John Young

What clients and directories have said

John can advise on a wide variety of corporate matters, including:

• Acquisitions and disposals of businesses, both in the UK and internationally.
• Private and public equity fundraising, including through the EIS and SEIS schemes, venture capital, private fundraisings, and listings, as well as secondary fundraisings on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, AIM, and Aquis Exchange.
• Business structuring and restructuring.
• Joint ventures and shareholder agreements.
• Fund structuring and documentation.
• Non-contentious FCA regulatory issues.
• LLP and partnership issues, including drafting and negotiation of complex control and remuneration structures in LLP agreements.
• Shareholder and partnership disputes.

John also advises on the UK regulatory treatment of cryptocurrencies and assists with fundraising via initial coin offerings. He is a member of the firm’s crypto assets group.

Recent Work

• The sale of a minority stake in a food processing business to a Turkish trade buyer
• The sale of a Central European medical device testing business to a private equity fund for cash and shares
• Advising a buy-and-build project on fundraising, including relevant regulatory issues, and subsequent industry acquisitions
• Advising a UK tech-based project in the residential property industry on its structure and fundraising, including relevant regulatory issues such as financial promotions issues and a collective investment schemes/alternative investment fund analysis
• The sale of a substantial cleaning and security business to a trade buyer
• Advising an LSE Main Market listed company on its reverse takeover by an overseas education business
• The management buy-out of a regulated financial advisor
• The sale of an innovative UK technology to a NASDAQ listed US buyer for entirely share consideration
• Restructuring of a formerly FTSE 250 company following its de-listing
• Onshoring of UK properties formerly held in non-UK companies
• Restructuring of a care home business to separate out non-trading assets as a precursor to a sale process
• Advising a special purpose acquisition vehicle targeting downstream oil opportunities on its admission to the standard segment of the Official List and the LSE’s Main Market
• Advising a secured lending business on its admission to AIM and connected fundraising

Recognition

John is listed by The Legal 500 a key lawyer in the team for Corporate Commercial M&A: Smaller Deals, up to £50M.

He is ranked ‘Top Recommended’ in Spears best corporate lawyers for 2024.

Ranked in Spear’s top corporate lawyers index for 2023.

John is also listed as ‘Top Recommended’ Corporate Lawyer 2022 in Spear’s 500.

What Clients and Directories Say

“John is reliable, fast to respond, and comes across as a human rather than a legal machine. He was flexible to our timetable and his focus on client protection came through strongly.”
A client

“I have been so impressed with all that you have done for myself and my family. I especially appreciate your intellect, superb use of the English language and your ability to get things done.”
A client

“We found John thoughtful and thorough and are very pleased to have been introduced to him.”
A client

“Strikes exactly the right balance between the legal and the practical.”
A client

“Without the team’s ability to navigate difficult issues whilst bringing both sides around to find a good way forward it is likely that the transaction may have failed.”
A client

“I was really impressed with how John, Mei, and Krystina handled this deal. They worked well together, keeping everything on track, and they adjusted their approach to make sure we closed the deal ahead of the Budget.”
Roy Russell, Seller, Ascertus Limited

“Very clearly a culture of achievement and focus on a good outcome. Top people!”
A client

“John, Patrick, Krystina and the team were very professional and made the whole process extremely easy for us.”
A client

“The team was well led, practical and proactive.”
A client

“[T]heir commitment and dedication throughout the 5 month process was very honourable.”
A client

“The experience with KN from start to finish was nothing short of exceptional. They make the whole process smooth and very efficient… John, Patrick and Mei went above and beyond to deliver what was required for us through this whole deal.”
Louis Charlton, seller, Global Commissioning Limited

Publications, Press Highlights & Speaking Engagements

• Selling your business: Six steps to maximise price, SME, April 2025
• A 9-Step Guide To Selling Your Business, Tech Round, April 2024

Professional Societies & Memberships

• EIS Association
• Law Society
• Quoted Companies Alliance