Seth Jones

Practice Areas

Seth is an M&A partner and advises clients on the full range of corporate transactions, including some of the highest profile M&A situations in recent years.

He has particular expertise in advising on strategically important transactions, often involving public companies and is one of the leading advisers in the UK in this area. Seth was previously seconded as a partner to act as the Secretary of the UK Takeover Panel for two years, during which time he regulated many M&A deals and was heavily involved in formulating Panel policy and takeover rules. Seth brings this insight as well as his extensive deal experience in helping clients navigate the heavily-regulated environment for UK M&A and make the right tactical decisions in the course of their most important transactions.

His recent experience includes advising Network International on the £2bn recommended offer for the company by a Brookfield-led consortium, OpenText Corporation on its £5bn recommended offer for Micro Focus International plc, Sampo and RMI on their £1.6bn joint cash offer for Hastings Insurance, Prosus on its £5.5bn contested bid for Just Eat, 21st Century Fox on its contested £25bn bid for Sky plc, HarbourVest on its innovative £1bn hostile bid for SVG Capital, Sanlam on the offer for Nucleus Financial and on its pan-African insurance JV with a global financial services provider and Dorilton Capital on its acquisition of the Williams F1 team. Seth also advised Worldpay on its £8bn merger with Vantiv, and Earthport plc on the contested offers for the company. He regularly helps the boards of major UK listed companies with their strategic M&A, as well as bid and activist defences.

Seth is recognised as a leading M&A lawyer in the major directories.

Legal 500 (M&A) 2022: ""Seth Jones’ experience is something that money can’t buy. No one else could have guided us through the transaction the way he did” and “Seth Jones is a key contact for public M&A, leading the team on many of the firm’s biggest instructions of the year.”

Chambers UK (M&A) 2023: ""Seth is a very pragmatic and practical lawyer; he is adept at marrying technical legal requirements and commercial requirements"" and ""Seth Jones is an extremely technical and calm individual.""