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Ashan Arif

Partner

Ashan Arif

Partner

“With clear, concise and timely advice and management, Ashan and his team helped us navigate complex arrangements and seamlessly bridged the gap between the legal and commercial issues”

BMW Legal Affairs UK & Ireland (AJ-UK)

Ashan Arif is head of corporate and commercial team and Director of forburyTECH, a tech start-up advisory of Clarkslegal.

Ashan provides corporate, company and banking advice to a wide range of businesses including start-ups, owner-managed businesses, SMEs and large listed corporates.

His expertise includes mergers & acquisitions, private equity, corporate, investments, restructurings, asset and business transfers, joint ventures, commercial agreements, banking, finance, alternative finance, fund raisings, general company and corporate matters.

Ashan acts for clients from across a range of sectors with a particular focus on the technology, media & entertainment, motor and hotel industries.

Experience

Start ups, university spin-outs and early stage

Ashan advises start-ups, mainly in the technology sector, university spin-outs and early stage companies, finding ways to help grow the business quickly and efficiently through Clarkslegal’s relationships with investors and financiers.

Mergers, acquisitions and disposals

Ashan regularly advises clients on mergers, acquisitions and disposals, including management buy-outs and buy-ins, advising clients from a commercial and strategic perspective, as well as legal, getting involved in transactions as early as possible.

Fundraising – angels, private equity, venture capital

Ashan has extensive experience and understanding of raising equity finance, from angel investment, private equity or venture capital.

Owner managers

Ashan regularly acts for exiting owner managers and shareholders of SMEs on the sale of their company.

Banking and finance

Advises clients on debt finance and related security documentation, whether as part of a corporate transaction or a stand-alone financing. This includes advising on loan agreements, debentures, charges, guarantees and other forms of security as well as satisfying the lender’s requirements, and Islamic Finance.

Reorganisations and demergers

Ashan works closely with the client’s accountants and tax advisers during the reorganisation of a company, group of companies or a specific part of their business.

Business divorce

Ashan has advised numerous clients on successfully settling shareholder disputes aiming to preserve the integrity of the ongoing business.

Shareholders’ agreements and joint ventures

Ashan regularly advises on shareholders’ agreements and joint venture arrangements, helping clients to understand the importance of documenting key issues governing the relationships of the parties.

What our clients say

“Ash offers really good advice and is very good at explaining options as well as the best way to structure a deal. He simplifies what needs to happen and makes it happen.”

Chambers 2024

“Ash is a very competent all-round corporate lawyer.”

Chambers 2024

“Ash is calm and responsive, and instils confidence with a broad knowledge of commercial law and sensitivity to safeguarding. He’s a pleasure to deal with.”

Chambers 2024

Read, listen and watch our latest insights

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  • 04 March 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Treasury Shares – An Opportunity to be Treasured

Under section 658 of the Companies Act 2006 (‘CA 2006’), there is a general rule against companies acquiring and owning their own shares.

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  • 07 February 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

The Importance of S3 of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977

All entities which enter into business-to-business contracts should be aware of the Unfair Contract Terms Act 1977 to ensure that their terms of business are legally binding

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  • 06 February 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Clarkslegal’s Corporate team advise the exiting shareholders of leading human microbiome company

Corporate lawyers advised the shareholders of leading human microbiome company, Invivo Healthcare, on their multi-million pound sale.

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  • 24 January 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Clarkslegal advises Kinectrics Inc on its acquisition of Cheshire based engineering firm

Canadian multinational, Kinectrics Inc was successfully advised by Clarkslegal’s corporate team on its purchase of Engineering Analysis Services for an undisclosed sum.

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  • 24 January 2024
  • Corporate and M&A

Clarkslegal act for Granahan McCourt Capital on acquisition of Strategic Imperatives

Clarkslegal’s corporate team, led by Ashan Arif and Jacob Montague, has advised Granaham McCourt Capital on its multi-million-pound acquisition of Strategic Imperatives.

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  • 19 December 2023
  • Corporate and M&A

Goodbye 2023, hello 2024 and changes to Companies House

As 2023 draws to a close, we look to the future, and it appears changes to corporate law and practice will be enacted next year, under the authority of the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act 2023.