Profile: Chris Ashworth

Corporate Governance

Biography: Corporate Governance

Chris Ashworth is a partner in O'Melveny & Myers' London office specialising in mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets, corporate finance, reconstruction and insolvency. Clients include a number of UK FTSE, FTSE 250 and European listed companies. He was formerly head of the corporate department at Ashurst, London, as well as previously being head of M&A, investment banking and telecoms, and a member of the board.

In addition to appearing in The International Who's Who of Corporate Governance Lawyers, The International Who's Who of Merger & Acquisition Lawyers and The International Who's Who of Business Lawyers, he is specifically recommended by Legal 500 and Chambers UK and global directories. He also speaks regularly at conferences, including the IBA and contributes to various publications.

Recent transactions include advising: the CEO of Napo Pharmaceuticals Inc on the removal of board members (2006); GIC SI, an investment company of the government of Singapore (a member of the consortium led by Ferrovial) on its successful ￂﾣ10.3 billion bid for BAA plc (2006); GIC SI, an investment company of the government of Singapore (a consortium member) on its successful ￂﾣ2.8 billion bid for AB Ports plc (2006); MidStates Plc on its proposed acquisition of Inov8 Technologies Plc and Moving Sun Limited (2006); Fairground Gaming Holdings on its agreement to sell The Spin Palace Group, its gaming operations and infrastructure, back to Seahouses Holdings Limited (2006); the sale of Channel 5 for ￂﾣ270 million by United Business Media plc to RTL (2005); and the proposed ￂﾣ9 billion offer for Marks & Spencers by Philip Green (2004).

Notable transactions include advising: Railtrack Group Plc following the administration of its subsidiary, the subsequent restructuring, disposal of assets including the Channel Tunnel Raillink for ￂﾣ8.8 billion and its subsequent solvent liquidation; BT Group on its bid for the 3G Mobile Telecom UK licence; on the UK and European aspects of the SunGuard Data US$11.3 billion buyout; and Henlys Group on its restructuring and subsequent reappearance as Bluebird.

Chris achieved a first class Honours LLB from the University of Southampton (1975). He is admitted as a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England & Wales, and is a member of the Law Society of England & Wales, City of London Law Company, International Bar Association and American Bar Association.