Founded to provide cutting-edge custody infrastructure for financial institutions, Custodiex has established itself as a key innovator in the digital asset custody sector. The Manchester-based company’s quantum-safe solutions are designed to be scalable and future-proof, and meet the stringent international ISO 27001 security standard. The transaction enables Amdax to enhance its comprehensive digital asset platform.
Our team was led by partner Tom Macleod and managing associate Rosie Marston, with support from managing associate Katerina Capras and associates Elizabeth Compton and Matthew Shannon. Partner Yvonne Gallagher and associate Elisabeth Davies advised on employment aspects, partner Shireen Peermohamed and associate Samuel Flack advised on IP matters and senior associate Matthew Stephenson advised on property law matters.
On working with Harbottle & Lewis, Martin Cernohorsky, Amdax Head of Legal, commented:
“Working with the Harbottle & Lewis team was a great pleasure. Their broad range of expertise and professionalism proved invaluable in navigating throughout the twists and turns of this deal. From the start we were in good hands. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Harbottle & Lewis.”
Tom Macleod added:
“We are delighted to have supported Amdax on this strategically significant acquisition. The combination of Amdax’s regulated platform with Custodiex’s innovative custody technology creates a compelling proposition for institutional clients across Europe. We look forward to seeing the continued success of this partnership as the digital asset custody market matures.”
Tom advises founders, growing entrepreneurial businesses, venture capital funds and angel investors on a broad range of corporate matters including acquisitions and disposals, exits, all forms of financing rounds (S/EIS, venture capital, venture debt, VCT, growth capital), joint ventures, corporate restructurings and share incentivisation schemes.
He is seen as a rising star in the industry and is known for combining excellent technical skills alongside a pragmatic, commercial approach. Tom has a particular focus on advising high-growth technology companies and is equally adept advising on early stage investments or later stage transactions for both investors and investees alike. Tom is also part of the firm’s international strategy group, with a particular focus on the USA.
Tom trained at CMS, before joining the corporate practice at Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a newly qualified solicitor. He joined Harbottle & Lewis in February 2017.
Rosie’s practice focuses on supporting startups and investors in the venture capital ecosystem. She has extensive experience advising on a wide range of corporate transactions, including venture capital and growth stage fundraisings, mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, early stage SEIS/EIS investments, convertible instruments (including ASAs, SAFEs and convertible loans), founder disputes, share incentive schemes (including EMI options), joint ventures and corporate reorganisations.
Rosie acts for startup and scale-up companies, entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capital funds, family offices and other corporate investors across a wide range of sectors, with particular experience advising clients in the technology sector.
Rosie trained and qualified at Allen & Overy, where she worked in the corporate M&A team for four and a half years, including secondments to the Singapore office and a client secondment to Virgin Management. She subsequently spent two years at law firm MJ Hudson, before joining Harbottle & Lewis in June 2023.
Rosie is passionate about improving the existing gender imbalance within the startup community and has co-written two articles about how diversity has been threatened by rule changes in the UK venture capital ecosystem, both published by FT Adviser. Read the articles here and here.
She has experience in advising on mergers and acquisitions, shareholder arrangements, early-stage fundraisings, share incentive schemes and joint ventures, with particular expertise in the media, entertainment and technology sectors and the wider creative industries.
She also has a particular interest in working with charities, social enterprises and philanthropic individuals and organisations and has extensive experience advising on charity formation, governance, regulatory compliance and corporate transactions involving charities and not-for-profit entities.
Katerina is recognised as a "Leading Associate" for M&A in The Legal 500 2025 as well as a "Key Lawyer" (The Legal 500 2025) and "Associate to Watch" (Chambers UK 2025) for her charities and not-for-profit work. She has been described as having “fierce attention to detail and vast knowledge, combined with a good dose of pragmatism.”
She is a member of the Charity Law Association.
She frequently advises on mergers and acquisitions, reorganisations, fundraisings and shareholder arrangements. Elizabeth also has a particular interest in working with charities and not-for-profit organisations.
Elizabeth joined Harbottle & Lewis in May 2024. Before joining, she trained at Macfarlanes and qualified into their corporate and M&A team in September 2022 where she focused on domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and private equity transactions for private equity houses, large corporates and management teams.
Yvonne advises on a full range of contentious and non-contentious employment law matters, including board disputes, employment claims (including discrimination claims) and disputes of all types in relation to remuneration and benefit arrangements. She is highly regarded for her realistic and pragmatic approach to finding resolutions to workplace conflicts.
Yvonne has longstanding expertise in relation to transfer of undertakings (TUPE) and practical management of the implications for businesses of TUPE transfer situations. She has developed a particular specialism working with employers to resolve complex board disputes.
She has considerable experience in advising charities and not-for-profit organisations as well as corporates of all sizes and structures ranging from startups to listed entities. Her advice includes ensuring contracts and policies are fit for purpose and resilient.
Yvonne carries out both senior executive and partnership work alongside a busy corporate employment practice.
She regularly advises high profile individuals who are exiting their roles and taking up new positions. This includes advising on complex remuneration and incentive structures.
She is also very experienced in advising on the enforceability of restrictive covenants in executive service agreements and negotiating the terms of appointments.
Yvonne is well known in the market and is often quoted in national and specialist press in relation to employment and HR topics. Please note that a subscription is needed to access the following articles:
Elisabeth advises employers on a broad range of workplace issues including disciplinary, capability, grievance and settlement processes. She also assists with the employment aspects of corporate transactions, such as appropriate contractual documentation and workplace policies.
For employee clients, including senior executives, Elisabeth has experience helping them to navigate workplace investigations and negotiating termination packages and settlement agreements.
Elisabeth also has particular experience in handling sensitive discrimination claims and represents both employees and employers in the Employment Tribunal.
Elisabeth graduated from the University of York with a degree in politics, philosophy and economics before studying law at City, University of London and an LLM at the University of Law. Before training with Harbottle, she gained experience working with startups, charities and social enterprise businesses.
Elisabeth is a member of the Employment Lawyers’ Association.
Shireen advises on all types of intellectual property, with a particular emphasis on pragmatic and cost effective disputes and strategic advice. She also provides advice on the protection of IP, IP audits, the exploitation and disposal of IP and the management and enforcement programmes. Her 30 years’ experience means that she is a trusted adviser to many leading businesses and has deep and strong experience in a number of sectors and issues.
Shireen works with clients in a wide range of sectors, including FMCG, retail, fashion, film, TV and theatre, publishing, music, video games and travel. She has a particular interest in the publishing industry (advising a number of leading publishers, authors, literary estates and content platforms) and in cutting edge issues such as the intersection between AI and IP.
Shireen has been listed as both a recommended IP lawyer and a recommended publishing lawyer by Chambers and The Legal 500 for many years. She has been ranked by IP Stars as a 'Top 250 Women in IP 2025', 'Trade mark star 2025', and 'Transactions Star 2025'.
Shireen was a council member of the Advertising Standards Authority, adjudicating on advertising complaints, for six years. She currently sits on the Portman Group Independent Complaints Panel and the Games Rating Authority Appeals Panel.
Samuel provides advice to clients across a range of sectors including technology, retail, music, TV and entertainment and has experience advising clients in intellectual property disputes in the Intellectual Property Enterprise Court, High Court and Court of Appeal, as well as defamation disputes in the High Court.
Matthew also deals with charity property matters. He acts for corporate occupiers and investors, charities and private individuals.