Will Axtell > Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP > Oxford, England > Lawyer Profile
Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP Offices

9400 GARSINGTON ROAD
OXFORD BUSINESS PARK
OXFORD
OX4 2HN
England
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Will Axtell

Work Department
Corporate.
Position
Will is a partner in the corporate team, specialising in M&A, fundraisings, spin-outs and other corporate law matters. He is based in the Oxford office and has particular expertise in the technology and life sciences sectors. Will has a strong track record in complex and high value transactions, often with a cross-border element. He has advised on many US-UK international transactions and has acted on some of the largest Oxford University spin-outs to date. Will is also co-head of the firm’s digital business group.
His clients range from start-ups and high growth companies to larger listed companies, as well as high net worth individuals and successful entrepreneurs. Will has a Magic Circle (Clifford Chance) and blue-chip in-house (Vodafone) background.
Career
Trained Clifford Chance; qualified 2000; solicitor Clifford Chance 1998-2003; solicitor Vodafone 2003-06; partner Charles Russell 2006-14; partner Penningtons Manches 2014 to date.
Education
Durham University (1996 History 2(1)); College of Law, Guildford (1998).
Lawyer Rankings
South East > Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
(Leading individuals)Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP is a go-to for Oxford University spin-outs when it comes to investments and funding rounds and as such has a strong industry focus on tech and life sciences. The leadership duo consists of Will Axtell, a specialist in advising entrepreneurs on exits and private equity, and James Went, renowned for his expertise in M&A transactions. Another M&A expert in the firm is David Tighe, who regularly works with associate Dominique Sabatini, who is becoming increasingly prominent in the Oxford and Imperial spin-out community.
Lawyer Rankings
- Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40 - South East > Corporate and commercial
- Leading individuals - South East > Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
Top Tier Firm Rankings
- Real estate > Commercial property: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
- Private client > Contentious trusts and probate
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
- Employment > Employment: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
- Employment > Employment: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
- Private client > Family: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
- Private client > Family: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > IT and telecoms
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Employment > Pensions
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
- Insurance > Personal injury and clinical negligence: claimant
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
Firm Rankings
- Finance > Banking and finance
- Private client > Charities and not-for-profit
- Real estate > Commercial property: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
- Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Kent, Surrey, Sussex
- TMT (technology, media and telecoms) > Intellectual property
- Real estate > Property litigation
- Public sector > Public sector
- Real estate > Social housing
- Dispute resolution > Commercial litigation: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40
- Finance > Insolvency and corporate recovery
- Employment > Pensions
- Private client > Personal tax, trusts and probate: Thames Valley, Berks, Oxon, M4/M40