Joint Ventures & Investment Agreements

Joint ventures provide a clear structure for parties to share business risk, resources and ultimately rewards. They can involve complex issues and legal structures, and can take many forms including:

  • Corporate joint ventures involving the acquisition of shares and investment shareholder agreements;
  • Commercial joint ventures based on contractual arrangements or strategic alliances; and
  • Partnerships.

Irrespective of the nature of the joint venture, our team has the depth and breadth of experience to help you identify, and resolve, the key issues and risks arising on any joint venture. Whether those issues relate to initial structuring, funding, profit sharing, management, introduction of new investors, formalising an exit strategy or otherwise, we’ll provide you with the commercial insight and recommendations necessary to secure a deal that’s right for you.

Our joint venture work often sees our corporate team working closely with other teams from our real estate, tax, intellectual property and employment practices. This is particularly so in the case of real estate where we frequently advise on complex joint ventures, often involving offshore jurisdictions and innovative tax-efficient structures.

Representative Joint Ventures & Investment Agreements Work

Examples of our team’s joint venture & investment agreement work include:

  • Advised on a series of joint ventures for a leading UK celebrity magazine and newspaper publisher with a combined value in excess of £280m.
  • Advised the Yoo Group on its investment with the Frasers Property Group on a £131m mixed-use tower scheme in Vauxhall.
  • Advised a property development company on a £30m joint venture relating to the development of student accommodation in the north of England.
  • Advised a consortium of private investors in connection with the acquisition of a significant interest in Babaji Pide, a Turkish food restaurant established by renowned restaurateur Alan Yau.
  • Advised a UK based medical device manufacturer on a joint venture arrangement with a US based medical solution provider.

Key contacts:

Photo of Claire Rollo

Claire Rollo

Partner Corporate and Commercial
Work 37-41 Bedford Row London WC1R 4JH United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 20 7611 2334

Biography

Claire specialises in advising small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across multiple industries. She enjoys guiding entrepreneurs through the intricacies of corporate law, whether it’s working with clients on startups, navigating investment rounds, or managing successful corporate acquisitions and sales.

Claire has a wealth of experience of key corporate areas, including:

  • Mergers & Acquisitions;
  • Joint Ventures and Private Equity Deals: With a particular focus on deals ranging from £5 million to £150 million, Claire is well-versed in navigating complex joint ventures and private equity arrangements;
  • Corporate Real Estate Transactions: Claire has a keen understanding of corporate real estate dynamics, ensuring smooth transactions for her clients;
  • General Corporate Governance Support: Providing invaluable support, Claire offers comprehensive assistance in matters of corporate governance, ensuring her clients’ compliance and strategic alignment;

Beyond her core focus on corporate matters, Claire has extensive experience in negotiating, and advising on a wide array of commercial contracts particularly agency, distribution, and supply agreements for clients in the wholesale and retail sector.

With a client-centric approach, Claire is not just a legal advisor; she’s a trusted partner on the growth of a corporate business. Whether you’re a startup seeking guidance, an investor exploring opportunities, or a business owner contemplating a strategic sale, Claire can provide commercial legal advice and results driven solutions.

Testimonials 

Claire has been named as a Recommended Lawyer in the Legal 500 rankings.

Claire Rollo was insightful, responsive and available’ Legal 500, 2021.

‘The team is clearly very knowledgeable and dedicated to their clients. Their level of technical knowledge is unrivalled by any other. They go above and beyond to deliver the results the clients want. I know I can always depend on their profound expertise and professionalism.’ Legal 500 2024

Year qualified: 1993

Representative experience:-

  • Advised on disposal of corporate entities holding various shopping centres across the UK; including the sale of two high value malls situated at London Underground stations for a combined value of in excess of £150 million and sale of corporate entity holding shopping centre and retail park in South West England for £57 million;
  • Advised on sale of leading creative healthcare marketing consultancy on behalf of its founders to one of the largest independent medical communications and medical marketing specialists;
  • Advised on the sale of a London hotel business with related TUPE, licensing and capital allowance issues;
  • Advised the UK’s leading ethical flower business on the acquisition and merger of the market leading direct to consumer plant delivery service as part of its ongoing business expansion;
  • Advised on de-merger documentation for one of London’s leading accountants for owner managed businesses;
  • Advised numerous overseas investors on the purchase of offshore SPVs holding high value residential properties in London with values ranging from £3 million to over £70 million.

Career:

Teacher Stern LLP 2013

Butcher Burns LLP 1996 -2013 (Partner 2000)