A resource centre for driving innovation
OC Ventures is an international resource centre for those driving innovation. It brings together Osborne Clarke's deep specialist legal and sector expertise, guidance and support to businesses, entrepreneurs and investors in the ventures ecosystem. We support the most exciting emerging technologies, advising from start-up through venture financing and the growth journey beyond, whether continuing to sale, IPO or international expansion. Through OC Ventures, we seek to identify market disruptors and go on a growth journey with them.
OC Ventures is driven by Osborne Clarke's Venture Capital team in combination with experts from across our international network, delivering a joined up service to clients throughout the ventures ecosystem. Our specialists deliver outstanding legal knowledge as part of our 3D client strategy which blends legal skills and services with sector specialisms and an understanding of the macro drivers of transformation that shape our clients' challenges, in particular: decarbonisation, digital transformation and urban dynamics.
We have particular expertise in advising across a wide range of technology innovations, including artificial intelligence, use of data, augmented / virtual reality, blockchain, software and the metaverse, and a number of different innovation areas, including fintech, proptech, life sciences, digital health, energy innovation, ecommerce, emobility and smart cities.
The OC Ventures team is a market leader advising on spin-outs, technology transfer, commercialisation and investment transactions involving world-leading universities and research institutions.
Knowledge hub
Tap into our training, knowledge and bespoke resources through a selection of videos, webinars, insights and in-depth guides for the ventures ecosystem.
Helping create, build and grow ventures
Osborne Clarke can provide investors, companies, founders and management teams with guidance and support to help create, build and grow businesses from initial start up through to growth and beyond.
There will be much to plan for as a start-up moves from idea to launch in often highly competitive markets – not least, the legal and business foundations of its operations. We can guide you as you take these steps to prepare and incorporate your company, and deal with founder and shareholder arrangements, initial funding, identifying and securing intellectual property (IP) and everything else you need to get your business up and running.
Strong governance needs to be a priority at the outset for start-up businesses and not an afterthought. We can work with you to design and implement the right agreements between founders and investors and advise on board composition and arrangements between directors, shareholders and the company.
Finance and investor interest are crucial for the progress of any start-up journey. Our market-leading team advises companies, founders and investors on VC transactions from Seed and Series A to the largest international institutional deals, advising on 400-plus fundraisings annually across all technology sectors.
Appropriate protection and commercialisation of intellectual property (IP) rights is critical. Our experts can help you develop an IP strategy and advise on the right steps nationally and internationally to ensure your IP assets are robustly protected and can be best exploited to generate revenue and shareholder value.
The success of high-growth start-ups hinges on the right people and talent in place to progress the business, which, in turn, requires the right employment, consultancy and adviser arrangements at each stage of development. We can assist and advise on these and provide deep knowledge of market practice and sectors to ensure your people and your company are appropriately protected.
Identifying the right incentives is crucial for ensuring that start-ups have and keep the best people who continue to bring energy to the business. Our dedicated Incentives team can advise on share options and other incentives for individuals through to company-wide schemes, with the right focus on tax efficiency and market practice to ensure you can attract, recruit and motivate the best people.
Commercial agreements, data, employment, regulation and protection, real estate, disputes and other aspects of business operations require close attention and expert knowledge. Our specialist advisory teams can ensure that your business operations are properly covered, with teams that have the sector and market experience to give you the best advice.
When your company is considering growth by national or international acquisition or joint venture, our Corporate team can expertly guide you through the strategy, planning and execution of the transaction process.
OC Ventures' core mission is to ensure you and your business are guided and assisted through the entire growth journey so that you are best prepared for a liquidity event, whether that's a trade sale, initial public offering (IPO) or private-equity buyout. Our specialist teams have unparalleled experience in taking ventures, whatever stage they are at, through planning and executing an exit to achieve the best possible outcome.
Helping VCs launch and invest funds
We advise institutional VC and growth capital investors on all stages of the life of investment structures, throughout the fundraising, investing and exit cycles.
OC Ventures in action
OC Ventures supports the most exciting emerging companies across tech and life sciences, advising from start-up through venture and growth financing and the growth journey beyond, whether continuing to sale, IPO or international expansion. Here's how we've helped clients through their ventures journey.
Work highlights from across the ventures ecosystem
Connect with one of our experts
Justin Starling
Partner, UK
Rob Hayes
Partner, UK
Herke van Hulst
Partner, Advocaat, The Netherlands
Mikael Nelson
Partner, Sweden
Helen Parsonage
Partner, UK
David Miranda
Partner, Spain
Nicolas Gabrysch
Partner, Germany
James Taylor
Partner, UK
Elizabeth Yell
Associate Director, UK
Josephine Healy-Russell
Senior Associate, UK
Robert Pook
Associate Director, UK
Ben Cocoracchio
Associate Director, UK
Elinor Owen
Associate Director, UK
Kamila Bochenek
Associate, UK
Trevor Crosse
Partner, UK
Anna Rawlings
Senior Associate, UK
