswagen.
Top-tier interdisciplinary Freshfields teams deliver sophisticated and tailored advice across all relevant practice areas.
Our M&A and finance teams advise emerging companies in connection with equity and debt financing, in particular negotiating and implementing equity financing rounds and the issuance of convertible notes and venture debt.
The Freshfields capital markets practice positions emerging companies for a successful future exit, whether through an initial public offering, direct listing or a strategic transaction.
Founders, boards of directors and management teams seek out our corporate advisory and governance teams for strategic and sensitive governance matters, including dual-class stock structures, stakeholder governance initiatives and best practices for boards of directors.
Our employee benefits and executive compensation lawyers advise public and private companies, management teams and boards of directors on the full range of employee compensation and benefit matters, including designing and implementing equity and cash incentive and severance plans, structured employee liquidity programs and compensation-related governance and disclosure issues.
Clients looking to identify, protect and commercialise their technology and brands work with our IP, tech and data transactions teams, who advise on the full range of corporate and commercial transactions, including joint ventures, strategic alliances and complex, multi-jurisdictional licensing arrangements and R&D collaborations.
Our data privacy and security practice helps companies grow their data businesses in compliance with data regimes around the world, as well as handling data and cyber crises, regulatory and internal investigations, and follow-on litigation.
Regulatory and ACT teams advise on the merger control and foreign direct investment perspective of corporate and commercial transactions, including the preparation of all relevant filings, as well as on all regulatory aspects of emerging companies’ business models.
We also provide a wealth of experience to fintech companies, insurtech providers and digital payment service platforms in navigating the complex web of financial regulation, mitigating cybersecurity threats, handling data analytics, steering privacy governance and exploring distributed ledger technology.
Awards & Recognitions
Band 1, Private Equity – Chambers & Partners 2022, Europe-wide
Band 1, Corporate M&A – Chambers & Partners 2022, UK
Band 1, Equity Capital Markets – Chambers UK, 2023; Chambers Europe, Europe-wide, 2023; Chambers Greater China Region, 2023; Chambers US, Sarah Solum, 2023
