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.
"Richard is particularly strong in his technical abilities and his understanding of how legal matters relate to real business issues and situations - giving strong legal and pragmatic support" - Legal 500 UK 2021 (Corporate Governance)
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.
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 several FTSE 100 & 250 clients on Covid matters, including financial covenant tests, force majeure, accounting issues, and AGM and other strategic planning
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.
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: 14 DECEMBER 2020
Webinar: The science led trends that will shape global markets in the next decade
A&O recently co-hosted two webinars with Stonehaven and the Alan Turing Institute on the science led trends that will shape global markets in the next decade.
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Publications: 08 DECEMBER 2020
With Brexit proper fast approaching, UK listed issuers of shares need to ensure they are prepared for the end of the transition period.
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Publications: 05 AUGUST 2020
Will climate change go up the boardroom agenda following Covid-19?
We believe that the global Covid-19 pandemic will lead to society at large taking climate change much more seriously. While parts of the business and financial community, and governments and…
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Publications: 08 JULY 2020
European M&A set for tough autumn
European M&A markets performed more strongly than expected in H1, buoyed by a small number of very big transactions. However, the underlying picture was far less rosy, and the short-term outlook is…
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