Richard Cranfield
Partner
London
Richard Cranfield
Partner
London
Contact Details
Richard is global chairman of A&O's Corporate practice and co-head of A&O's financial institutions group. He has over 30 years' experience in mergers and acquisitions, and in capital markets (both international and domestic) for equity financings. His corporate client base includes FTSE 100 and FTSE 250 companies and banks in the UK and large public and private corporations and financial institutions outside the UK.
Market commentators describe Richard as an "excellent relationship partner who continues to roll up his sleeves". Chambers UK 2016 (Corporate/M&A)
Clients enthuse Richard is "bright and practical" and "has a very good way of settling the nerves of the board". Chambers UK 2014 (Corporate/M&A)
Clients say "What he does not know is not worth knowing … boards take real comfort from his assurances on a deal, such is his gravitas and knowledge". Chambers UK 2011 (Corporate/M&A)
His experience includes advising:
- Mid Europa Partners on the EUR500m sale of its 65% interest in Orange Austria, the third largest mobile phone operator in Austria, to Hutchison 3G Austria Holdings GmbH in 2012.
- Cable and Wireless on its GBP360m public takeover offer for Thus Group, a Scottish telecoms company.
- Cable and Wireless on the GBP3.7bn demerger into two new LSE listed groups: Cable & Wireless Communications and Cable & Wireless Worldwide.
- Novartis on its GBP305m public takeover of Neutec Pharma.
- Standard Chartered on its USD3.2bn acquisition of Korea First Bank in 2005 and Harrison Lovegrove in 2007.
- Hiscox on its redomiciliaition to Bermuda in 2006 and rights issue.
- Beazley on its rights issue and redomiciliation to Jersey in 2009.
- The College of Law on the GBP180m competitive auction sale of its legal education and training business to Montagu Private Equity in 2012.
- Sigdo Koppers on its acquisition of Magotteaux in 2011.
Expertise
Practices
Corporate Governance and Compliance
Financial Services Regulation and Investigations
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1980
Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2018
Academic
MA Economics (Pt I), Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, 1978
MA Law (Pt II), Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, 1978
Experience highlights
Advising Cable and Wireless on the GBP3.7bn demerger into two new LSE listed groups, Cable & Wireless Communications and Cable & Wireless Worldwide.
Advising DTI on the privatisation of British Energy.
Advising Electra Private Equity on its defence against activist shareholder, Edward Bramson, and thereafter on its strategic review, formal sale process and GBP119m sale of its non-controlled assets, Photobox and Knights Square, to Lexington Partners.
Advising HSBC on its retail ring-fencing project.
Expertise
Practices
Corporate Governance and Compliance
Financial Services Regulation and Investigations
Sectors
Qualifications
Professional
Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 1980
Admitted as solicitor, Ireland, 2018
Academic
MA Economics (Pt I), Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, 1978
MA Law (Pt II), Fitzwilliam College, Cambridge University, 1978
Recognition
an excellent relationship partner who continues to roll up his sleeves.
Chambers UK 2016 (Corporate/M&A)
What he does not know is not worth knowing … boards take real comfort from his assurances on a deal, such is his gravitas and knowledge.
Chambers UK 2011 (Corporate/M&A)
has a very good way of settling the nerves of the board
Chambers UK 2014 (Corporate/M&A)
bright and practical
Chambers UK 2014 (Corporate/M&A)
Fraudulent emails
Please note there is a known inheritance related fraud/scam currently using the Allen & Overy brand and Richard Cranfield’s name.
More information on fraud using the Allen & Overy brand can be found here.
News & insights
Publications: 23 JANUARY 2020
Equity capital markets: navigating the challenges of 2020
2019 was a challenging year for equity capital markets. Proceeds from IPOs fell by over 25% in the UK, and by more than 30% across Europe. A number of political and economic factors, which contributed to pricing uncertainty and market volatility, undoubtedly led to this reduction in activity.
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Publications: 22 JANUARY 2020
Key Regulatory Topics: Weekly Update 10 January - 16 January 2020
Allen & Overy publish weekly updates on key regulatory topics affecting the financial services sector.
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Publications: 20 JANUARY 2020
Inactive entities are about to be removed from the Luxembourg trade and companies register
Following the statement issued by the Luxembourg Ministry of Justice in December 2019[1] , the Luxembourg Business Registers (LBR) confirmed on 13 January 2020 that it will start removing inactive entities from the Luxembourg trade and companies register.
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Publications: 20 JANUARY 2020
Unlike our previous Brexit podcast which focused on points relevant to a no-deal exit, this podcast covers the impact of the UK leaving the EU on 31 January with a deal and a transition period.
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