David Brooks

Global law firm Freshfields has acted as lead adviser to Liberty Global Ltd (“LG”) on the entry into definitive agreements with Vodafone Group Plc to acquire Vodafone’s 50% shareholding in the Dutch telecommunication joint venture, VodafoneZiggo. Under the terms of the agreements, Vodafone will receive € 1 bn in cash and a 10% shareholding in Ziggo Group, a new Benelux company that will hold LG’s interests in VodafoneZiggo in the Netherlands and Telenet in Belgium and Luxembourg. The transaction will enable LG to fully unlock the value of its Benelux operating businesses for shareholders, supported by plans to list Ziggo Group in 2027 on Euronext in Amsterdam by spin off the 90% held by Liberty Global to its shareholders. The multijurisdictional cross-practice team was led by Partners Hanneke Rothbarth (Corporate/M&A, Amsterdam) and Deborah Janssens (Corporate/M&A, Brussels), Counsel Marius Weyers (Corporate/M&A, Amsterdam), Principal Associate Joachim De Vos (Corporate/M&A, Brussels), and Associates Anne Zwolsman (Corporate/M&A, Amsterdam) and Sarah Wauthion (Corporate/M&A, Brussels). Tax advice was provided by Partner Bob Van Kasteren and Senior Associate Daan Van Schaik (both Amsterdam). The wider Freshfields team included Partners Alvaro Pliego Selie (Amsterdam), Sacha Schubert (Brussels), Tone Oeyen (Brussels), Principal Associate Björn Sijtsma (Brussels) and Associates Henri Putman (Brussels) and Veerle Peters (Amsterdam) for antitrust and regulatory advice. Partners Brechje Nollen (Amsterdam) and Satya Staes Polet (Brussels), and Associate Lotte Somers (Amsterdam) advised on the employment aspects. For commercial advice, Partner David Brooks (London), Counsel Tom Dye (London) and Associate Hannah Family (London). And for other corporate advice Partner Rhys Evans (London), Associates Riet Devriendt (Brussels) and Emma O’Keeffe (London).

Feb 20

1 min

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised longstanding client CVC Capital Partners (‘CVC’) on CVC Funds’ strategic partnership with the Women’s Tennis Association (‘WTA’). The new partnership will build upon the strong legacy which the WTA has established over the last 50 years, with the objective to further elevate the profile of women’s tennis and to accelerate commercial growth for the benefit of the fans, players, tournaments and other stakeholders in the game. CVC brings 25 years of experience investing in sports to the partnership, with former and current investments in Formula 1, Moto GP, Rugby, the French Football League, La Liga, Volleyball and IPL Cricket. CVC also brings access to a broad international network of 25 local offices across Europe, Australasia and the Americas, which will be available to support the accelerated commercial growth of the sport. The Freshfields team advising CVC is led by Charles Hayes, David Brooks, Valerie Ford Jacob and Alex Collins. Further information on the partnership can be found here.

Mar 8

1 min

Freshfields is advising Rolls-Royce SMR Limited (Rolls-Royce SMR) on its partnership with CEZ Group (CEZ), which includes an c.20% equity investment by CEZ and a strategic partnership to enable the development, construction and deployment of small modular reactors (SMRs) in the UK and Czech Republic. The proposed transaction strengthens Rolls-Royce SMR’s ability to deploy SMR technology in Europe and globally, and puts CEZ, Rolls-Royce SMR and its existing shareholders at the forefront of SMR deployment. These efforts further support the UK and Europe to reach their ambitious net zero goals and contribute solutions to address the challenges of climate change. Subject to customary regulatory clearances and security assessments, the proposed transaction is expected to close during 2025. The Freshfields team is being led by partners Samira Afrasiabi, Vanessa Jakovich and Nick Jones and senior associate Marc McCaughey. Regulatory advice is being provided by partner Thomas McGrath and senior associate Daniel Wylde. Intellectual property advice is being provided by partner David Brooks and senior associate Ben Cohen. Tax advice is being provided by partner David Haworth

Nov 6

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) has advised Hasten Biopharmaceuticals on its acquisition of 14 product portfolios from Korean biopharmaceutical company Celltrion Healthcare. Hasten Biopharmaceuticals is a leading specialty pharmaceutical company based in China and a portfolio company of CBC Group, a healthcare-dedicated asset management firm headquartered in Singapore. The Freshfields team advising on the transaction was led by partner Alan Wang and counsel Ya Ma, supported by associates Sunny Min and Yichen Xing. Teams in Europe provided support on IP matters and various commercial agreements, comprised by partners David Brooks and Philipp Dohnke, counsel Philipp Lehman and John Scurr, senior associate Ben Cohen and associate Babak Hakimian.

Jul 11

1 min

Global law firm Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer (‘Freshfields’) is advising Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (‘CD&R’) and its portfolio company Motor Fuel Group (‘MFG’) on its agreement relating to the proposed acquisition of 337 Morrisons petrol forecourts and more than 400 associated sites across the UK for Ultra-Rapid electric vehicle (‘EV’) charging development. The proposed £2.5bn transaction forms a new strategic partnership between the two companies. As part of the transaction Morrisons will take a minority stake of approximately 20% in MFG, and enter into commercial and supply agreements with MFG, underscoring the long-term nature of the commercial partnership. This level of investment will position MFG as one of the largest and most significant ultra-rapid EV charge point operators in the UK. MFG has already committed to completing its market leading £400m EV roll out by 2030, and through this partnership intends to electrify approximately 800 sites with thousands of Ultra-Rapid chargers across the combined estate in that timeframe. The Freshfields team advising CD&R and its portfolio company MFG is led by private equity partner James Scott and senior associate Chris Yarrow. Private equity partner Mark Brewer and senior associate Jay Swain advised on the equity arrangements, and partner David Brooks and counsel Tom Dye led on the commercial and transitional arrangements. Senior associate Emily Szasz advised on tax aspects.

Jan 31

1 min