Stuart advises on cross-border acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures, corporate finance, commercial contracts and commercial dispute resolution in the UK, Europe, Africa and emerging economies.
His clients include entrepreneurs, high-net-worth families, emerging companies, large corporates (public and private) and state-owned entities across a diverse range of sectors including natural resources (energy, mining and forestry), manufacturing, technology and fiduciary services.
Expertise
- Acquisitions and disposals
- Joint ventures
- Corporate finance
- Corporate and commercial
- Cross-border transactions
Experience
Energy & Natural Resources
- Advised a listed mining company with operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in relation to its offtake arrangements.
- Advised a Mauritius-based fund on its investment into a forestry business in Ghana.
- Advised a state-owned oil and gas company on its $575 million acquisition of Ghanaian oil and gas rights.
- Advised a US-based African sports star in relation to a copper cobalt joint venture in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
- Advised in relation to a joint venture to develop a plantation and wood export business in Mozambique.
- Advised in relation to a $166 million acquisition of South African oil and gas rights.
- Advised a family office in relation to a joint venture dispute relating to a company that owns interests in African oil & gas interests, including the negotiation of complex buy-out arrangements and the renegotiation of certain escrow arrangements.
Fiduciary and Professional Services
- Advised a privately owned global advisory, administration and family office firm on the sale of its private client and corporate services business.
- Advised a leading global specialist in alternative investing in taking on a debt capital team and negotiating the necessary joint venture and option arrangements.
- Advised in relation to the sale of a fund administration and third party management company business.
- Advised a large accountancy firm in relation to outsourcing certain activities in a developing country.
- Advised a family office in relation to resolving disputes arising from a leading fiduciary provider breaching certain obligations and mismanaging client’s affairs.
HNW Family Offices
- Advised a family office in relation to its investment in one of the largest global fitness brands, the amalgamation of a healthy fast casual restaurant chain into the investment, and related joint venture and consortium arrangements.
- Advised a number of family offices in relation to the constitutional arrangements of private protector companies in the context of high-net-worth family trust and succession planning.
- Advised a family enterprise in relation to a joint venture in Mauritius to own and exploit intellectual property in relation to an efficient platinum group metals extraction process.
- Advised a family office in relation to joint venture arrangements whereby other investors participated in an existing healthcare investment subject to complex control and future participation provisions.
- Advised a family office on a complex restructuring of its investment holding arrangements following the sale of the underlying operating companies.
Commercial Contracts
- Advised an emerging beer company on its distribution agreements in relation to a major sporting event and related arrangements.
- Advised a leading marine container company in relation to its sale and leasing arrangements and other commercial contracts.
- Advised a leading chemical company in relation to the proposed termination of complex site services supply arrangements.
- Advised a beverage company on its arrangements with an artist to use specific artworks for its labelling and associated marketing materials.
- Advised in relation to a pulp supply framework agreement for the supply of dissolving wood pulp produced in Brazil to various buyers within the client’s group. The agreement included complex quantity bonus provisions which were keenly negotiated.
- Advised a craft beer company on the termination of its arrangements with a UK distributor.
Africa
- Advised a fund on its investment into a forestry business in Ghana.
- Advised a listed mining company with operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo in relation to its offtake arrangements including various amendments thereto as conditions in the DRC changed.
- Advised a state-owned oil and gas company on its $575 million acquisition of Ghanaian oil and gas rights.
- Advised in relation to a joint venture to develop a plantation and wood export business in Mozambique.
- Advised a listed technology company on the purchase of a leading provider of fintech solutions to micro, small and medium enterprises in Southern Africa.
- Advised in relation to a $166 million acquisition of South African oil and gas rights.
Recognition
Recognised as a leading lawyer by The Legal 500 UK for Corporate and Commercial: M&A £50m-£500m, 2017-2024
Recognised by Best Lawyers in the United Kingdom for M&A Law, 2023-2024
Recognised as a “Highly Regarded lawyer” by IFLR 1000 Financial and Corporate, 2016 to 2023
Recognised as a “Leading lawyer” by IFLR 1000 M&A for Mining, Energy 2020
Recognised as a “Leading lawyer” by IFLR 1000 Energy and Infrastructure, 2014 to 2016
Career
Stuart qualified as a South African attorney in 1991 but no longer practises as a South African attorney.
Stuart qualified as an English solicitor in 1997.
Prior to joining Keystone Law in 2023, Stuart worked at the following firms:
- McDermott Will & Emery
- Maitland Advisory
- Webber Wentzel
- Mallinick Ress Richman & Closenberg (now part of Webber Wentzel)