Charles Leeming is a partner in our Corporate and Private Equity teams in the UK, having joined from a New York-based international law firm.

In 2023, Charles was included among law.com’s list of Private Equity Rising Stars.

Charles’ expertise covers all types of private capital-related corporate work. On the private equity side, he will deliver all aspects of corporate transactions, ranging from advising private equity houses/sponsors, portfolio companies, shareholders and management teams. On the corporate side, Charles advises a wide range of clients, from owner-managers to PLCs. Charles has deep experience across private M&A (sell/buy sides), global carve-outs, joint ventures and public-to-privates (P2Ps).

“Charles is user-friendly and committed to delivering for his clients. He goes above and beyond to understand the client’s goals and critical items (especially timetable for key deliverables) for each matter and applies that throughout the approach to, and delivery of, the legal service, resulting in ‘to-the-point’, efficient and commercial advice.” Paul McCreadie, partner, ECI Partners.

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Private M&A

  • Representing ECI Partners on its investment in TAG, the market leading high-touch travel management company to the entertainment and corporate markets, providing an Exit for Apiary Capital (2024).
  • Representing ECI Partners on its investment in ISMS.online, a market leading SaaS Information Security Management System, providing a full realization for Cow Corner (2024).
  • Representing Foresight Group and management on the exit of Specac International, a leading name in the manufacture of mass spectroscopy accessories to a US-based private equity investor (2024).
  • Representing Foresight Group and management on the exit of Onfab Limited (pharmaceutical containments) to US PE-backed trade (Thompson Street Capital Partners), Savillex (2023).
  • Representing ECI Partners on its investment in Commify, Europe’s leading provider of business messaging solutions to local enterprises, in a deal valued at €300 million, from Hg (2023).
  • Acting as co-counsel with Paul Weiss, advising TPG Rise Climate on a definitive agreement to acquire a majority stake in A-Gas, the global leader in the supply and lifecycle management of refrigerant gases, from KKR (2023).
  • Representing ECI Partners and the management and other shareholders of Tusker (a provider of electric company cars and salary sacrifice car schemes) on the £300 million+ sale to Lloyds Banking Group (2023).
  • Representing HIG on its acquisition of CPS Building Services Limited (2022).
  • Representing CSL (ECI Partners) on its strategic acquisition of Caburn Telecom (2022).
  • Representing Cavotec on the global carve-out and divestment of its Airports Business to US-based investment company Fernweh Group (2022).
  • Representing the shareholders of AnyVan (Celeres Investments, CEO/founder, management) on its £125 million growth capital investment by Vitruvian Partners (2022).
  • Representing ECI Partners on its sale of Avantia Insurance in a fund-to-fund transaction conducted on a third-party arm’s-length basis (2021).
  • Representing Cazoo on its offering into commercial vehicles via its acquisition of Vans365 (2021).
  • Representing Sports Republic on its acquisition of Southampton Football Club (2021).
  • Representing D&C Brands on the sale of Dr. Organic Group Ltd, a pioneer in the natural/organic personal care sector, to Damier Group (2021).
  • Representing The Craftory on its investment in Freddie's Flowers (2021).
  • Representing the selling shareholders (including Great Hill Partners) of Reward Gateway on its sale to Castik Capital and Abry Partners (2021).
  • Representing the founders and other selling shareholders of Qmee (one of the Top 100 fastest-growing Tech companies in Europe according to the Financial Times 1000 2021) on their sale to funds advised by private equity sponsor, CapitalD (2021).
  • Representing US corporate and PE-backed (Oak Hill Capital Partners), Safe Fleet, on its acquisition of Durite, the UK’s leading brand for electrical, lighting and vehicle safety aftermarket products for commercial vehicles (2021).
  • Representing Lloyd's Register in connection with the global carve-out and sale of its Energy services business to Inspirit Capital (2020).
  • Representing ECI Partners on the acquisition of 100% of the issued share capital in CSL (Dualcom), the international critical communications service provider (2020).
  • Representing Apax in connection with its acquisition of the Baltic Classifieds Group.*
  • Representing KKR in connection with its carve-out acquisition across over 60 jurisdictions of Unilever’s “Spreads” business (now Upfield).*
  • Representing KKR in connection with its acquisition of A-Gas.*
  • Representing Apax on its acquisition of the remaining stake in Unilabs.*
  • *Denotes a matter handled prior to joining the firm.

Public M&A

  • Representing Blackstone on the sale by it, and its consortium (GIC, CPPIB and Thomson Reuters), of Refinitiv to The London Stock Exchange Group PLC in a reverse takeover whereby the sellers will receive c.37% of the economic entitlement and c.30% voting rights in the enlarged group.
  • Representing Silver Lake in its take-private of ZPG PLC (Zoopla).
  • Representing Blackstone on its take-private of Japan Residential Investment Company Limited.

Joint Ventures

  • Representing Regis Group PLC and its founders on their multibillion-dollar JV with Blackstone in the PRS real estate sector, Leaf Living (2021).
  • Representing Blackstone on its shared ownership and affordable rent joint venture with Regis Group plc (Sage Housing).

Management Incentive Plans

  • Advising the founders and management team of Regis (see above) on their management incentive plan with Blackstone relating to the Leaf Living JV (2021).
  • Advising the management team of Oddschecker on their management incentive plan with US PE sponsor, BRUIN Capital (2021).
  • Advising the founders and management team of Qmee on their reinvestment and management incentive plan with CapitalD (2021).
  • Advising the management team of a KKR controlled portfolio company on its management incentive plan (2021).
  • Advising the management team of Ascential PLC’s political intelligence, research and stakeholder engagement business, DeHavilland, on its MBO with Bridgepoint (2021).
  • Advising the following in regards to management incentive plans – Casual Dining Group, A-Gas, Unilabs, Auto Trader and Travelopia.

Education

  • BPP, Legal Practice Course
  • BPP, Graduate Diploma in Law
  • New College, University of Oxford, B.A.
  • Leicester De Montfort Law School, Post Graduate Certificate

Admissions

  • England and Wales, 2011

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