Nick O'Donnell

As a seasoned partner in the London Corporate team, I have over 25 years' experience covering cross-border M&A (public and private), equity capital markets and public company governance including ESG.

I co-head our London Corporate team, and advise on cross-border M&A (public and private), private equity, equity capital markets, joint ventures, corporate governance and reorganisations. My focus is on building long-term relationships with my clients, particularly listed groups, multinationals, private equity and international investors.

Having spent time on secondment in London with Goldman Sachs, Macquarie and Morgan Stanley, I have strong market knowledge and have been regularly quoted in the press - including in CNBC, Bloomberg, The Economist and The Financial Times.

I have been a partner at Bird & Bird since 2021 and was previously a partner in the London office of another leading global law firm for nine years, having qualified and spent over a decade at a Magic Circle firm.

I have a long-track record of successfully executing cross-border deals, particularly premium mid-market deals involving the UK, Europe and the United States. I have spent time working in New York, and travel to the United States several times a year as part of our US strategy. I also have significant experience in executing Gulf in-bound and out-bound transactions and was based in Abu Dhabi for two years.

My broad sector experience includes the Technology, Retail, Media, Healthcare and Financial Services sectors, and I enjoy working with our market-leading experts across those areas. Our one firm approach internationally, practical use of technology tools and integrated teams allows us to provide outstanding and consistent client service on cross-border deals.

I am recognised in leading UK legal directories, including Legal 500 and IFLR 1000, and have led multiple award-winning transactions.

My clients trust me to listen, to work collaboratively, to care, to deliver and to invest in their long-term success.

• A long-track record of successful private equity transactions, working with repeat clients at leading mid-market US and European firms and their portfolio companies on transactions, particularly those involving founder and family-owned businesses.
• More than 100 cross-border M&A and joint venture transactions across the Tech, Retail, Media, Healthcare and Financial Services sectors including acting for: Nexfibre on is first acquisition in partnership with Virgin Media O2; US-based Freenome on its acquisition of Oncimmune Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline PLC on the €955 million sale of a vaccines business to Bavarian Nordic; Hutch Games on its $275 million sale to Nasdaq Nordic listed MTG AB; Cargill on its £1.5 billion acquisition of Provimi and its separate £1.2 billion acquisition of EWOS; Hitachi on its £80 million acquisition of the IA business of Oxford Instruments PLC; Best Buy Inc. on its £500 million JV sale transaction with Carphone Warehouse PLC and TBC Bank Group PLC on its acquisition of Bank Republic from Société Générale.
• Board advisory roles to FTSE 250 and AIM-quoted companies, including through complex transactions and strategic developments.
• Multiple takeovers of London-listed companies including acting for: Globe Invest on its £45 million takeover of Best of the Best PLC, Purecircle Limited on its £185 million takeover by Ingredion, Inc.; The Olayan Group on the possible £2.9 billion consortium offer for intu Properties PLC; Vermeg Group NV on its recommended cash offer for Lombard Risk Management PLC; Worldview on its deal for Petroceltic International PLC and Exillion Energy PLC on its formal sale process under the UK Takeover Code.
• More than 50 successful European, US and Gulf IPOs, capital raisings, returns of capital, demergers, delistings, block trades and redomestications including acting for: FTSE 250 member TBC Bank Group PLC's $640 million IPO and subsequent Premium Listing; former FTSE 250 member Collins Stewart Tullett PLC on its demerger; Management Consulting Group PLC on its $165 million disposal of Kurt Salmon to Accenture and subsequent return of capital to shareholders; Rowan Companies, Inc. on its $4 billion inversion to the UK by way of triangular merger.