Search

How can we help?

Mark Ridley

Partner

Mark Ridley

Partner

“Mark made it so easy and stress free for us which is in stark contrast to our previous experiences. My only regret is that we didn’t engage his services sooner.” 

Mark Ridley is a partner in the corporate and commercial team and has over 15 years’ experience working with businesses and investors to create legal solutions.

His expertise ranges across business purchases and sales, management buy-outs, employee share options, partnership creations and dissolutions, and shareholder agreements.  Mark also prepares formal agreements to help protect businesses against risk including commercial agreements for service providers.

Mark’s clients include international groups and a variety of service sector businesses.

Mark’s wider experience includes advising businesses in disputes and has particular expertise advising on shareholders’ rights.

Experience

Business acquisitions

Mark acts for buyers whether acquiring entire, controlling or minority shareholding interests.  To suit his clients’ needs he can take the lead in negotiating heads of terms, carrying out pre-purchase investigations and navigating disclosure exercises.

Business sales and share disposal

Mark regularly advises shareholders seeking exits whatever the circumstances may be including retirement, business divorces, asset diversification, and successions.

Employee share options

Mark helps businesses recruit and retain talent through granting shares and share options, whether for growth, employee benefit or performance-based purposes.

Shareholder and investor agreements

Mark helps shareholders and investors put safeguards in place to keep options available to them when making long terms commitments.

What our clients say

“Thanks Mark, it has been great working with you. Very professional and very prompt.”

“We could not have got to this point without you and your excellent team.”

“Mark was very efficient at dealing with the matter, resulting in a very satisfactory outcome, getting results which I had not been able to achieve by myself.”

“Mark made it so easy and stress free for us which is in stark contrast to our previous experiences. My only regret is that we didn’t engage his services sooner.”

Read, listen and watch our latest insights

art
  • 11 September 2026
  • Privacy and Data Protection

Data Protection Breaches – Personal Liability for Employees

It is well known that employers have obligations under the Data Protection Act 2018 (the “Act”) but, perhaps lesser known, is that employees can be held personally liable for certain actions amounting to criminal offences under the Act.

Pub
  • 07 September 2026
  • Corporate and M&A

Frequently Asked Questions About Shareholders’ Agreements – Episode 1

Join Emma Docking and Jonathan Hayes as they explore some of the most frequently asked questions about shareholders’ agreements, including what they are, how they work alongside articles of association, and the risks of operating without one.

art
  • 03 September 2026
  • Employment

Employment Rights Act – October Changes

We are well and truly underway with implementation of the Employment Rights Act 2025 (“ERA 2025”) and October brings the next tranche of changes that employers will need to be ready for.

art
  • 02 September 2026
  • Immigration

Mandatory MFA for Sponsor Management System Users: What Sponsors Need to Know

The Home Office is introducing a significant security change to the Sponsor Management System (SMS). From 3 September 2026, the Home Office will begin a phased rollout of mandatory Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for SMS users.

art
  • 01 September 2026

Orwins continues growth with investment in Milners and Acquisition of Roe Lawyers

Clarkslegal is pleased to share the news that Orwins, the legal services group we joined earlier this year, has announced a significant investment in Yorkshire law firm Milners and the acquisition of London-based specialist practice Roe Lawyers.

Pub
  • 28 August 2026
  • Immigration

Right to Work and Sponsor Licence Changes 2026: Key dates for businesses

In this podcast, immigration solicitors Ruth Karimatsenga and Monica Mastropasqua discuss the key immigration compliance changes coming into force in September and October 2026 and what employers, HR teams, sponsors and individuals should do to prepare.