Fieldfisher expands Corporate practice through hire of Partner Tom Rush

European law firm Fieldfisher has announced the appointment of Tom Rush as a partner in its Corporate practice, based in Birmingham. Tom joins from Gateley Legal, where he was Birmingham Head of Corporate. He joined the firm on 3 September 2024.

Tom has over 15 years’ experience in public company transactions, private equity investments, and mergers and acquisitions (M&A). He advises corporates, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs and has successfully acted on many high-profile IPOs, secondary fundraisings, and complex M&A transactions, across various sectors, including retail, engineering, and healthcare.

He advises businesses seeking to float on the stock exchange or grow their listed entities through raising additional funds from new or existing investors or via acquisitions. He also assists investors with private equity investments, whether their funds are deployed to help a business grow, fund a management buy-out, or invest in larger investment funds.

His notable work credentials include advising Gymshark and its management on the minority investment by General Atlantic, advising Virgin Wines UK Plc on its vendor placing and admission to AIM with a market cap of £110 million, and advising private equity firm Connection Capital on investments in Spotless Water, IFF Research, and various investment funds managed by Hambro Perks, DN Capital, and 17Capital.

The expansion of Fieldfisher's Corporate practice in the Midlands comes as the firm is expanding and strengthening its presence in the region. This follows the Birmingham office’s 16% growth last financial year, making it the fastest-growing office in the UK.

Tom joins Fieldfisher's market-leading corporate practice, which includes 24 partners across Birmingham, London and Manchester and over 140 lawyers globally. The firm’s practice regularly tops AIM-adviser rankings and is known for handling some of the most significant transactions in the market, including last year's standout deals, advising on SigmaRoc's USD $1.1 billion acquisition of CRH's European lime and limestone business, and a £97 million placing and subscription by international multi-brand franchisor Franchise Brands plc.

Andrew Lawton Smith, Birmingham Head of Corporate at Fieldfisher, commented: "I'm very pleased to welcome Tom to the firm's Birmingham office. Tom is a respected leader and has worked on some transformational deals in the region. His arrival is particularly timely as we see increasing opportunities and renewed activity in the local market."

Neil Matthews, UK Head of Corporate at Fieldfisher, added: "Tom's arrival marks a significant step in our ongoing strategy to expand our corporate practice across key regions in the UK. His deep experience, particularly in high-stakes transactions, will be invaluable as we broaden our services and continue to deliver exceptional results for our clients.”

Tom Rush said: "Fieldfisher is a firm with a strong reputation and ambitious growth plans. I look forward to joining the team and contributing to the firm's corporate practice by leveraging my experience and relationships within the Midlands market. My goal is to build on the solid foundation that Fieldfisher has established and help drive the firm's continued success both in the Midlands and beyond."