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UK

Chris Bannister

Partner

England & Wales

020 3319 3700

chris.bannister@keystonelaw.co.uk

Chris is an experienced solicitor who specialises in corporate and commercial law and advises businesses of all sizes and in various business sectors in relation to their business transactions and contracts. He helps businesses and their owners and management teams to manage and complete corporate mergers, demergers, acquisitions and disposals, and is also an expert in advising on management buy-ins and buy-outs.

Chris also helps businesses to negotiate and implement a range of commercial contracts including NDAs, co-operation and joint venture agreements, distribution, agency, franchise and licence agreements. He also regularly provides businesses with advice and assistance in relation to brand protection, data protection and GDPR matters.

Expertise

Chris advises on mergers and acquisitions, restructurings, de-mergers, and joint ventures, with expertise in shareholder and LLP agreements, management buy-outs, inward investment, outsourcing projects, and a wide range of corporate transactions.

Experience

  • Advised on the acquisition and sale of various UK food industry businesses by a listed Irish client company
  • Advised on the acquisition by a Hong Kong-based client of a specialised division of a UK listed company in the packaging sector
  • Advised on the acquisition of the shares of a key UK subsidiary of a German client company and subsequent sales of its foundry business and its machined engine castings production plant
  • Advised on the MBO, including the buyback of the combined majority shareholdings of two founder shareholders of a longstanding client company in the fintech sector
  • Advised on the MBO and buy-out of the founder shareholders of a leading data protection consultancy group
  • Managed the restructuring and subsequent demerger of a leading UK cold storage and distribution group
  • Advised on sales and disposals of several companies operating exhibitions in the UK and internationally

Chris advises on high-value commercial transactions, B2B and B2C contracts, software licensing, and brand protection, with expertise in competition law, GDPR compliance, and research, sponsorship, and co-operation agreements.

Experience

  • Provided strategic advice to a longstanding client in relation to the successful completion of various high-value commercial projects and agreements in the automotive sector
  • Negotiated a high-value engine component development and supply agreement for a jointly developed power unit
  • Advised on high-value and business-critical engineering services and production contracts with a number of leading international OEMs
  • Advised on the development and construction of a state-of the-art driving emissions testing centre
  • Advised on high-value research, sponsorship, and co-operation agreements with various world-class academic institutions and commercial partners

Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.

Chris qualified as a solicitor in 1992. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2020, he worked at the following firms:

  • Greenwoods GRM
  • Sedgwick Kelly
  • Reid Minty

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