Tom Rowley

Tom Rowley is a senior corporate partner and Head of Corporate at Freeths’ London office. He leads on high-profile domestic and cross-border transactions, with a practice spanning mergers and acquisitions (M&A), private equity and equity capital markets (ECM). Tom is particularly experienced in AIM listings and public company takeovers and regularly advises on complex restructurings, joint ventures and capital reductions.

Tom acts for a diverse client base across sectors including technology, industrials, real estate, leisure and aviation.

His recent work includes:

• Advising MHA, the UK arm of Baker Tilly, on its £271 million IPO on AIM, raising £98 million to support strategic growth
• Leading the acquisition of Laines Pub Company in a £45 million secondary buy-out backed by Patron Capital and May Capital
• Advising Hexagon AB, a Nasdaq Stockholm-listed tech group, on its acquisition of J5 International, a developer of industrial operations software, Infor EAM, an enterprise management business and Qognify, a provider of physical security solutions.
• Supporting EG Solutions Plc on its £26.3 million takeover by Verint Systems Inc via a UK scheme of arrangement
• Advising on multiple AIM transactions, including the IPOs of Autins Group Plc and ECSC Group Plc and the £135m reverse takeover of business jet operator Hangar 8 to form Gama Aviation Plc, showcasing his ECM expertise.

Tom is known for his methodical and pragmatic approach, praised by clients for being “effective and efficient” and “very good at dealing with the other side” (Legal 500). He continues to play a pivotal role in Freeths’ growth, particularly in London, where the office has expanded to over 130 professionals and is now the firm’s second largest.

Tom trained at Gouldens (now Jones Day) and has held senior roles at Fox Williams before joining Freeths as a partner in 2013. He holds an LLB (Hons) from the University of Bristol and completed his LPC at Nottingham Law School.

Tom is a qualified pilot and has significant experience in the business aviation sector acting for aircraft owners and operators on sales and disposals of business jets and helicopters, as well as advising on M&A and investment transactions for aviation support services companies. Outside of work Tom is a keen surfer and enjoys outdoor adventures and country pursuits.