Neil Foster joined Field Fisher Waterhouse from a
large US law firm, where he was a partner and founding member of
the UK Corporate Practice in London. He joined the
firm as a corporate partner
in 2006.
Neil’s practice covers mergers and acquisitions, venture capital,
private equity and corporate finance. His principal sector
specialisations are technology, media, communications, healthcare and life sciences. As well
as advising UK companies, banks, venture funds and intermediaries,
Neil represents many large US and Asian corporations and
institutions on their UK and European deals.
Recent deals include transactions for Liberty Global, Vernalis,
Echostar Satellite Corporation, Chellomedia, Zonemedia, Hammer Film
Holdings, Daewoo Motors, Pacific Crossing and Arcadia
Biosciences, as well as for a number of smaller
companies.
Neil is a regular speaker at venture capital, technology, media,
biotechnology and corporate finance events. Recent speaking
engagements have included "Strategies for Successful Exits", "The
Use of US Techniques in UK Venture Capital Transactions",
"Strategic and Venture Investments in the Biotech Industry", "Board
Restructuring Pre-IPO" and "Alignment of Exit Strategies",
"Investing in the Enlarged EU", "UK-US Mergers and Acquisitions",
"Exit and Valuations for New Media Companies", "Venture Capital in
the UK" and "Corporate Partnering, Investment and Acquisition
Strategies for Strategic Investors". Neil has spoken at
events in London, Copenhagen, San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York,
Boston, Palo Alto and Barcelona. He was a mentor to CEOs
of emerging companies at the European Venture Academies in
Copenhagen and London, specialising in fund-raising strategies and
techniques.
Neil is a member of British American Business, the transatlantic
trade association, and wrote the chapters on "Transatlantic
M&A" in each of British American Business' 2007 and
2008 Guides to Investing in the UK.