Michael Arnott
Partner
Corporate
Qualifications
Memberships
Practice Areas
Michael advises founders, owner-managers, investors and companies on the transactions that matter most to them: selling and buying businesses, raising investment, navigating shareholder and board issues, and dealing with complex restructurings.
He is particularly valued for combining technical corporate advice with commercial judgment and calm execution. Clients instruct him when they need a lawyer who can see the strategic picture, anticipate pressure points early, and keep momentum through a deal process. Whether acting on a business sale, an investment round, an acquisition or a restructuring, Michael is focused on protecting value, managing risk and getting transactions over the line efficiently.
Michael’s client base includes entrepreneurs, family offices, early-stage and growth companies, PE and VC investors, funds, boards and corporate groups. He advises across the full deal lifecycle, from preparation, structuring and negotiation through to completion and post-deal implementation. He is also regularly consulted by boards and stakeholders on legally and commercially sensitive situations where clear judgment and practical advice are critical.
A distinguishing feature of Michael’s practice is his experience in underperforming, stressed and special situations. He is well known for advising investors and stakeholders on the realisation of non-performing assets, including restructurings, accelerated disposals and formal insolvency processes. That experience gives him an additional edge on mainstream corporate transactions: he understands where deals can go wrong, how to preserve leverage, and how to find pragmatic routes to completion in more difficult circumstances.
Having worked with international law firms in London and advised on numerous significant transactions during his career, Michael brings a sophisticated, transaction-driven approach to every mandate. Clients value him for being responsive, commercially minded and straightforward to work with, as well as for delivering advice that is clear, practical and aligned with their objectives.
Legal Experience
- Acquisitions of a nationwide property services group and a law firm.
- Leveraged acquisition of portfolio of petrol stations.
- PE Exit from a precision engineering business to a Chinese buyer.
- Formation of a family office.
- EIS investment rounds acting for both companies and individual investors (on different transactions!) in the following sectors: online fashion, mining, tech (platforms and fintech), healthcare and e-commerce.
- Investment in a global financial services group on behalf of a high net worth investor.
- Sale of an online auction platform to a Swedish Buyer.
- Distressed acquisition of film and television intellectual property and licenses.
- Resolving a shareholder dispute and putting in place new regulated advisory firm for the ongoing business.
- Advising a director of a listed directory company as to his duties in the context of a restructuring.
- Restructuring / rationalisation of research arm of an international telecoms company.
- Debt restructurings for property developers acting for borrowers and lenders.
- Advice as to the formation and constitution of a financial services company.
- Acquisition of a publishing business.
- The sale of a multi-site restaurant business.
- Acting for a partner in a well-known law firm, which was in administration.
- Resolving a dispute relating to botanical intellectual property, using a provisional liquidation.
- A number of high-profile boards and individuals have sought his advice in relation to their legal duties as directors, generally and during restructuring and insolvency.