Allison is an experienced corporate partner who specialises in acting for management teams and founders in connection with private equity transactions. She has over 20 years’ experience advising senior managers, founders and companies on the complexities of buy-outs, equity incentive plans, reorganisations, and other corporate activities.
Allison also has significant experience acting for high-net-worth individuals and family offices on a broad range of corporate matters, including investments, acquisitions, joint ventures, and exits. Her practice spans a variety of sectors including financial services, luxury brands, technology, and consumer.
Expertise
- Private equity buy-outs and incentive plans
- Mergers & acquisitions
- Leavers and joiners
- Luxury brands
- Financial Services
- Technology & Telecoms
- Healthcare
Experience
Private equity buy-outs and incentive plans
- Acted for management of Suntera Global, an international provider of corporate trust and professional services, on the secondary buy-out backed by Valeas Capital Partners, having previously acted for the team on the buy-out by their original investor, Palatine Private Equity.
- Acted for Autovista Group and its management team on the sale of Autovista Group to J.D. Power.
- Acted for management of TrustedHousesitters on its buy-out led by Mayfair Equity Partners.
- Acted for management of Xalient on the buy-out led by Volpi Capital.
- Acted for management in respect of their equity arrangements on the sale of Pimlico Plumbers to KKR-backed Neighborly Inc.
- Acted for management of Sohonet on the secondary buy-out backed by LDC.
- Acted for management of Charles Taylor on the take private by Lovell Minnick Partners LLC.
- Acted for management of Advanz Pharma in relation to their equity arrangements with Nordic Capital and their incentive plan with their previous institutional investors.
- Advised selling shareholders and management on the secondary buy-out of Creative Car Park Holdings backed by Inflexion.
- Advised the senior management team of Simply Business on the secondary buy-out backed by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC and management sellers on the subsequent sale of Simply Business to The Travelers Companies Inc.
- Advised management on the secondary buy-out of CH&Co caterers backed by Equistone, having previously advised on its original buy-out led by MML.
Mergers & acquisitions
- Advised Dream International Cooperatief U.A. in connection with a significant investment by the Qatar Investment Authority in Dream International B.V.
- Acted for a significant minority investor on the sale of KIMS independent hospital to LycaHealth.
- Advised selling shareholders on the buy-out of Zedra backed by Corsair Capital, having previously advised Zedra on its acquisition of Barclay’s trust business.
- Advised a private equity house on its investment in a very high-profile celebrity-founded fashion and beauty business.
- Advised London-based wealth management boutique Vestra Wealth LLP on the completion of the sale of a majority stake to Liechtenstein’s LGT Group.
Leavers and joiners
- Advised the incoming CEO of an Alcentra-backed business on his equity arrangements.
- Advised the former CEO of a private equity-backed recruitment business on his equity arrangements on his exit from the business.
- Advised the former COO of a private equity-backed property finance business on her exit arrangements.
Luxury brands
- Acted as fractional GC for ONE Luxury Group, investor in businesses such as Hailey Beiber’s Rhode, Barbara Sturm, and Tanner Krolle.
- Advised a private equity house on its investment in a very high-profile celebrity-founded fashion and beauty business.
Financial Services
- Acted for management of Suntera Global, an international provider of corporate trust and professional services, on the secondary buy-out backed by Valeas Capital Partners, having previously acted for the team on the buy-out by their original investor, Palatine Private Equity.
- Advised selling shareholders on the buy-out of Zedra backed by Corsair Capital, having previously advised Zedra on its acquisition of Barclay’s trust business.
- Advised the senior management team of Simply Business on the secondary buy-out backed by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC and management sellers on the subsequent sale of Simply Business to The Travelers Companies Inc.
- Acted for management of Charles Taylor on the take private by Lovell Minnick Partners LLC.
- Advised London-based wealth management boutique Vestra Wealth LLP on the completion of the sale of a majority stake to Liechtenstein’s LGT Group.
Technology & Telecoms
- Acted for management of Sohonet on the secondary buy-out backed by LDC.
- Acted for management of Xalient on the buy-out led by Volpi Capital.
- Acted for Autovista Group and its management team on the sale of Autovista Group to J.D. Power.
- Acted for management of Sohonet on the secondary buy-out backed by LDC.
Healthcare
- Acted for a significant minority investor on the sale of KIMS independent hospital to LycaHealth.
- Acted for management of Advanz Pharma in relation to their equity arrangements with Nordic Capital and their incentive plan with their previous institutional investors.
- Acted for the founder of a fertility clinic in relation to a private equity investment in the business.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Recognised in The Legal 500 as a Key Lawyer for Private Equity: Transactions – Mid Market Deals (up to £500m) 2025
“Allison Keyse was fantastic dealing with complex negotiations.” The Legal 500 2025
“Commercially focused, practical and effective.” The Legal 500 2025
Career
Allison qualified as a solicitor in 2004. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, she worked at the following firms:
- Mishcon de Reya
- CMS (Previously Dundas & Wilson LLP)