Bristol law firm VWV’s technology team has acted for fast-growing data intelligence business Ripjar in securing $36.8m (£29.3m) from the US to fund further expansion.
Cheltenham-based Ripjar works with governments and organisations to detect and investigate threats from criminal activity. 
Launched by a team of experienced technologists previously employed by GCHQ, it has developed Labyrinth, pictured, a world-leading data intelligence platform which detects criminal threats such as money laundering, fraud and terrorism and enables human analysts to make quicker and better informed decisions.
The business has grown significantly during the coronavirus pandemic, developing new products and securing new and globally significant customers.
The Series B funding has come from New York-based Long Ridge Equity Partners, which specialises in the financial and business technology sectors and will be used by Ripjar to expand into new markets, accelerate new product development and to grow its team across Asia, North America and Europe.
VWV’s technology team has advised Ripjar since 2013, providing specialist legal advice across a variety of technical disciplines. Previous significant projects advised on by the VWV team include the prior investments made by Winton Capital and Accenture and supporting the negotiation of many of its key customer contracts.
The VWV team was led by corporate partner and head of technology Nathan Guest, who has more than 20 years’ experience in advising tech start-ups, including university spin-outs, and scale-ups with angel, venture capital and private equity funding.
Supporting Nathan, pictured, was a deal team of specialist lawyers from across the firm’s commercial teams, including Paul Heath and Sonya May (corporate), Jacob Scott (commercial), Andrew Gallie and Vicki Bowles (data protection), Mark Stevens (employment) and Emma Bradley and Jonny Musty (tax). 
Ripjar co-founder and COO Tom Griffin said: “We have worked with Nathan and his team at VWV since the outset, they have supported us in a range of activities over the past seven years, including initial shareholders’ agreements, navigating various changes in law, through to our most recent fundraising.
“They have always gone above and beyond in their support to our business, and we look forward to continuing to work closely in our next stage of growth.”
Nathan Guest added: “Ripjar is a brilliant business which has grown significantly in recent years, including during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The combination of brilliant technology and fantastically smart people is one that is being increasingly and rightly recognised by both governments and global businesses alike.”
The Ripjar funding is the latest in a series of technology investment deals supported by the team. It recently acted for father-and-son beachwear e-commerce business Tom & Teddy on an investment by the UK government-backed Future Fund and by matched investors.
