Mark Jones

Mark focuses his practice on representing high-growth companies, founders, investors and management teams in a range of corporate matters, primarily centred on M&A, emerging companies and venture capital, and corporate reorganisations. He has experience in counselling emerging life sciences and technology companies on their formation, corporate governance and general life cycle, including private and public exits.

Mark was recognised with the Financial Rising Star award at the LMG Life Sciences 2024 Europe, Middle East, Africa (EMEA) award ceremony for his work in the life sciences industry, particularly in respect of venture capital and portfolio company matters. He also is recognised by The Legal 500 UK in its Corporate and commercial – M&A: lower mid-market deals (£50m-£500m) category.

Mark also has spent time on secondment at Medicxi, a leading life sciences investment firm, with more than 1 billion euros of assets under management.

Mark’s recent transactions/matters include advising:

Emerging companies and venture capital

• Snyk, the world leader in developer-led security, on its $196.5 million (154.41 million-pound) Series G round, $530 million (416.48 million-pound) Series F round, $300 million (235.75 million-pound) Series E round and $200 million (157.16 million-pound) Series D round
• Orchard Therapeutics on its $150 million (117.87 million-pound) Series C round
• Ascend Advanced Therapies on its $130 million (102.16 million-pound) Series A round
• Accel Partners on its 85 million-pound investment in Monzo
• Proximie on its $80 million (62.87 million-pound) Series C round
• Bit Bio, a cell coding company, on its $41 million (32.22 million-pound) Series A round
• Gymbox, a London-based, cutting-edge gym chain, on its 39 million-pound investment from BGF and HSBC
• Manual, a wellness platform, on its $30 million (23.57 million-pound) Series A round
• Rooser, an online seafood marketplace, on its $23 million (18.07 million-pound) Series A round
• Biofidelity on its 10 million-pound ($12.73 million) Series A round
• General Catalyst on its investment in Beauty Pie, an online beauty platform
• Several early-stage life sciences and technology companies on their Series Seed, A, B and C rounds

M&A

• The management team of software company, Calypso Technology, on the sale of Calypso to Thoma Bravo, a US-based private equity house, for $3.4 billion (2.67 billion pounds)
• Kpler, a leading provider of technology-led data, analytics and market insight, on its strategic growth investment of more than $200 million (157.16 million pounds) from Five Arrows and Insight Partners
• Medicxi on the sale of one of its portfolio companies, Versanis Bio, to Eli Lilly for up to $1.925 billion (1.51 billion pounds)
• Eagle Pharmaceuticals on its recommended acquisition, by way of a scheme of arrangement, of Acacia Pharma Group
• Pizza Hut Restaurants UK and its senior leadership team, led by CEO Jens Hofma, on the management buyout of the business from Rutland Partners
• Susquehanna Private Capital on its 70 million-pound purchase of thebigword Group, a leading provider of language translation services
• Primary Capital Partners on the sale of Leisure Pass Group to Exponent Private Equity
• Blue Minerva Limited, an HG Capital-backed acquisitive company, on the 40 million-pound purchase of PS Financials (Holdings) Limited and various other portfolio companies
• Journey Group on its $24 million (18.86 million-pound) scheme of arrangement and recommended offer from Jaguar Holdings
• Thrasio, the world’s largest Amazon aggregator and fastest-ever profitable US unicorn, on several acquisitions of UK-based companies

Capital markets and holding company re-organisations

• Immunocore, a leading UK biotechnology company, on its $273 million (214.53 million-pound) initial public offering (IPO) and listing on Nasdaq
• Autolus Therapeutics, a leading UK biotechnology company, on its $173 million (135.95 million-pound) IPO and listing on Nasdaq
• Entasis Therapeutics on its $75 million (58.94 million-pound) IPO and listing on Nasdaq
• Medicxi on the corporate re-organisation and integration of the platforms and assets from six of its portfolio companies – Aldena Therapeutics, Graegis Pharmaceuticals, Granular Therapeutics, KliRNA Biotech, Nira Biosciences and Vimela Therapeutics – into Alys Pharmaceuticals
• F-star Therapeutics on its corporate reorganisation

During his training contract, Mark was seconded to Amazon where he acted on a variety of matters, including the resolution of small claims, the negotiation of commercial terms and conditions, and actioning notice and takedown requests.