Gary Brown
Gary Brown is a corporate partner and serves as co-head of the firm's European Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. His practice focuses on mergers and acquisitions, private equity buyouts, joint ventures, and reorganizations.
Gary and his team have been recognized in multiple industry awards for innovative M&A transactions including Transatlantic Legal Team of the Year, and twice winner of the Lexis Nexis Deal of the Year (2022 and 2024).
The Lawyer named Gary Brown in its prestigious “Hot 100” list for 2026, recognizing him as one of the UK’s leading advisers on technology-driven M&A. The publication highlighted his role advising SoftBank on landmark transactions across AI, semiconductors and robotics, praising his deep sector expertise, trusted client relationships and ability to deliver complex, high-value deals — even beyond tech, including a major Premier League transaction.
Clients note that “Gary Brown has all the qualities we look for in a partner. Amazing ability to stay on track on all topics and to be always available. Legal skills are beyond outstanding and relationship with client is the best we can imagine. Has set the perfect standard we’d love to find in all the external counsels we look for. Gary’s spirit and excellence can be seen in all its team members.” - Legal 500 UK.
Experience
SoftBank
- Advising SoftBank on its proposed acquisition of Swiss-headquartered ABB’s robotics division at an enterprise value of $5.375 billion.
- Advising SoftBank Group Corp., on its acquisition of Graphcore, a UK-based semiconductor and microprocessor developer.
- Advising SoftBank on its $1BN investment in UK AI unicorn Wayve, the largest ever investment in a UK AI company.
- Advising SoftBank on its $4.4BN investment in WeWork Companies Inc.
- Advising SoftBank on its $1BN investment in mobile satellite business OneWeb.
- Advising SoftBank on its $7.7 billion investment in Uber.
- Advising SoftBank Group Capital Limited in connection with the pre-sale reorganization and subsequent sale of Pelion IoT Limited, to Scottish Equity Partners.
- Advising SoftBank on its disposal of Indian solar-energy company SoftBank Energy to Adani Group at a $3.5BN valuation, the largest solar energy deal in Indian M&A history.
- Advising SoftBank on its $40BN sale of semiconductor designer Arm to NVIDIA, as well as SoftBank’s original $32BN takeover of Arm.
- Advising SoftBank Vision Fund 2 as lead investor in a $190M financing round in UK fintech platform Primary Bid.
- Advising SoftBank Vision Fund 2 on its $250M investment in UK tech unicorn Gousto.
- Advising SoftBank, one of OneWeb’s shareholders, in connection with the $3.4 billion merger between satellite companies OneWeb and Eutelsat Communications.
Arm
- Advising Arm Holdings plc, the world’s leading UK-headquartered semiconductor IP company, on its IPO on the Nasdaq which raised $5.22 BN, the largest IPO of 2023.
Eagle Football Holdings
- Advising Eagle Football Holdings Limited on its sale of its 43% stake in Crystal Palace Football Club to an entity owned by Woody Johnson, U.S. businessman and co-owner of the New York Jets American football team.
Cambridge Quantum Computing
- Advising Cambridge Quantum Computing on its $5BN merger with Honeywell Quantum Solutions to form Quantinuum.
Imerys
- Advising Imerys S.A., the French-listed world leader in mineral-based specialty solutions, on its joint venture with British Lithium, to accelerate development of the UK’s largest lithium deposit.
- Advising Imerys S.A. and Omya A.G. on their disposal of Fiberlean Technologies, a leading manufacturer of an innovative, sustainable composite material, to Werhahn KG.
One Investment Management
- Advising One Investment Management on its $2 billion joint venture with UAE-based Vega Investment.
Ares
- Advising Ares on its investment in Swedish based vehicle technology company Opus.
Eurohold Bulgaria
- Advising Eurohold Bulgaria AD on its EUR 355 acquisition of the Bulgarian power distribution/renewable energy business of Czech utility company ČEZ.
BioLineRx
- Advising clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company BioLineRx on its acquisition of UK-based Agalimmune Group, whose lead asset is an immuno-oncology specialist.
Cherokee, Inc.
- Advising Cherokee, Inc. on its acquisition of Hi-Tec Sports, and its related follow-on disposals of non-core assets. The firm won M&A Team of the Year (Midmarket Deal valued at less than £1bn) at the Transatlantic Legal Awards for its work on this matter.
Rankings
Recognized in the 'Hot 100' list for 2026
The Lawyer
Recommended: Corporate & Commercial: M&A: upper mid-market and premium deals, £500M+
Legal 500 UK 2019-2026
Recommended: Corporate & Commercial: Venture Capital
Legal 500 UK 2024
Notable Practitioner: Private Equity
IFLR1000 2019-2024