Sullivan & Worcester LLP | View firm profile
June 25, 2026 – International law firm Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) today announced the arrival of one of the UK’s leading Emerging Companies and Venture Capital teams, significantly enhancing the firm’s transatlantic capabilities and accelerating its strategic growth in London.
The team, which was recently recognized as Growth Capital Team of the Year at the 2026 The Lawyer Awards in London, is led by partners James Shaw, Iain Cockburn and Ben Williams, who are joined by counsels Mary Harley, Tina Baker and Andrew Gay, and associates Yeji Lee, Francesca Salisbury, Fai Tai, and Alexandra Woodcock-West, and two dedicated business support professionals.
Their arrival establishes a premier Emerging Companies and Venture Capital practice in London, further advancing Sullivan’s strategy of building a fully integrated international platform serving innovative, high-growth businesses and the investors that back them. The team advises venture-backed companies, founders, and investors across the full business lifecycle, including venture financings, mergers and acquisitions, intellectual property strategy, and complex strategic advisory matters.
“This is a transformational addition to our already strong London office and a major milestone in the continued expansion of our international platform,” said David Nagle, Sullivan’s Managing Partner. “James, Iain, Ben, and their team are widely recognized as leaders in the emerging companies and venture capital market, with deep relationships across the innovation economy and a proven track record advising businesses from formation through to successful exits and access to U.S. capital markets. Their arrival significantly enhances our ability to serve founders, investors, and growth companies on both sides of the Atlantic. We are delighted to welcome them to the firm.”
The group has developed a market-leading reputation across some of the world’s most dynamic sectors, including life sciences, climate technology, fintech, deeptech, and artificial intelligence.
Shaw, who leads the team joining Sullivan, said, “We are excited to join a firm with such a powerful U.S. platform and deep international finance capabilities. As innovation-driven companies increasingly operate across borders and look to access U.S. markets and capital, the opportunity to combine our practice with Sullivan’s global reach creates a compelling proposition for founders, investors, and emerging businesses. We look forward to collaborating with our new colleagues and continuing to support clients through every stage of growth.”
The team joins Sullivan’s highly regarded London office, which has experienced significant momentum in recent years. The firm’s market-leading trade and export finance practice, led by Geoffrey Wynne, was further strengthened in 2025 with the additions of partners Robert Parson and Matthew Cox, enhancing Sullivan’s position as a leading advisor on complex cross-border transactions and financing matters.
PARTNER BIOS
James Shaw – James advises entrepreneurs, emerging growth companies and investors across all stages of the corporate lifecycle. With more than 20 years of experience, he is trusted counsel to founders and investors, and frequently serves as outside general counsel to science-based and innovative companies. Highly regarded for his work in the European life science and fintech sectors, he has extensive experience representing companies on complex corporate transactions, venture capital financings, strategic investments, acquisitions, and divestitures.
Iain Cockburn – Iain advises founder and management-led high-growth companies, as well as venture capital funds and institutional investors, on significant venture and growth transactions. His work includes later-stage financings, pre-exit rounds, lead investor mandates, consortium investments, secondary transactions and cross-border matters. Iain also advises on the broader corporate issues that arise as companies scale and institutionalize, including governance arrangements, investor rights, founder and management equity structures, shareholder arrangements, strategic corporate matters, as well as issues relating to the UK’s National Security and Investment Act 2021.
Ben Williams – Ben is a leading commercial technology lawyer advising innovative growth companies (including unicorns and decacorns) and their investors. He supports high-growth businesses and investors in developing, deploying and scaling technology products globally, leading complex cross-border commercial negotiations. With strong transatlantic expertise, he aligns technology, regulatory and tax frameworks across jurisdictions. Ben also advises on AI, data, national security and emerging regulation, delivering pragmatic, commercially focused solutions that enable innovation while managing risk.
About Sullivan
Sullivan & Worcester (Sullivan) is a premier, AmLaw 200 international law firm with lawyers in Boston, London, New York, Tel Aviv and Washington, D.C. Sullivan’s clients, including Fortune 500 companies, leading financial services firms and asset managers, boards of directors, real estate companies, and emerging businesses, rely on Sullivan’s ability to navigate complex legal and operational landscapes, the impeccable judgment of its lawyers, and its commitment to best-in-class client service. For further information please visit the firm’s website and LinkedIn.
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