Contact details

Kristian Shearsby

T: +44 20 7809 2813 M: +44 7880 488 532 Email Kristian | vCard Office: London

Kristian Shearsby Partner

Contact details

Kristian Shearsby

T: +44 20 7809 2813 M: +44 7880 488 532 Email Kristian | vCard Office: London

Kristian is a corporate lawyer specialising in the life sciences and technology sectors. He advises on a wide range of corporate matters including venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and other securities issues.
  • Profile
  • Services
  • Sectors

Kristian works with companies at all stages of development, from early-stage biotech and technology companies through to listed public companies, investment funds and investment banks operating within the sectors.

Kristian is dedicated to working together with innovative businesses in the life sciences and technology sectors, supporting their legal needs as the business develops and forging strong and long-lasting client relationships. 

Kristian uses his sector and transactional experience to provide commercial and pragmatic advice and to assist clients with achieving successful outcomes on a broad range of corporate matters.

Transactions in the life sciences and technology sectors regularly involve complex IP, licensing and commercial issues and Kristian works closely with colleagues in these teams, to ensure clients have the expert support they require.

Having worked at a number of international law firms, many of Kristian's transactions include a cross-border element, with a particular focus on matters involving the US.

  • Private equity
  • Growth and venture capital
  • Public and private M&A
  • Joint ventures
  • Equity capital markets

Advised a drug discovery company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, on multiple funding rounds conducted by way of warrant and convertible loan issuances.

Advised an innovative biotech business developing a highly integrated and programmable biocomputer on its early-stage funding rounds from a group of high net worth individuals and various related matters.

Advised an early-stage spin-out company from a leading British university, in connection with its Series A funding round, to finance the development of its CAR-T therapy.

Acted for the technology transfer office of a London university on a number of venture capital transactions, including a syndicated Series B funding round for a medical technology portfolio company.

Acted for the venture capital arm of an international pharmaceutical company in connection with a number of investments in early and development stage pharmaceutical and life science companies.

More: Private equity

Advised a drug discovery company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, on multiple funding rounds conducted by way of warrant and convertible loan issuances.

Advised an innovative biotech business developing a highly integrated and programmable biocomputer on its early-stage funding rounds from a group of high net worth individuals and various related matters.

Advised an early-stage spin-out company from a leading British university, in connection with its Series A funding round, to finance the development of its CAR-T therapy.

Acted for the technology transfer office of a London university on a number of venture capital transactions, including a syndicated Series B funding round for a medical technology portfolio company.

Acted for the venture capital arm of an international pharmaceutical company in connection with a number of investments in early and development stage pharmaceutical and life science companies.

More: Growth and venture capital

Advising a Nasdaq-listed multi-screen video software innovator on the sale of its UK based media services company specialising in digital content aggregation and management of VOD services for $27 million.

Advising an AIM-listed life sciences company on its Formal Sale Process conducted in accordance with the UK Takeover Code and the recommended acquisition of the company by a NASDAQ listed biopharmaceutical company pursuant to a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement between the company and its shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.

Advised the majority shareholder on the sale of a biotechnology company focussed on the development of novel antibody therapeutics, including the roll-up of an equity interest into the acquiring entity and the spin-out of certain related IP into a Newco.

Advised a highly diversified UK business on the sale of its venture investment arm which funds early-stage life sciences and technology start-ups.

Advised the institutional and individual shareholders of a privately-owned UK specialty pharmaceutical company on its sale to a US based dermatology and aesthetics company.

Advising a visual effects software company on multiple acquisitions, before representing the management team in connection with a private equity investment, under the terms of which, majority ownership was assumed for an enterprise value of £200 million.

More: Public and private M&A

Advised an AIM-listed life sciences business on the establishment of a joint venture vehicle to progress the development of an immunotherapeutic technology platform for the treatment of cancers.

Advised a joint venture vehicle owned by a bureau of the Chinese government and a London based AIM-listed mining company on the acquisition of Namibian mining assets, a fundraising, and admission to trading on AIM.

Advised a printhead technology business listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, on the sale of its majority stake in a 3D printing joint venture company, to its NASDAQ listed joint venture partner.

More: Joint ventures

Advised a company focussed on the design, manufacture and supply of application specific synthetic DNA, on its transfer from Germany to the UK and admission to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Advised a company developing next generation cancer immunotherapies, on its reverse merger with a NASDAQ listed pharmaceutical company.

Advised an AIM-listed stem cell therapy company on various corporate matters and financing rounds including an institutional placing to raise £68.4 million and a £33 million fundraising.

Advised a leading, Aim-listed, life sciences company based in Cambridge, on various corporate and commercial transactions, including fundraisings, acquisitions and joint venture arrangements.

Advised a biopharmaceutical company listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange on various matters including its £20 million placing and a separate $55 million secured debt facility.

More: Equity capital markets

  • Growth and venture capital
  • Technology
  • Life sciences

Advised a drug discovery company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, on multiple funding rounds conducted by way of warrant and convertible loan issuances.

Advised an innovative biotech business developing a highly integrated and programmable biocomputer on its early-stage funding rounds from a group of high net worth individuals and various related matters.

Advised an early-stage spin-out company from a leading British university, in connection with its Series A funding round, to finance the development of its CAR-T therapy.

Acted for the technology transfer office of a London university on a number of venture capital transactions, including a syndicated Series B funding round for a medical technology portfolio company.

Acted for the venture capital arm of an international pharmaceutical company in connection with a number of investments in early and development stage pharmaceutical and life science companies.

More: Growth and venture capital

Advising a multi-channel video network on a number of corporate transactions including its initial public offering on AIM, the acquisition of a competing video distribution platform, an associated £42 million financing and multiple follow-on funding rounds.

Advising a Nasdaq-listed multi-screen video software innovator on the sale of its UK based media services company specialising in digital content aggregation and management of VOD services for $27 million.

Acting for the nominated adviser and broker to an AIM-listed foreign exchange business on its placing and open offer to raise approximately £26 million and related acquisition of a banking and money management platform.

Advising a liquid cooling technology company in connection with its Series A funding round, pursuant to which venture capital investors agreed, subject to the achievement of milestones, to commit $10 million towards the development of the company’s liquid cooling technology.

Advised a German family office on its investment into university spin-out company focussed on the development of advanced microfluidic sensor technology by way of Series A Share issuance and convertible debt.

Advised a highly diversified UK business on the sale of its venture investment arm (which funds early-stage life sciences and technology start-ups).

Advised a printhead technology business listed on the main market of the London Stock Exchange, on the sale of its majority stake in a 3D printing joint venture company, to its NASDAQ listed joint venture partner.

Advised a Trading Platform provider, specialising in multi-asset trading for FX, equities and derivatives on the terms of a sale option arrangement with one of the world’s largest providers of financial markets data and infrastructure. 

More: Technology

Advised a company focussed on the design, manufacture and supply of application specific synthetic DNA, on its transfer from Germany to the UK and admission to trading on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange.

Advised a company developing next generation cancer immunotherapies, on its reverse merger with a NASDAQ listed pharmaceutical company.

Advised an AIM-listed stem cell therapy company on various corporate matters and financing rounds including an institutional placing to raise £68.4 million and a £33 million fundraising.

Advised a drug discovery company targeting mitochondrial dysfunction, on multiple funding rounds conducted by way of warrant and convertible loan issuances.

Advised an innovative biotech business developing a highly integrated and programmable biocomputer on its early stage funding rounds from a group of high net worth individuals and various related matters.

Advised an early stage spin-out company from a leading British university, in connection with its Series A funding round, to finance the development of its CAR-T therapy.

Advising an AIM-listed life sciences company on its Formal Sale Process conducted in accordance with the UK Takeover Code and the recommended acquisition of the company by a NASDAQ listed biopharmaceutical company pursuant to a court sanctioned scheme of arrangement between the company and its shareholders under Part 26 of the Companies Act 2006.

Advised the majority shareholder on the sale of a biotechnology company focussed on the development of novel antibody therapeutics, including the roll-up of an equity interest into the acquiring entity and the spin-out of certain related IP into a Newco.

Advised a highly diversified UK business on the sale of its venture investment arm (which funds early stage life sciences and technology start-ups).

Advised the institutional and individual shareholders of a privately-owned UK specialty pharmaceutical company on its sale to a US based dermatology and aesthetics company.

More: Life sciences

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