About Ben

Ben advises on a wide range of corporate matters, with a focus on M&A on behalf of VC-backed companies, as well as private equity and growth capital fundraisings.

He acts for investors and high-growth companies on acquisitions, minority investments, leveraged buyouts, exits, buy-and-build strategies and restructurings, typically with a trans-Atlantic element.

Ben advises on transactions covering a range of sectors, with a particular interest in software, artificial intelligence and other technology-related investments. He also has significant experience advising strategic and financial investors on complex domestic and cross-border M&A and joint ventures.

Ben’s representative matters include advising:

  • Kpler on its acquisition of Spire Global’s maritime business for $241 million, its $200+ million strategic growth investment from Insight Partners and Five Arrows, and multiple acquisitions, including ClipperData and MarineTraffic
  • PetLab Co. on its sale of a majority stake to BC Partners
  • MoonPay on its acquisition of Helio
  • Board Intelligence on its investment from K1 Investment Management
  • GeBBS Healthcare Solutions and ChrysCapital on the sale of a controlling interest in GeBBS to EQT
  • Nord Security, the makers of NordVPN, on its two $100+ million financing rounds led by Warburg Pincus and Novator Ventures, respectively, most recently at a valuation of $3 billion
  • Accel as lead investor in the $267 million Series F fundraising of Zepz
  • Zalgiris Kaunas on its acquisition of the London Lions professional basketball franchise
  • Snyk in connection with its acquisitions of Enso Security, Fugue, TopCoat, CloudSkiff, FossID, Manifold and DeepCode
  • Fordhouse on its investment in Zenzero, buy-and-build strategy and subsequent exit to Macquarie Capital
  • CovertSwarm on its investment from Beech Tree Private Equity
  • Unchained Labs on its acquisition of Blacktrace Holdings
  • TradingHub on its investment from Summit Partners
  • Uber on its joint venture with Yandex and its reorganization of Careem into separate ride-hailing and super app business units in connection with a $400 million investment by e&
  • Zephr on its agreement to sell to Zuora
  • UiPath in connection with its acquisition of Re:infer
  • Investors in MiroBio regarding its agreement to sell to Gilead for approximately $405 million
  • iProov on its $70 million growth investment from Sumeru Equity Partners
  • Chegg in connection with its acquisition of Busuu for approximately $436 million
  • Sense Biodetection on its combination with Sherlock Biosciences
  • Quantifeed on its acquisition of Alpima
  • Unmind on its acquisition of Frankie Health
  • Wagestream in connection with its acquisition of Earnd Australia
  • Humio on its agreement to sell to CrowdStrike for approximately $400 million
  • Decibel on its agreement to sell to Medallia for approximately $160 million
  • Burda Principal Investments on the buyout of notonthehighstreet by Great Hill Partners
  • Société Jacques Bollinger in connection with its investment in BI Wines and Spirits

Ben joined Cooley in 2020. He is recommended in Chambers UK as a leading lawyer for Corporate/M&A (£100 – 800 million) and The Legal 500 UK as a Next Generation Partner for private equity transactions. He was also named a Rising Star of private equity in the London market by Legal Week in 2018.

Download full bio

Education

  • BPP University Law School
    Legal Practice Course, 2005
  • BPP University Law School
    Graduate Diploma in Law, 2004
  • Peterhouse, Cambridge University
    MA, Land Economy, 2003

Rankings and accolades

Chambers UK: Corporate/M&A: £100-800 million (2024)

The Legal 500 UK: Next-Generation Partner for Private Equity Transactions (2021)

Legal Week: Rising Star – Private Equity in the London Market (2018)