Chris England

Expertise

Chris is an experienced corporate lawyer specialising in private equity investments, mergers and acquisitions, and other corporate matters. He advises private equity houses, independent sponsors and other institutional investors, as well as sellers, management teams and portfolio companies, on all aspects of the investment cycle, including buyouts, minority investments, exits, bolt-on acquisitions, management equity arrangements and general portfolio company advice.

In addition, Chris regularly advises businesses at various stages of growth, from start-ups to large financial institutions and FTSE 100 companies, on mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, restructurings and other corporate matters, both across the UK and internationally.

Chris has experience across a broad range of sectors, including, most recently, financial services, tech, professional services, retail, leisure, healthcare and energy. He also has a particular interest in impact and sustainable investing, and ESG issues.

Investors with whom Chris has frequently worked include BGF, Blixt, Bridges Fund Management, Crestline, ECI Partners, Foresight, LDC, Limerston Capital, Magenta Partners, Scottish Equity Partners, Synova, Terra Firma and TowerBrook. He also works regularly with businesses such as Associated British Foods, FNZ and a range of banks and other financial institutions.

Experience

Advising the shareholders of software and data provider Mortgage Brain on its sale to Fintel plc.
Advising Voly, a portfolio company of Magenta Partners, on its acquisition of Guernsey-based yacht registration and staffing provider Oceanskies.
Advising Blixt on its investments in German advisory business Schneider + Partner, and UK-based accounting business Kinbrook Group.
Advising Bridges Fund Management on its investment in ESG consultancy and data provider Evora Global, as well as Evora Global's bolt-on acquisition of Metry AB in Sweden, and the subsequent sale of the combined business to Deepki.
Advising Foresight on its investments in Strathmore Foods, property consultancy Graham + Sibbald, and food processing business Quality Food Products.
Advising Scottish Equity Partners on its investments in AI process orchestration business Enate, and Austrian automation business Springtime Technologies.
Advising BGF on the sale of its investment in recruitment specialist Operam Education to Three Hills’ impact fund, and its reinvestment alongside Three Hills.
Advising Crestline on its investment in insurance broker ST&R.
Advising the shareholders of EV charge point installer Envevo on an investment by TowerBrook’s impact fund.
Advising Synova on its investments in medical research provider Charnwood Molecular, consumer services business Pacifica Group, insurance broker AllClear and software business Avantra, as well as on the sale of Defaqto to SimplyBiz.
Advising AllClear on its bolt-on acquisition of InsureandGo.
Advising Charnwood Molecular on its bolt-on acquisition of Aurelia Bioscience.
Advising ECI Partners and other shareholders on the sale of SAP consultancy business Edenhouse to Accenture.
Advising Terra Firma on its acquisition of Hopkins Homes, and on the break-up of the Wyevale Garden Centres group.
Advising MacGregor on the disposal of its majority stake in manufacturing business Flintstone Technology.
Advising Associated British Foods on its acquisitions of the Greencoat portfolio of animal nutrition brands and protein shake manufacturer Reflex Nutrition, as well as on several other acquisitions and disposals.

Testimonials

"It has been a pleasure to work with Chris on this transaction who has been hugely impressive throughout. His knowledge and advice extended beyond simply setting out the legal interpretation...with an ability to overlay and articulate the commercial reality...This was key to being able to cut through what was a difficult negotiation process...He also demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment to the deal."

Investment Director, national investment firm