Alastair Smith
Partner
Corporate
Phone
0131 656 5633
Address
Caledonian Exchange 19A Canning Street Edinburgh EH3 8HE
Connect With
About Alastair
Alastair is a Partner within the Corporate and Commercial team. He advises clients in relation to investments, data protection, commercial contracts, technology and intellectual property matters.
Alastair focuses particular attention on private equity and venture capital investment deals for technology, healthcare and software companies He regularly is involved in drafting shareholder/investment agreements, share option agreements (including Enterprise Management Incentive and Company Share Option Plan options), articles and ancillary documentation. He has a real passion for assisting in contracts relating to novel technology, software development and video game/interactive media enterprises.
In addition, he continues to provide specific advice to the firm’s higher education clients in relation to IP/IT matters, data protection, mergers / joint-ventures, research contracts, commercial contracts and procurement projects.
Expertise
Highlights
Advising in connection with video game/ interactive entertainment/ digital and creative enterprises from start-up to publication / commercialisation. Alastair has, in particular, first hand experience in the growth of a now large Edinburgh based studio (from incorporation to several hundred employees based across several countries). He and the Lindsays’ team assisted in everything from corporate governance, data protection, IP licences, co-development agreements, option plans and investment requirements. He has further assisted niche and early stage video game / software enterprises in the Scottish hubs of Dundee and Edinburgh given his in-depth knowledge of the market developed over the years.
Alastair has provided business/legal mentorship to the teams competing at the Dare Academy programme at the University of Abertay. This is a specialist programme helping the next generation of video gaming talent hone their skills and knowledge.
Advising in numerous venture capital/investment deals in relation to start-up and growing high-technology companies acting for either the investors or investee company. These relates to sectors including digital technology and applications, software development, medical devices and drug discovery. This includes investment rounds in which Scottish Enterprise have provide matched funding (investments ranging in value from £200k-£22m)
Advising in connection with the multi-million pound purchase of the MESL Microwave group of companies by our client Com Dev International Limited. Involved in coordinating extensive due diligence report, negotiating the share purchase arrangements and various post-completion reorganisation requirements.
Advising the shareholders of Vitrology Limited (biopharmaceutical contract testing organisation) in connection with the disposal of the entire issued share capital to the Swiss based SGS (leading inspection, verification, testing and certification multinational) in a multi-million pound transaction.
Advising on the sale of a multinational (UK/French/US) software company to a US purchaser in a multi-million dollar transaction.
Advising The University of Edinburgh in connection with the multi-million pound procurement exercise surrounding the foundation of the state of the art Clinical Research Imaging Facility at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary).
Advising and assisting the University of Edinburgh in connection with the creation of a £100 million research centre that brings together the Roslin Institute, the neuropathogenesis unit of the Institute of Animal Health and the University's School of Veterinary Studies.
Alastair gained valuable experience working on his successful secondments at two of the group’s clients, being the University of St Andrews (Research Funding Office) and the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation subsidiary Edinburgh Research & Innovation Limited.
