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Kirsty Underhill

She/herSenior Associate
Kirsty is competent and confident in running a transaction. Her responsiveness towards clients is excellent, and her personable nature ensures smooth interactions between deal teams.
— Corporate counsel, Stantec
Birmingham
About

Kirsty has a broad range of experience in domestic and multi-jurisdictional public and private M&A, equity capital markets transactions and public company advisory work, joint ventures and corporate partnerships and general company law, compliance and governance matters, working with management teams of both private and public companies.

Kirsty works across a number of sectors, with a particular focus on transactions in the Consumer Goods, Food and Retail (CGFR) and Life Sciences sectors. She sits on DLA Piper’s International Shadow Management Committee for the CGFR sector and was shortlisted for the Corporate Rising Star award at the 2024 LMG EMEA Life Sciences Awards. 

Kirsty is an avid supporter of DLA Piper’s pro bono practice, championing DLA Piper’s partnership with Kids in Need of Defense UK, which helps children and young adults to obtain British citizenship. She was listed on the Law Society’s Pro Bono Recognition List 2024. She is also a mentor for DLA Piper’s Head Start programme, which supports young people who have the talent and ambition to join the legal profession and who are from groups currently underrepresented in this sector.

Areas of FocusConsumer Goods, Food and RetailLife Sciences
Professional QualificationsSolicitor of the Senior Courts of England and Wales

EXPERIENCE

  • Advising global veterinary pharmaceuticals business Dechra Pharmaceuticals on various transactions, including secondary fundraises, minority investment transactions and the takeover by Swedish PE house EQT Funds and Luxinva (a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority), which was the largest UK takeover of 2023 valued at GBP4.46bn, as well as general company law, compliance and governance matters. 
  • Advising teleradiology provider Medica Group on various transactions including secondary fundraises, corporate reorganisations, private M&A transactions and the takeover by PE house IK partners (valued at GBP269m).
  • Advising global professional services firm RPS Group on various transactions including secondary fundraises, private M&A transactions and the takeover by Tetra Tech (valued at GBP636m).
  • Advising international tobacco company Philip Morris on its USD16bn acquisition of Swedish Match, a leading developer, manufacturer and distributor of global brands in the smoke-free product segment, which involved managing cross-practice due diligence teams across more than 20 jurisdictions.
  • Advising MKS Instruments, Inc., a global provider of technologies that enable advanced processes and improved productivity, on its USD4.4bn acquisition of Jersey-based Atotech Limited, which involved managing cross-practice due diligence teams across more than 40 jurisdictions.
  • Advising the shareholders of Telford-based healthcare modular buildings specialist Darwin Group in connection with the investment from European investment company Kartesia and the subsequent disposal to Portakabin.
  • Advising Stantec, a global leader in sustainable design and engineering, on its acquisitions of planning and design consultancy Barton Willmore and engineering design firm Hydrock Holdings Limited.
  • Advising Noble Foods, supplier of fresh food brands to retailers and consumers, on the disposal of its premium chilled dessert brand Gü Puds to Exponent Private Equity.
  • Advising the shareholders of Pangaea Laboratories, a global beauty business and owner of the fast-growing Medik8 skincare brand, in connection with the investment from private equity firm Inflexion.
  • Advising 2 Sisters Food Group, one of the leading food manufacturers in the UK, on various M&A transactions including the disposal of part of its Fox’s Biscuits business to a Ferrero-related Company for GBP246m and the sale of its bakery division (including Lancashire-based Holland’s Pies and the Irish Portumna pies and pastries business). 
  • Advising Singer Capital Markets on various ECM transactions including the reverse takeover and placing by DP Poland PLC, an operator of pizza stores and restaurants across Poland, of Dominium S.A., a Polish pizza restaurant group and various secondary fundraisings by DP Poland PLC, the listing of Strip Tinning Holdings plc, supplier of specialist connectors to the automotive sector, onto AIM.
  • Advising Australian listed Starpharma on its strategic partnership with Medicxi through a joint venture called Petalion Therapeutics which will initially focus on oncology therapies utilising Starpharma’s IP tech platform, with Medicxi providing an initial investment of up to USD25m. 
  • Advising various Main Market and AIM companies on reviewing their AGM notices and general disclosure requirements under the Listing Rules, AIM Rules, Disclosure and Transparency Rules, UK Corporate Governance Code and QCA Corporate Governance Code.
     
Education
  • University of Law, Legal Practice Course, 2015
  • Cardiff University, LLB Law, 2013

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