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Tag: Katerina-Capras

Harbottle & Lewis advises ONE Strategy Studio on its sale to Radius Insights

Posted on by Dea Dragashi

We have advised ONE Strategy Studio, the world leading AI-first strategic insight agency, on its sale to Radius Insights.

Founded in 2023, ONE Strategy Studio uses Gen AI Automation to reinvent the insight & strategy agency experience, using automated AI solutions to transform brand strategy.

The team was led by co-managing partner Charlie Leveque and managing associate Katerina Capras with support from associates Suzie Hamilton and Julia Routledge, who advised on all corporate matters relating to the deal. Partner David Scott advised on tax and managing associate Zoey Forbes advised on intellectual property.

On working with Harbottle & Lewis, ONE Strategy Studio founder Jonathan Williams commented:

“Going through a transaction is one of the hardest challenges in the start-up journey. Charlie, Katerina, Zoey and Julia from Harbottle and Lewis were the perfect partners to help us navigate the strange and complex world of legal negotiations and doing so with amazing pace, patience and resilience. When things get tough (and they will!) this is the team you want by your side and fighting your corner. We have partnered on multiple transactions, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to anyone in the agency space looking to do the same.”

Charlie Leveque added:

“It has been a privilege to work with Jonathan and John. They are visionary founders who are harnessing the transformative power of AI to turbo-charge the growth of a state-of-the-art brand strategy and intelligence business. They have set a new benchmark for innovation in the industry, and we are looking forward to seeing ONE Strategy Studio achieve continued success as part of Radius.”

We advise on a broad range of corporate and corporate finance transactions including investments, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and private equity transactions. Learn more about our corporate practice here.

With special thanks to ONE Strategy Studio for the team’s “manga warrior heroes”, pictured below.

Harbottle & Lewis advises Super Media Group on its acquisition of Bulkhead and investment from Everplay and HIRO Capital

Posted on by Dea Dragashi

We have advised Super Media Group on its acquisition of Derby-based video games developer, Bulkhead, and on its investment from Everplay Group plc and HIRO Capital.

Founded in 2014 and best known for Battalion 1944, Bulkhead was acquired from global technology business Tencent by a consortium comprising Super Media Group, Everplay and HIRO Capital. Super Media Group also signed a strategic partnership with Everplay, which will see collaboration on future titles, including new IP WARDOGS and further development of the popular Hell Let Loose franchise.

The team was led by partner Ed Lane, with support from managing associate Katerina Capras, associate Jake Jacobson and trainee solicitor Jacob Eardley, who advised on all corporate matters relating to the deal. The commercial and publishing aspects of the deal were led by partner and co-head of interactive entertainment Kostyantyn Lobov with support from associate Sophie Lewis. Partner David Scott advised on tax.

On working with Harbottle & Lewis, Bulkhead CEO Joe Brammer commented:

“Harbottle & Lewis were exceptional throughout the process. This was a complex, multi-party transaction and the team worked tirelessly, often outside normal hours, to get the deal done. Ed and the wider team handled our business as if it were their own, combining deep attention to detail with a clear understanding of the commercial realities, which made a genuine difference in delivering the outcome we wanted.”

Ed Lane added:

“It was a real pleasure advising Super Media Group on this huge milestone; a complex and layered transaction that really demonstrated the strength and depth of our market-leading corporate and games practices. I look forward to seeing what they do next!”

We have been fully immersed in the interactive entertainment sector since its inception and are recognised as leaders in the sector. We specialise in corporate financing and transactions within the games industry, advising on investment, fundraising, tax credits, M&A, and rights exploitation. Learn more about our interactive entertainment practice here.

UK direct marketing laws made easier for charities

Posted on by Julia Krol

The UK’s new Data (Use and Access) Act 2025 will be changing the direct marketing laws to make it easier for charities to send electronic marketing to existing supporters and supporters who have expressed an interest in the charity without their express consent.

This is referred to as the “soft opt-in” rule which is currently relied on by many commercial businesses and will be amended to broaden the scope to charities.

How can charities rely on soft opt-in?

Charities can send electronic marketing such as, emails or text messages or direct messages on social media, without the consent of a person, providing:

  • The sole purpose of electronic marketing is to further the charity’s own charitable purpose(s)
  • The charity collected the contact details directly from the person themselves
  • The charity collected the contact details when a person:
    • expressed an interest in one or more of the charitable purposes; or
    • offered or provided support to further one or more of those purposes
  • People are given a simple and free of charge way of opting out of direct marketing at the time of:
    • collecting their contact details; and
    • every subsequent direct marketing message thereafter

How can charities start to rely on soft opt-in?

The UK’s data protection regulator, the Information Commissioner, has stated that this change allowing charities to rely on the “soft opt-in” rule is planned to commence from January 2026.

What is the latest from the UK regulators on soft opt-in?

The Information Commissioner has produced draft guidance and launched a consultation on the new rules aiming to gather feedback from charities. The consultation runs from 16 October to 27 November 2025 and details can be found here.

What can charities do now to prepare?

  • Review your privacy policy to inform people of the reliance on “soft opt-in”
  • Review your consent mechanisms and plan the changes needed to rely on “soft opt-in”
  • Review your current opt-out mechanism and plan the changes needed to rely on “soft opt-in”
  • Ensure you have a do not contact list of people who have opted out of receiving direct marketing
  • Review existing marketing lists to separate people who have given their consent to electronic marketing and people who will be sent it using the “soft opt-in” rule
  • Train staff on how to respond to queries and complaints from people about the direct marketing
  • Implement policies and procedures to ensure staff know how to implement “soft opt-in” and the rules around data protection

Harbottle & Lewis advises Amdax on its acquisition of a strategic stake in Custodiex

Posted on by Julia Krol

We have advised Amdax, a Netherlands-based digital asset service provider, on its acquisition of a strategic stake in UK-based Custodiex, a specialist in quantum-safe cold storage solutions for digital assets.

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.”

Harbottle & Lewis advises Smart on $95m Series E Funding

Posted on by Alex Molyneux

Harbottle & Lewis has advised Smart, the London-headquartered fintech transforming the global retirement savings market, on its $95m Series E funding round led by Aquiline Capital Partners LLC, a private investment firm based in New York and London.

Existing investors participating in the round included Chrysalis Investments, Fidelity International Strategic Ventures, DWS, Barclays and Natixis Investment Managers.

Funds from this investment round will bolster Smart’s global expansion plans, building on the company’s strong performance in Europe, the US, Middle East and Asia. Proceeds from the round will also help finance near-term acquisitions and accelerate Smart’s investment in and distribution of its proprietary retirement savings technology platform, Keystone. The market-leading growth and profitability of its UK-based Smart Pension business is underpinned by the scalability of the Keystone platform.

Smart has experienced a period of exceptional growth, with group revenue of £67m in 2022, a 65% increase on the previous year. In February 2023, Smart was ranked among Europe’s fastest-growing companies by the Financial Times.

Smart today already has over £5.5 billion in assets under management (AUM) on its platform and is expected to exceed £10bn by the end of June 2023 following this Series E funding. Growth has been driven by the accelerating global demand for modern, digital retirement savings technology, the success of Smart Pension in the UK and strategic M&A.

Established in 2014 by Andrew Evans and Will Wynne in the wake of the UK’s roll out of mandatory workplace pension auto enrolment, Smart owns and operates one of “the big four” UK auto enrolment master trusts, Smart Pension, serving more than one million savers and 70,000 employers.

Commenting on the deal, Tony Littner, corporate partner and head of venture said:

“Having advised Smart since it was a startup and on their previous funding rounds, we were delighted and proud to have had the opportunity to support them again on their latest significant milestone. It is well-known that the environment for raising money is more challenging at the moment than it has been in recent years so for Smart to have been able to close a round of this nature at this time is a tremendous testament to the management team and their vision as well as being a welcome and positive endorsement for the state of UK fintech.”

On working with Harbottle, Eoin Corcoran, Smart CFO said:

“Harbottle & Lewis have done an amazing job in supporting Smart through a number of significant and complex funding rounds from the very early stages of the company to where we are today with the latest Aquiline led round. Tony Littner and Tom Macleod are highly pragmatic, experts at what they do, and perhaps most importantly, are always willing to give their views on key commercial points.”

The Harbottle team which advised Smart on the transaction was led by the firm’s head of venture, Tony Littner, and senior associate Tom Macleod, with support from associates Emily Miles, Tom Connor and Katerina Capras, and trainee Grace Tang.