OC Ventures
Osborne Clarke has a market leading venture and growth capital practice across Europe, renowned for its work in the technology, financial services, renewable energy and life sciences sectors. We act for clients on fund establishment and on investments across the corporate lifecycle and are able to support growth no matter what is needed. .
- For companies: We advise on large venture and growth rounds around the globe, typically raising between £10 to £100 million. We handle over 250 investment rounds per year. We also help companies to borrow venture debt facilities, convertible loans and other forms of alternative finance. In addition, we provide incentives, employment, share options, regulatory and IP advice, all specifically focused on venture-backed growth companies in their relevant sector, looking to transform existing markets with their technology.
- Specifically for start-ups: We also advise on much earlier / smaller seed rounds, usually handling over 100 investments in the sub £5 million range per year (typically £250k to £5m). We will always look at each client as a unique opportunity to help with tailored sector focused support. We offer a range of pricing approaches and to build lasting relationships. We also work with many of the leading research institutions, including Imperial College, King’s College London, UCL, Oxford and Cambridge. We try to operate like your in-house lawyers: always available for you, but without the cost of hiring internal expertise.
- For investors: We advise a growing number of top tier international funds and corporate investors on international venture and growth capital investments. These investors turn to us for our market knowledge and hands on experience. We also have a fantastic venture funds formation practice to support our institutional client base, and advise both high profile and emerging GPs on their fund formations with a particular focus on the venture space (we are typically working on 5-10 fund formations at any time), providing legal, regulatory and tax support as required.
- Exits: We are there at all of the key moments, and actively look to help companies (and their investors) get the best deal at exit – be that a trade sale or IPO. We have advised numerous VC-backed companies on trade sales to Cisco, Google, Apple, Facebook, Vonage, Microsoft, Zynga.
London | Bristol | Barcelona | Amsterdam | Paris | Berlin | Silicon Valley | New York
Article list
From doctoral research to spin-out: a UK tech start-up's VC-backed international journey
UK general election 2024: what would a Labour government mean for venture capital, start-ups and founders?
Corporate venture capital and strategic partnerships: what do investee companies need to consider?
Government updates guidance on the UK National Security and Investment Act
Tech M&A: Top tips for a successful deal
Starting up, scaling up and the investment and exit process from high growth businesses in the UK – in practice
Venture capital deal terms trends in the UK
VC Focus | Why VCs and companies use convertible loan notes and bridging rounds in the UK
VC Focus | UK term sheets explained for founders: leaver provisions and founders' interests
VC Focus | UK term sheets explained for founders: understanding the jargon
VC Focus | How companies can successfully navigate the VC investment process
Energy Security Bill introduced to UK Parliament
The Energy Transition | Energy Security Bill and CfD Allocation Round 4
Should blockchain's decentralised autonomous organisations be regulated or unregulated?
Funds Legal Update | June 2022
Welcome to a new edition of our Funds Legal Update, covering ESG developments, updates from the UK and Europe, and...
IP basics: what to think about when entering the UK and EU markets (trade marks, copyright, designs)
What does the Energy Profits Levy mean for the UK energy sector?
Spain takes first steps in the regulation of renewable hydrogen
Private right of action under Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act
Putting ESG at the heart of regeneration
The Energy Transition | British Energy Security Strategy and National Grid's stability investment
Funds Legal Update | PRIIPs disclosure changes, EU energy taxonomy and sustainable finance
Public Service Pensions Update | March 2022
Spring Statement maps out the UK government's tax plan
What measures does the draft law on Creation and Growth of Companies bring in?
Need to Know: Leveraged Finance Market Update
Ukraine crisis: new guidance for pension scheme trustees
Public Service Pensions Update | February 2022
The Energy Transition | Annual CfD auctions and £90m for green bonds
2022 Finance Act increases State investment in Italian national health system
New Investment Security Unit and CMA to liaise under National Security and Investment Act
Funds Focus Q4 2021
Build Safe Live Safe | the Building Safety Bill: what will be the impact on property investors?
The UK Long-Term Asset Fund has arrived
National security bill set to ring changes for real estate M&A
Investors in real estate will need to assess whether new interventions powers apply to their deals
Funds Legal Update | 27 November 2020
Welcome to our latest Funds Legal Update: as the Brexit transition period ends and the UK steps up on sustainability...
Keeping the peace: how to keep your real estate venture running smoothly
The second in our two part series on real estate joint ventures focusses on how to ensure the successful day-to-day...
For better or worse: how to give your real estate joint venture the right start
The first of our two-part series on real estate joint ventures looks at the structuring, funding and exit considerations that...
Regulation of DeFi: a perspective from Singapore
A radical shift in distribution structures brought about by decentralised finance will require a rethinking of how financial products and...
Improve or consolidate: all change for defined contribution schemes in October 2021?
Trustees need to address value for members as consultation encourages consolidation of smaller schemes and removal of barriers to illiquid...
Funds Legal Update | 26 August 2020
As far as the investment funds industry is concerned, August has been far from the usual summer lull.
Life sciences companies turn to public markets for injections of capital
London markets have remained open during the pandemic allowing for a surge in life sciences and healthcare sector deals including...
The European Venture Capital Fund Regulation: an overview
Osborne Clarke Funds team members Helen Parsonage and Rachael Clayden write an update for Sturgeon Ventures on the benefits of...
Unlocking global potential: Why German start-ups should consider a US holding company
From doctoral research to spin-out: a UK tech start-up's VC-backed international journey
UK general election 2024: what would a Labour government mean for venture capital, start-ups and founders?
Corporate venture capital and strategic partnerships: what do investee companies need to consider?
Government updates guidance on the UK National Security and Investment Act
Tech M&A: Top tips for a successful deal
Starting up, scaling up and the investment and exit process from high growth businesses in the UK – in practice
Venture capital deal terms trends in the UK
VC Focus | Why VCs and companies use convertible loan notes and bridging rounds in the UK
VC Focus | UK term sheets explained for founders: leaver provisions and founders' interests
VC Focus | UK term sheets explained for founders: understanding the jargon
VC Focus | How companies can successfully navigate the VC investment process
Energy Security Bill introduced to UK Parliament
The Energy Transition | Energy Security Bill and CfD Allocation Round 4
Should blockchain's decentralised autonomous organisations be regulated or unregulated?
Funds Legal Update | June 2022
Welcome to a new edition of our Funds Legal Update, covering ESG developments, updates from the UK and Europe, and...
IP basics: what to think about when entering the UK and EU markets (trade marks, copyright, designs)
What does the Energy Profits Levy mean for the UK energy sector?
Spain takes first steps in the regulation of renewable hydrogen
Private right of action under Singapore's Personal Data Protection Act
Putting ESG at the heart of regeneration
The Energy Transition | British Energy Security Strategy and National Grid's stability investment
Funds Legal Update | PRIIPs disclosure changes, EU energy taxonomy and sustainable finance
Public Service Pensions Update | March 2022
Spring Statement maps out the UK government's tax plan
What measures does the draft law on Creation and Growth of Companies bring in?
Need to Know: Leveraged Finance Market Update
Ukraine crisis: new guidance for pension scheme trustees
Public Service Pensions Update | February 2022
The Energy Transition | Annual CfD auctions and £90m for green bonds
2022 Finance Act increases State investment in Italian national health system
New Investment Security Unit and CMA to liaise under National Security and Investment Act
Funds Focus Q4 2021
Build Safe Live Safe | the Building Safety Bill: what will be the impact on property investors?
The UK Long-Term Asset Fund has arrived
National security bill set to ring changes for real estate M&A
Investors in real estate will need to assess whether new interventions powers apply to their deals
Funds Legal Update | 27 November 2020
Welcome to our latest Funds Legal Update: as the Brexit transition period ends and the UK steps up on sustainability...
Keeping the peace: how to keep your real estate venture running smoothly
The second in our two part series on real estate joint ventures focusses on how to ensure the successful day-to-day...
For better or worse: how to give your real estate joint venture the right start
The first of our two-part series on real estate joint ventures looks at the structuring, funding and exit considerations that...
Regulation of DeFi: a perspective from Singapore
A radical shift in distribution structures brought about by decentralised finance will require a rethinking of how financial products and...
Improve or consolidate: all change for defined contribution schemes in October 2021?
Trustees need to address value for members as consultation encourages consolidation of smaller schemes and removal of barriers to illiquid...
Funds Legal Update | 26 August 2020
As far as the investment funds industry is concerned, August has been far from the usual summer lull.
Life sciences companies turn to public markets for injections of capital
London markets have remained open during the pandemic allowing for a surge in life sciences and healthcare sector deals including...
The European Venture Capital Fund Regulation: an overview
Osborne Clarke Funds team members Helen Parsonage and Rachael Clayden write an update for Sturgeon Ventures on the benefits of...