Erika is a Partner in the Corporate department and is Head of the Corporate Innovation and Venture Capital Group.
She specialises in venture capital, working with fast growing companies, and their founders and investors at all stages of the life cycle, from incorporation to exit.
Erika advises companies and investors on investments (from early seed rounds to large institutional and international investments), debt and private equity finance, corporate reorganisations and M&A transactions.
Working with companies, entrepreneurs and investors at every stage of their growth journey, Erika has a particular focus on complex transactions, later stage investment work and exits (typically advising founders and principal investors on the sale process), as well as advising the buy-side in connection with acquisitions of IP-rich businesses.
Much of her activity is international in nature, with particular experience in US and European VC and M&A transactions.
Having worked in venture capital for nearly 20 years, Erika has in depth knowledge of market trends, and is known for her commercial, pragmatic and creative approach to legal issues.
Key Experience
- Advising Dragon's Den alumni (and ready-to-drink coffee company) Bottleshot Coffee in connection with its acquisition by London coffee brand Grind.Advising the founders and majority shareholders of
- Versed AI (including Parkwalk, Working Capital and the University of Cambridge) in connection with its sale to US-based Exiger.
- Advising the founders of Wonderbly (a digital, direct to consumer publisher) on their sale to UK private equity firm, Graphite Capital.
- Advising German investor 468 Capital in connection with its seed investment into Karri.io, a screen-free communication device aimed at primary-aged children.
- Advising the founders and majority shareholders of clothing software platform Unmade Ltd to Thailand-based Hi-Tech Apparel.
- Advising Molten Ventures on multiple investments, including into Koru Kids, SatVu, XMOS and Realeyes.
- Advising founder of ticket platform Tickitto in connection with the sale of the company to US-based Inteletravel.
- Advising Ecologi, UK-based climate action platform in connection with its acquisition of Net Zero Now, creating a complete solution to help businesses lead their industries towards net zero.
- Advising the founders of Messly, a UK-based doctor recruitment platform aimed at locum shortages in the NHS in connection with its acquisition by Tokyo-based healthcare investment firm M3.
- Advising Cambridge-based drug discovery software developer Optibrium in connection with its growth finance facility from Shawbrook.
- Advising the founders of UK ed-tech business Pango Education in connection with the sale of the company to Imagine Learning.
- Advising Trailmix in connection with debt and equity investment received from Supercell, taking Supercell to a majority holding.
Career History
Partner, Mishcon de Reya LLP
Partner, Taylor Vinters LLP
Partner, Withers LLP
Partner, JAG Shaw Baker
General Counsel, Kew Capital LLP
Counsel, WilmerHale
Senior Associate, WilmerHale
Associate, WilmerHale
Associate, Norton Rose
Trainee, Norton Rose
Nottingham Law School, LPC
University of Law, GDL
University of Edinburgh, LLB (Hons)