Stephen Porter > Shoosmiths LLP > Southampton, England > Lawyer Profile

Shoosmiths LLP
RUSSELL HOUSE, 1550 PARKWAY
SOLENT BUSINESS PARK, WHITELEY
WHITELEY
PO15 7AG
England

Work Department

Corporate.

Position

Steve Porter is head of the corporate division at Shoosmiths, responsible for the management and direction of the range of services Shoosmiths provides for the owners, directors, investors, funders and shareholders of companies.

As divisional head, Steve manages more than 130 legal advisers, who between them provide a full range of corporate transaction advisory services, together with specialist teams in banking & finance, venture and growth capital, private equity, corporate restructuring and advisory, company secretarial and tax (including EIS work).

Steve has more than 20 years’ experience advising on corporate transactions, specifically mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, capital fundraising and reductions, compliance and corporate governance. He is equally at home providing strategic advice to the board of a PLC client or to the management team on a buy out or exit. He is described in the current edition of Chambers UK as “an excellent lawyer who is very pragmatic at doing deals.”

As divisional head, Steve is driving a clear-sighted strategy for Shoosmiths to be the natural choice for any UK organisation seeking the benefit of trusted and continuous strategic legal advice throughout the business lifecycle, whether advising on successive funding rounds, buy-and-build expansion, or the consolidation and re-shaping of larger group structures in line with a rapidly changing global economy.

Career

Steve joined Shoosmiths in 2004, was promoted to partner in 2006 and joined the board as divisional head of corporate in 2018.

Lawyer Rankings

South East > Corporate and commercial > Corporate and commercial: Hampshire

A broad cross-section of clients, including private equity houses, venture capital funds, and local SMEs, instruct the team at Shoosmiths LLP. The team demonstrates considerable strength in handling M&A and private equity transactions, covering industries ranging from fintech to education. Stephen Porter is the national head of the corporate division, and focuses on transactional services, including corporate restructuring and tax-related issues. Julia Ishak leads the commercial department, handling complex contractual issues. Sean Wright is the key contact for equity providers and financial sponsors. Mark Shepherd specialises in private company M&A, while principal associate Lisa Sigalet has expertise in venture capital transactions. Principal associates Emma Livesey and Laura Austin are also noted.