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Michael Bloch

Partner

Michael has extensive experience in a wide range of ECM transactions, including initial public offerings (IPOs), rights issues, open offers, placings and accelerated bookbuild offerings, as well as other corporate finance transactions, public and private acquisitions and disposals and auction processes, frequently on a cross-border basis.

Michael covers a wide range of ECM transactions, including initial public offerings (IPOs), rights issues, open offers, placings and accelerated bookbuild offerings, as well as other corporate finance transactions, public and private acquisitions and disposals and auction processes, frequently on a cross-border basis. In addition, he acts as adviser to listed companies on a multitude of corporate governance matters, such as compliance with listing rules and other securities laws, directors’ duties, board effectiveness, internal procedures and controls, corporate reporting and investor engagement. He works with international corporates, investment banks, private equity clients and other shareholders and investors across multiple sectors including technology, fintech, life sciences, financial services, energy, industrials, mining and minerals, and more.

Michael is also involved the firm’s growth capital focus group, advising emerging and high growth companies on their private fundraising requirements and supporting them to IPO and beyond.

Michael is recognised as a leading ECM practitioner in Chambers, as a ‘Next Generation Partner’ in Legal 500, and as a ‘Rising Star’ in IFLR1000. 

Experience

Representative matters

IPOs and listings

For over 15 years, Michael has been advising growing companies, underwriting banks, shareholders and investors on IPOs and listings of companies on the London Stock Exchange and other international stock exchanges. 
Recent experience includes advising on the IPOs of CAB Payments and Ithaca Energy – among the largest to complete in the UK in 2023 and 2022 respectively. He has also advised on IPOs for DWF Group, Quilter, China Yangtze Power, Sensyne Health, McCarthy & Stone, Equiniti, Circassia Pharmaceuticals, Softcat, Kuwait Energy, Ophir Energy, Hibernia REIT, Spire Healthcare, Poundland and many more. 

 
Secondary offers and follow-ons 

Michael also advises listed companies, underwriting banks and selling shareholders across the globe on rights issues, open offers, placings, block trades and other strategic equity-related and corporate finance transactions. This includes capital raisings, public M&A, demergers and spin offs, redomiciliations and reorganisations. 
Recent examples include advising a leisure, travel and tourism company on four significant capital raisings including its recent EUR1.8bn rights issue – the largest in London since 2020 – and on significant rights issues and open offers for TP ICAP, Marks & Spencer, Sirius Minerals, Energias de Portugal (EDP), Cobham and Equiniti. 
He has also advised on other capital raisings for companies including Ocado, Hiscox and The Cooperative Bank, as well as on a significant number of accelerated block trades. 

 
Corporate governance 
Michael acts as adviser to listed and private companies on a multitude of corporate governance matters, such as compliance with listing rules and other securities laws, directors’ duties, board effectiveness, internal procedures and controls, corporate reporting and investor engagement. 

 
Growth capital 

As an involved member of Allen & Overy’s growth capital and EC/VC group, Michael advises private companies on capital raisings from Series B onwards, in addition to supporting those companies to IPO and beyond.

Pro bono

Michael is a keen advocate of Allen & Overy’s social impact, pro bono and community support work, in particular working with charitable organisations on their corporate structuring and funding requirements.

He is also involved in Allen & Overy’s Solicitor Apprenticeships programme.

Recognition
Michael is brilliant, he has excellent depth of knowledge.
Chambers UK 2024 (Equity Capital Markets)
Michael is a pleasure to deal with and absolutely knows his stuff, he's very highly regarded by all.
Chambers UK 2024 (Equity Capital Markets)

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2006

Academic

MA (Oxon), History, University of Oxford, 2002

Dip. Law, Nottingham Law School, 2003

LPC, Nottingham Law School, 2004

Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.