Julian Thatcher

Partner

Languages spoken
English | French

About Julian

Julian Thatcher is a commercially minded corporate lawyer and long-term trusted adviser to clients who seek his strategic thinking on all aspects of their commercial affairs. Julian has spent time within management teams and private equity, and/or entrepreneur-backed businesses in legal and non-legal roles (including in sales, BD and M&A) and commenced his career in a global FMCG business in sales/marketing.

Julian advises on corporate transactions (usually UK M&A/private equity related) across multiple sectors with a particular focus on transactions within the financial services, professional services and business services sectors – but also tech and healthcare, among others.

Julian acts for sponsors, corporates and financial institutions, as well as for entrepreneurs, founders and management teams.

Julian also has a unique focus on Africa, as he has lived and worked on the continent and has advised entrepreneurs, state-backed and ESG-focused investors and private funds on transactions in Africa (including all aspects of renewable energy transactions including PPAs, EPC arrangements, M&A and equity/debt investments).

Experience

  • Julian has advised in respect of transactions in a variety of sectors, including financial services, professional services, tech, fintech, micro-lending, renewables, logistics, telecoms, real estate, sports and hospitality and has advised in respect of transactions in the UK and continental Europe, as well as in Singapore and many African jurisdictions (including Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Senegal, Zambia, Malawi, Benin, Mozambique, Uganda, Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, South Africa, Equatorial Guinea and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

  • His highlights include acting for:

    • The management team of Higgs LLP on its sale to August Equity Partners

    •  Limerston Capital on its acquisition of the Mentor business from NatWest Group

    • The management of LBR on the sale of the company from Levine Leichtman to ICG

    • Copilot Capital on multiple acquisitions

    • The management of Solevo Group as part of the sale from Helios to DPI Capital

    • Phoenix Equity Partners on various matters including its acquisition of SMH Holdings Limited

    • JTC Group PLC on various acquisitions

    • Hurst Point Group (portfolio company of the Carlyle Group) on its acquisition of Metis Asset Management and Metis Wealth

    • Hurst Point Group (portfolio company of the Carlyle Group) on its acquisition of Helm Godfrey

    • END Clothing (portfolio company of the Carlyle Group) on various matters

    • Kantar Group on various M&A/commercial transactions

    • The founder of Griffon Solutions Limited on its sale to Hawksford Group (portfolio company of Star Capital)

    • The founder of Healy Group Limited on its sale to Hawksford Gorup (portfolio company of Star Capital)

    • Hawksford Group in respect of various M&A matters

    • XLN Telecoms on its sale to Daisy Telecoms

    • The management team of CLEAR Insurance on their sale to Goldman Sachs as part of a rollover on exit

    • Blixt Group on its management equity arrangements in respect of its acquisition of Nelsons LLP

    • Nuova Capital Limited on its majority investment into VFX Financial PLC

    • InfraCo Africa Limited on a variety of ESG focused, African transactions, including its equity investment into the Waterbus passenger ferry business in Kenya

    • Blixt Group on its acquisition of Fisher Jones Greenwood LLP

    • Greenergy Energy Holdings in its £500 million merger with Brookfield

    • AlpInvest on multiple secondary investments and disposals

    • Faccenda Foods on its joint venture with Cargill

    • TPA Capital Limited on its acquisition of IBA Group Limited

    • Brainworks Capital Limited on its IPO on the JSE

    • MyBucks S.A. on its sale of its stake in MyBucks Mozambique to Xtenda Financial Holdings Limited

    • MyBucks S.A. on its sale of its stake in Opportunity Bank Uganda Limited to TLG Capital

    • The owner in the world’s most valuable racehorse sale to the leading Middle Eastern racehorse owner

    • A UK real estate developer in its joint venture with Teyliom Group in respect of a significant real estate development in Senegal

    • Restitution Impact Limited (a unique ESG-focused quasi-litigation fund) on its first fundraising

Credentials

Education
  • BPP Law School, G.D.L., 2010
  • BPP Law School, L.P.C., 2010
  • University of Bristol, History of Art, BA Hons, 2007
Admissions
  • England and Wales, 2012

Recognitions

  • “Julian Thatcher – highly responsive and engaged; commercial and pragmatic; transparent communicator; very easy to work with.”
    – Client quote, Legal 500 2026
  • “Julian was highly responsive and commercial and focused on getting us the best deal, right to the very end. He was very user friendly and understood the deal and team dynamics and we look forward to working with him again.”
    – Timothy Money, chief financial officer (CFO) of Clear Insurance (Goldman Sachs portfolio company)

Expertise

Services
Corporate Private Equity