ESG-driven deals

We act as a trusted business partner to companies and investors that are deeply committed to shaping a more sustainable future. Our cornerstone M&A and venture capital practices and deep bench of specialists bring a sustainability-focused mindset to transactions, helping clients navigate a rapidly evolving legal and regulatory framework.

Areas of focus

• M&A: Our experienced team can guide you through the intricacies of M&A involving ESG-focused companies and ESG-related regulatory matters. We will effectively prioritise preserving your sustainability values while facilitating seamless transactions with the best terms. Our team can provide ESG-specific advice throughout the process, including ESG due diligence and related provisions in the transaction documents.
• Venture capital: With one of the largest VC-focused teams across Europe, we regularly advise investors and some of the most successful early and growth stage investee companies on investments in the ESG space. Our due diligence services help clients to ask the right questions to identify the ESG issues that may impact the value of their investments now and in the future, enabling risks to be mitigated and opportunities for ESG improvements to be exploited.
• Private equity: Our private equity team is a prominent force in mid-market leveraged cross-border transactions, acting for both private equity sponsors and management teams.  In addition to our due diligence services mitigating risks and exploiting opportunities in relation to ESG issues as referred to above, we ensure your investee companies comply with your ESG policies, reporting requirements and commit to making improvements where we identify such changes are necessary or desirable. 
• Joint ventures: We're experts at advising on complex strategic partnerships that drive growth and innovation, connecting businesses with shared sustainability goals.
• Corporate advisory: We have a strong track-record of supporting sustainable businesses on various corporate matters, including guiding clients through the B Corp certification process and working with directors to help them understand how ESG considerations play into their legal duties, helping them to anticipate the risks and opportunities posed by ESG-related factors and the impact such factors should have on their decision making.
  
• Structured real estate: With the value of real estate assets increasingly linked to their ESG credentials, our structured real estate team advises on ESG issues in the context of complex and high-value corporate real estate transactions. Where operational assets are involved, our sector specialists combine commercial and technical acumen with industry expertise to create tailored legal solutions to secure ongoing ESG performance, including in the hotels sector where our market-leading team advises on the development and management of hotels around the world.
• Responsible tax structures: We advise on tax structures that are not only compliant but also align with responsible and ethical practices. 
• Competition: We advise on competition compliance in your ESG driven collaborations, distribution, or land agreements. We also work with you to ensure competition-related ESG considerations are voiced when liaising with the regulators in your mergers and acquisitions.