Edwin is a corporate partner with over 30 years’ experience advising on private equity, venture and development capital, acquisitions and disposals, equity capital markets, and general corporate matters.
His practice covers advising on business sales and acquisitions, management buyouts – in particular management teams, investment rounds and fundraisings, as well as strategic transactions in the professional services (accountants and lawyers), healthcare, natural resources, and financial services sectors.
His clients include entrepreneurs, management teams, investors, and corporates.
Before moving into law, Edwin qualified as a Chartered Accountant (FCA 2003) and spent more than a decade as a principal investor at UBS Capital.
These are difficult times for many businesses and the faith demonstrated by investors in ours and its growth prospects is most welcome. This was a new process for us but with the help and advice we received from Edwin [and his team] it reached a speedy conclusion. All-in-all, what could have been bureaucratic turned out to be relatively painless.
Melinda Kenneway, CEO of Kudos Innovations
Completing a deal in the middle of a pandemic was challenging, but [the team] did a great job keeping everyone focused and pushing at the right pace. Their professionalism and focus on the big issues helped us deliver a key strategic partner for growth.
Troy Christensen, CEO of Enotria
Edwin has been advising us, our company Italian Realfoods Ltd and our Seggiano brand, for over ten years. His calm, pragmatic advice has always been invaluable and recently essential to the success of the sale of our company, built from scratch over the last 30 years.
David Harrison and Peri Eagleton, Joint CEOs of Italian Realfoods
Edwin and his team played a key role in getting this transaction to completion and we are very pleased to have had them on the deal.
Jeniv Shah, Partner at Apiary Capital
Edwin was very helpful in providing clear and pragmatic advice to the investing management and founders in a complex transaction with international dimensions.
Stuart Layzell, Chairman of LearnPro
Edwin played a crucial role in getting this investment over the line and we are very pleased with his professional yet pragmatic approach.
Brian Menell, Chairman & CEO of TechMet
His attention to detail and that of his team instils confidence and his level of knowledge form a legal perspective and overall commercial perspective is second to none.
The Legal 500
The partners are, without exception, available and accessible, responsive and engaged. Not only do they support on work that they are being paid for, but are always open to (and proactively) considering new opportunities for introductions and new initiatives. Edwin Richards in particular exhibits these values and also brings with him deep domain knowledge.
The Legal 500
Expertise
- Private equity and buyouts
- Mergers and acquisitions
- Reinvestments
- Investment rounds
Experience
Private equity and buyouts
- Advised the founders on their sale of Newmarket Strategy to Baird Capital and the partial reinvestment of their proceeds to retain a majority stake.
- Advised the owner of a leading optician’s chain on a sale to a private equity-backed vehicle.
- Advised a Hong Kong-based PE house on its first UK acquisition.
- Advised the management team of XVR Simulation and LearnPro on the MBO by Apiary Capital.
Mergers and acquisitions
- Advised a UHNW individual on the acquisition of an investment vehicle.
- Advised a tax advisory business on its sale to a global US-based adviser to UHNW individuals.
- Advised a law firm on the acquisition of a specialist legal business.
- Advised the shareholders of Italian Realfoods on their sale of the company, including the Seggiano and Lunaio brands, to Certified Origins.
- Advised a manufacturing business on its emergency sale to avoid administration.
Investment rounds
- Advised CRUX Asset Management on an investment by Stephens Investment Banking.
- Advised Kudos Innovations on its Series A5 investment round.
- Advised TechMet on its USD 200 million fundraise including a significant investment by the United States International Development Finance Corporation, an agency of the US Government.
Energy & Natural Resources
- Advised TechMet on its USD 200 million fundraise including a significant investment by the United States International Development Finance Corporation, an agency of the US Government.
- Advised TechMet on its GBP 18 million investment in Cornish Lithium plc.
- Advised TechMet on its various rounds of investment in Brazilian Nickel and the Piauí Nickel Project.
- Advised TechMet on its option agreement with Rainbow Rare Earths for investment in the Phalaborwa rare earths project.
Professional Services
- Advised the founders on their sale of Newmarket Strategy to Baird Capital and the partial reinvestment of their proceeds to retain a majority stake.
- Advised the owner of a leading optician’s chain on a sale to a private equity-backed vehicle.
- Advised CRUX Asset Management on the acquisition of funds from Henderson.
- Advised Baigrie Davies on its sale to 1925 Financial and Wealth Managers.
Please note: The experience list above may include examples of work completed prior to joining Keystone Law.
Recognition
Founder member of the Private Markets Forum (2025), an industry body dedicated to shaping the future of UK private market regulation and infrastructure in the UK
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (2003)
Career
Edwin qualified as a solicitor in 2015. Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2025, he worked at the following firms:
- JMW Solicitors LLP
- Michelmores LLP
- Darbys Solicitors LLP