Michael Ross

Senior Counsel

Michael is a senior counsel in our Technology & Commercial Transactions Department.

Michael specialises in high value and complex contractual projects and commercial transactions (including outsourcing, supply, distribution, agency, brand licensing and franchise arrangements, as well as joint ventures and other strategic alliances). He has experience across a broad range of sectors, including automotive, defence, retail, media, logistics, technology, professional services, pensions administration, hotels, brewing, energy and infrastructure.

Michael also regularly advises in support of M&A transactions and has considerable experience in advising on many complex business carve-outs and separation processes.

Michael has co-authored the UK chapter of the Chambers Global Practice Guide on Technology & Outsourcing annually since 2021.

Michael is also a member of the firm's ESG Corporate & Transactions Group.

Industry recognition:

Michael is recognised as a Leading Associate for Commercial Contracts in Legal 500's UK 2026 rankings.

Recent highlights

Zegona plc on its €5bn carve-out acquisition of Vodafone Spain from Vodafone Group plc.

Nest, the UK's largest workplace pension scheme, on its appointment of Northern Trust as its fund administrator and custodian.

Swisscom on the English law aspects of its €8bn carve-out acquisition of Vodafone Italy from Vodafone Group plc.

Metropolitan, part of BUUK Infrastructure, on its district energy schemes at Colindale Gardens, Hallsville Quarter and St. Andrew's Park.

Gist on its £3.5 billion 12-year warehousing and logistics services agreement with Marks & Spencer and advised BOC (part of The Linde Group) on the subsequent separation and sale of Gist to Marks & Spencer.

Laura Ashley on the sale of its brand to US restructuring and investment firm Gordon Brothers.

Inflexion on its significant minority investment in Digital Wholesale Solutions (DWS), an independent IT, communications and cloud wholesale platform, and carve-out from the Daisy Group.

AURELIUS on the acquisition of leading UK property services provider TM Group from Dye & Durham.

AJ Capital Partners on its acquisition and refinancing of numerous UK hotels (as part of its Graduate and Marine & Lawn portfolios) and the drafting and negotiation of related hotel/food & beverage management agreements, as well as the sale of the Graduate brand to Hilton.

Shinfield Studios on key contractual agreements and facilities licence agreements at its state-of-the-art film and TV studio complex near Reading.

British Steel Pension Fund Trustees on a pension administration services agreement with Legal & General.

Shepherd Neame, the UK's oldest independent brewer, on its outsourced warehousing and distribution arrangement with Keuhne & Nagel and its licensed brewing and distribution arrangements in relation to Sam Adams Boston Beer, Angry Orchard Cider and Singha Beer.

Ascential plc on the separation and sale of numerous business units, including the sale of WGSN to Apax Partners.

Instavolt on EV charge point operating agreements.

CGE Partners on its investment in Datapharm, a leading provider of regulatory-driven medicines information and software solutions to the pharmaceutical industry.