Lawyers from the Bristol office of international legal firm Osborne Clarke have advised on a major investment deal that will help one of the UK’s fastest-growing FinTech firms expand further into overseas markets.
The team worked with London-based Freemarket, a leading FinTech platform for regulated B2B cross-border payments and currency exchange, on the growth capital investment from Baird Capital. 
Freemarket’s global banking network and innovative technology platform enables customers to send payments and funds efficiently to more than 100 countries in 140 currencies, removing cross-border payments complexities, improving transparency and increasing efficiency.
Last year the firm was ranked 12th in the Sunday Times Hundred table and at number 25 in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 programme, which celebrates and champions the UK’s fastest-growing technology businesses.
Earlier this year it ranked 81 in the FT1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies list.
The investment from Baird Capital’s Global Private Equity Fund will support Freemarket’s continuing fast growth and international expansion, as well as providing a partial cash-out to existing shareholders. 
The Osborne Clarke team included partner Tracey Wright, pictured, who advised Freemarket on the tax implications of the deal, while partner Michael Carter advised on incentives and legal director Clare Burnam provided regulatory advice.
A corporate team led by partner Robert Wood and including associate director Robert Pook and associates Chris Flach and James Robertson was also involved.
Baird Capital was advised by Squire Patton Boggs (legal), Grant Thornton (financial, tax and regulatory diligence), Oliver Wyman (commercial diligence) and finnCap (M&A advisor). Financial details of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Osborne Clarke’s corporate team works with leading global businesses, fast-growth start-ups and market challengers in the tech, media and comms sector.
The team advises at every stage of company development across all corporate issues, from equity and debt fundraisings to mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings (IPOs) and joint ventures.
