Withers LLP is ‘at the forefront of legal services for anything related to venture capital and startups’, and clients appreciate its ’great outside-the-box thinking’. Richard Penfold, who splits his time between London and Cambridge, is the key contact. Susanna Stanfield, James Shaw and Mary Harley departed in 2025 to YPOG.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- ‘Withers LLP has been an incredible partner, especially during our latest funding round, where their support was invaluable. They stand out for their deep expertise in advising businesses on complex legal matters. Compared to others, their mix of commercial and personal expertise, along with their ability to navigate intricate challenges, makes them a firm I’d highly recommend.’
- ‘I've worked mainly with the Venture and tech team, but also their employment law team and IP team. Withers offers all the services needed by tech companies: corporate, tax, employment, IP, and immigration. They are very professional, efficient and very commercial.'
- 'The Withers Cambridge team is strong technically, with excellent market knowledge. They are responsive and provide a cost-effective service.'
- ‘They are personable, responsive, commercially-minded and provide solutions to business problems.'
- ‘The team does not just provide legal advice but is able to tailor its advice to make it relevant to our business and our unique needs.’
Key clients
- Clean Energy Finance Corporation
- Totara Learning
- Agilio Software
- Cambridge Innovation Capital
- Alkami Technology
- Emerge Ventures
- Energineering
- Guider App
- Kaikaku.ai Limited
- Autometry Technology
- Modeldrive Ltd
- Skybridge UK
Work highlights
Advised both Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC) and Amadeus Capital Partners on Cambridge-based Riverlane's $75m Series C funding round.
Advised KHP Ventures on a $6m Seed investment into 52North Secures.
Advised Concretene on its successful seed funding round co-led by Molten Ventures and Local Globe, as well as assisting on a variety of commercial issues.
Other key lawyers
Richard Penfold