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Home Key PeopleJohn Allen
John Allen
Partner, Corporate Transactions Team
T: +44 (0) 845 201 3143
M: +44 (0) 7824 505 197
Click here to listen to John's views on buyers' acquisition plans. For John's thoughts on the legal aspects of running a board meeting click here.
What are your specialist areas?
I’m a partner at White & Black with over 14 years’ experience in corporate law. I advise companies and individuals on a wide range of corporate matters, with a particular emphasis on mergers and acquisitions. My clients include start-ups and spin-outs as well as multi-national organisations, private equity funds and charities. My work also involves non-transactional advice on areas including corporate governance, shareholder / partner arrangements and the corporate law aspects of employee incentivisation.
Tell us about your experience
I began my career in London and spent five years working at a leading City of London firm, where I acted for a broad range of clients within the technology and marketing services industries. My work included advising a pre-eminent international advertising services group on the disposal of part of its UK business, acting on one of the first major LLP formations in the UK marketing services industry and advising the founder directors of a leading independent media agency on the sale of their shareholding at the time of the purchaser’s floatation on AIM.
I then became a partner in the Corporate, Technology & Finance team of an Oxford-based regional law firm, where I advised a variety of technology-based companies (notably in the software and IT services industries). This included advising on fund-raising exercises such as the complex series B refinancing of a London-based university spin-out involving a syndicate of 4 venture capital funds and on the sale of a precision circuitry-testing business which was sold for over £100 million (where I advised a shareholder who was acting as trustee for around 30 other individuals and trusts).
At White & Black, my work focuses on complex and often high-value mergers and acquisitions. I worked on the acquisition of the assets of Zarlink Semiconductor (formerly GEC Plessey) by a French-based semiconductor group and advised on the disposal of a pre-eminent, institutionally-backed IT business. I’ve also advised a leading national charity on its corporate governance and company law matters as part of a strategic review of its business and constitution.
Education
My first degree is in law, and I also hold a master’s degree in German law from the Universität Trier.
What do clients say about you?
Acted with meticulous attention to detail (which one expects from a lawyer) combined with plain speaking and speed of response (sadly, seldom associated with the legal profession). John was able to expedite the deal and save us money and ulcers.
Fiona Strong, Managing Director, The Ark-H Group
John and the team at White & Black provided us with expert support along the way, and helped us to negotiate, sustain and secure a good result for our shareholders.
Matthew Hare, Chairman, Rutland Telecom (formerly Chief Executive of Community Internet Group)
John is a true professional. His advice is knowledgeable, clear and concise; a very effective communicator in legal matters.
Tracey Pengilly, former Director of Vivid Imaginations
Expert counsel with great commercial acumen. I’d be happy to recommend John to anyone seeking seasoned legal counsel combined with integrity and commercial insight.
Grant Price, Managing Director, Bizantec Ltd
What are your hobbies and interests outside the law?
I enjoy getting out on the water – either sailing or power boating – whenever I get the chance. I must confess to being something of a fair weather sailor, though: for me, it’s about the opportunity to relax, rather than the challenge of navigating a force 8!
