Seth Jones
Image of Seth Jones

Seth Jones

Partner

Email

seth.jones@aoshearman.com

Phone

+44 203 088 2084

Offices

London

V-CARD
Seth is Head of U.K M&A and advises clients on the full range of corporate transactions, including some of the highest profile M&A situations in recent years.

Seth has led our teams in advising a wide range of corporate, private capital and financial institution clients on their most important strategic transactions. Seth has particular expertise in transactions involving public companies, having previously been seconded as a partner to act as the Secretary of the UK Takeover Panel for two years, during which time he regulated many M&A deals and was heavily involved in formulating Panel policy and takeover rules. Seth brings this insight as well as his extensive deal experience in helping clients navigate the heavily-regulated environment for UK M&A and make the right tactical decisions in the course of their most important transactions.

Seth’s clients include major UK and international companies, financial institutions and leading financial investors.

Seth advised Allen & Overy on its merger with Shearman & Sterling, to create one of the largest fully-integrated law firms in the world.

Expertise

Industries

Experience

Representative matters

  • NatWest on its acquisition of Sainsbury’s Bank, comprising its personal loan, credit card and savings accounts.
  • Network International Holdings plc on the GBP2.2bn takeover offer by funds advised and/or managed by Brookfield and its consortium partners.
  • OpenText on its recommended USD6bn offer for Micro Focus plc.
  • Sanlam on its joint venture with a global financial services provider to combine their current and future operations across Africa to create the largest pan-African non-banking financial services entity on the continent.
  • RMI and Sampo on their joint venture and bid for Hastings Insurance.
  • Worldpay on the GBP8bn takeover offer by Vantiv, Inc.
  • Earthport plc on the handling of the contested bids made by Visa and Mastercard.
  • The P2P of AA by TowerBrook and Warburg Pincus.
  • Prosus on its hostile GBP4.9bn all-cash offer to acquire Just Eat, the UK-based international online food order and delivery service.
  • 21st Century Fox on its GBP27.7bn competitive takeover offer for Sky and the subsequent GBP11.6bn sale of its 39% stake in Sky to Comcast.
  • HarbourVest on its GBP1bn hostile bid for SVG Capital and subsequent asset purchase.
  • Transdigm on its possible takeover offer for FTSE 100 aerospace and defence company Meggitt.
  • Sanlam on the disposal of its 52% stake in Nucleus Financial to James Hay.
  • Virgin Money on its merger with CYBG.
  • Private equity investors and UK listed companies on numerous P2Ps.
  • American Axle Inc on its cash and shares merger with Dowlais plc.
  • Dorilton Capital on its acquisition of the Williams F1 team. 
  • Allen & Overy on its merger with Shearman & Sterling.

Published Work

  • Co-Author of "A Practitioner's Guide to the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers"

Recognition

“Seth Jones’ experience is something that money can’t buy. No one else could have guided us through the transaction the way he did” and “Seth Jones is a key contact for public M&A, leading the team on many of the firm’s biggest instructions of the year.”
Legal 500 (M&A) 2022
“Seth is a very pragmatic and practical lawyer; he is adept at marrying technical legal requirements and commercial requirements" and "Seth Jones is an extremely technical and calm individual.”
Chambers UK (M&A) 2023

Awards

  • Private equity deal of the year, IFLR Awards 2017, for HarbourVest's takeover of SVG Capital
  • TMT deal of the year: Open Text Corporation’s offer for Micro Focus plc

Qualifications

Admissions

Admitted as solicitor, England and Wales, 2002
Disclaimer
A&O Shearman was formed on May 1, 2024 by the combination of Shearman & Sterling LLP and Allen & Overy LLP and their respective affiliates (the legacy firms). Any matters referred to above may include matters undertaken by one or more of the legacy firms rather than A&O Shearman.