Emma Danks

Emma Danks is head of our UK corporate/M&A group, co-head of our global corporate/M&A group and a member of the UK Executive Board. She is recognised as one of the UK’s leading private equity lawyers and is described by clients as bright, commercial, and solutions focused. Emma is well known for her work with private equity sponsors and their portfolio companies, having acted on a wide range of leveraged buyouts and related transactions. She also frequently advises private equity backed management teams on buyout transactions and equity plans.

Emma also has specific life sciences and healthcare experience, having acted for several generic pharmaceutical companies on both buy-side and sell-side M&A transactions, as well as PE sponsors investing in this sector.

Emma was listed in The Lawyer's Hot 100 for 2018, and in the Legal Business feature on the City's female deal stars. Her team’s buyout expertise was recently recognised when they were named Private Equity Team of the Year at the British Legal Awards.

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Career

Since 2023	Member of the UK Executive Board, Taylor Wessing
Since 2019	Head of UK Corporate Group and Co-head of the International Corporate group, Taylor Wessing
2017 - 2023	Head of the Private Equity group, Taylor Wessing

Since 2010	Partner, Taylor Wessing
2006 - 2010	Senior Associate, Clifford Chance
2001 - 2006	Associate, Clifford Chance
1999 - 2001	Trainee, Clifford Chance

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Education

2001	Admitted as a lawyer, England & Wales
1998	CPE and LPC, College of Law, Guildford
1996	MA Hons Newnham College, University of Cambridge

Publications

Private Equity Exits “A Practical Analysis", October 2011 and re-issued in 2021
PLC Cross Border Private Equity Handbook, 2010

Expertise

Sectors Technology, media & communications Consumer & retail Real estate Life sciences & healthcare

Experience

Bridgepoint Growth	Advised Bridgepoint Growth on various transactions including the investment in De Havilland (and subsequent bolt-on of Forefront Advisers) and the investment and subsequent exit from one.network.
Numerous Management Teams	Advised many management teams on their respective buyouts including United Living (backed by Apollo), Theramex (backed by Carlyle and PAI) and RoadChef (backed by Macquarie).
Inflexion	Advised Inflexion on their investment into Upperton Pharma Solutions.

ATL Technology	Advised ATL Technology (backed by US PE fund Endeavour) on its acquisition of the manufacturing operations of Gyrus Medical Limited.
Glenmark Pharma on the sale of its portfolio of CNS products in Poland to Neuraxpharm	Advised Glenmark Pharma on its divestment of its CNS business in Poland including its portfolio of generics and branded generics products and the transfer of its commercial team in Poland to private equity backed Neuraxpharm, a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the treatment of CNS disorders.
Affirma Capital on its MBO of Standard Chartered Bank's private equity investment business	Advised Affirma Capital, a newly formed, independent private equity firm owned and managed by the former senior leadership of Standard Chartered Private Equity (SCPE), on its MBO of Standard Chartered Bank's (SCB) private equity investment business. The deal was complex, involving the acquisition by Affirma Capital of the general partners and investment managers of various third party funds being spun out from within SCB, as well as the establishment of a new fund backed by ICG and incorporation of investment adviser entities in Affirma Capital's key jurisdictions.

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Awards

Chambers and Partners UK 2023	Private Equity (buyouts, mid market) - Band 1: Emma Danks exhibits a strong command of private equity buyouts and ancillary transactions on behalf of sponsors and their portfolio companies. She heads the firm's private equity practice and is co-head of its global corporate group. "Emma came recommended by a previous client and very much lived up to the billing, as well as being a very pleasant person to deal with."
Legal 500 UK 2023	M&A (lower mid-market deals, £50 million-£500 million) - Leading Individual: The practice is co-chaired by Emma Danks, a leading private equity specialist.
Legal 500 UK 2023	Private equity (transactions – mid-tier – up to £250million) - Hall of Fame: "Emma Danks has demonstrated a deep understanding and keen eye for potential issues in all of the work streams." and "leads the ‘highly collaborative’ team and is regarded as a highly experienced dealmaker in the PE space with a ‘keen eye for potential issues."
Chambers UK 2022	Private Equity: Buyouts - Mid Market: "Emma Danks exhibits a strong command of private equity buyouts and ancillary transactions on behalf of sponsors and their portfolio companies. She heads the firm's private equity practice and is co-head of its global corporate group."
Legal 500 UK 2022	Private equity transactions – mid-tier – up to £250m (Leading individual)
Legal 500 UK 2022	M&A - lower mid-market deals, £50m-£500m (Leading individual)

The Lawyer Awards 2020	Corporate team of the year - work with Affirma Capital, coordinating a multi-faceted cross-border private equity transaction
IFLR 1000 2020	Notable practitioner: Private equity, M&A (UK)
Legal Week British Legal Awards 2019	Private Equity Team of the Year (Transactional) - Affirma Capital on the acquisition of Standard Chartered's private equity business for GPB790m
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Private Equity: Buyouts: Mid-Market (Band 3): Emma Danks heads the firm's private equity team and is sought after by domestic and international houses, and their portfolio companies, to assist in a range of transactions. A client says: "Emma is good at thinking through what protections you need, how to approach things and thinking through to solutions."
Chambers UK 2020	Leading individual - Private Equity: Venture Capital Investment (Band 3)
Legal 500 UK 2020	Leading individual - Corporate and commercial: M&A: mid-market deals, £50m-£500m
Legal 500 UK 2020	Leading individual - Corporate and commercial: Private equity: transactions
The Lawyer’s ‘Hot 100 Listing’ UK 2018	Named as one of the top 100 lawyers in the UK
Chambers UK 2018	Leading individual - Private Equity (Buyouts) (Band 4): Emma Danks "goes the extra mile" for her clients, which include both corporates and leading private equity houses. Her practice encompasses M&A work, LBOs, MBOs and work for investee companies.

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