Will Holder is a partner in Morrison Foerster’s Corporate Group in London. He advises multinational corporations and asset managers on complex cross-border transactions, with a focus on mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, joint ventures, and strategic investments.

Will has extensive experience across the technology, media, consumer, and sports sectors, where he regularly advises clients on high-value, strategically significant transactions. He is particularly recognized for his work in the technology, fintech and media space and for guiding clients through multi-jurisdictional deals.

In addition to his transactional practice, Will regularly advises private equity clients on portfolio company matters, including bolt-on acquisitions, reorganizations, and exits. His work spans the full investment lifecycle, from investment and acquisition through to realization.

Will is recognized as a Leading Individual for Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT) by Legal 500 UK. He is praised by clients for being “highly commercial and solutions-driven, with a clear focus on getting deals done efficiently" and is known as “a trusted adviser on complex, cross-border transactions in the media and technology space”.

Prior to joining Morrison Foerster, Will was a partner in the corporate team of a leading international law firm in London. Earlier in his career, he spent time working in China, bringing valuable international perspective to his cross-border practice.

Representative Experience

• The investors, including Warburg Pincus, Accel, Salesforce and HSBC on the sale of Privitar to Informatica.
  
• Western Union on a cross border financial services acquisition.
  
• A BNPL provider on its entry into the United Kingdom by way of an acquisition.
  
• A BNPL provider in relation to its equity financing rounds.
  
• Thomson Reuters on its $500 million sale of Elite software business to TPG.
  
• Tech Mahindra on its €310 million acquisition of Com Tec Co IT.
  
• A global media company on a number of joint ventures and acquisitions.
  
• A global technology company on the planned divestment of its European business.
  
• A global fintech operator on a UK acquisition.
  
• A global natural resources company on the carve out and sale of its European technology divisions.
  
• A Chinese consortium on the acquisition of a European flow sensor company.
  
• An Asia-based financial institution on a number of investments into the fintech sector.
  
• Egmont on the sale of its UK children’s books business, Egmont Books UK, to HarperCollins.
  
• Universal Music Group on its $1.9 billion acquisition of EMI’s recorded music business from Citigroup, one of the most significant deals in the history of the recorded music industry.
  
• Universal Music Group on a number of divestments following the EMI acquisition, including its $765 million sale of Parlophone Records to Warner Music Group and the sale of Sanctuary Music to BMG Rights Management.
  
• A Chinese based consortium of investors on the acquisition of West Bromwich Albion Football Club, the first English premier league club acquired by Chinese investors.
  
• Endeavor Content on its strategic investment into Motive Pictures, a UK-based television production company.
  
• Universal Music Group on its €1.63 billion acquisition of BMG Music Publishing from Bertelsmann, and the subsequent divestments of Zomba Music Publishing and Rondor Music.
  
• Boparan Holdings on its £342 million contested takeover offer of Northern Foods plc.
  
• A consortium of investors on the £360 million take-private of Chelsfield plc.
  
• Chinese hotel company HK CTS Metropark Hotels Company on its £400 million acquisition of the Kew Green Hotels portfolio from Goldman Sachs and TPG.