Nigel Brahams

Nigel Brahams

Qualification date: 1992

Specialising in:

About

Nigel heads our Financial Services group and is a Partner in our Corporate team.

Nigel specialises in regulatory and transactional FinTech and financial services. His experience includes brokerage, trading, investment research, derivatives and post trade issues across equity, debt, FX, fund, cryptoasset and derivative product lines; Cryptoasset regulation and blockchain projects; payments, E-Money, peer-to-peer lending and crowd-funding; Collective Investment Schemes; and consumer credit and finance.

Nigel has specialist experience in early stage (Seed Funding, Series A) funding for technology firms. He is also an M&A lawyer with sector experience of technology and financial services deals.

Nigel has a specific interest in blockchain, digital assets and crypto currencies. As such, he regularly advises and speaks on blockchain projects, as well as the application of English law and regulation to the selling and issuance of ICOs and advises crypto brokers, payments firms and fund managers.

Nigel’s experience includes drafting and negotiating master purchase and sale agreements for Islamic finance products, including commodity based Murabaha trades and Sukuk bonds, negotiating with a number of Middle Eastern Banks.

Nigel qualified as a lawyer in 1992 with Clifford Chance. Prior to returning to law firm practice in 2015, Nigel spent 20 years as in-house counsel at a series of investment banks and brokerage / FinTech firms, including Nomura, Societe Generale, NatWest Markets and was Head of Legal, EMEA at GFI Group, a leading wholesale broker and markets-based FinTech provider.

Contact Nigel

Recognition

  • "Nigel Brahams is our lead lawyer for our significant fintech platform. We valued his deep level of expertise in fintech not only in the UK and Europe but globally as well."

    Legal 500

  • "Nigel Brahams has spent a lot of time in-house and understands both sides of the client-lawyer relationship. I pass him most of my corporate work."

    Legal 500

  • "Nigel's legal craft is outstanding"

    Client feedback

  • "Benefiting from former in-house experience within the brokerage industry, Nigel Brahams is ‘excellent at identifying the key issues that are relevant’ to clients in that space"

    Legal 500

  • chambers-uk-2024-firm

Nigel's work highlights

stock-charts
city london evening
Close up image hand using mobile phone
working from home
bitcoin
uk-bunting

Advising a commodity derivatives platform

We advised a commodity derivatives platform, on the regulatory and commercial aspects of managing its platform. In particular we provided perimeter regulatory guidance as to whether the platform could be undertaking regulated activities in various scenarios, in order to conduct brokerage of potentially exempt products. We also had to consider whether its activities could be interpreted as operating a trading venue.

Advising a crypto currency trading platform

We advised a central Europe-based client building a platform offering access to artificial-intelligence powered crypto currency trading tools, on UK regulation regarding ICOs and token sales.

Advising a family office on FCA regulatory requirements

We advised a family office on the FCA regulatory requirements of operating a multi-family office, as well as advising them on SAFEs under which they were investing in two early-stage companies.

Advising a financial research provider

We advised a financial research provider on regulatory issues of offering investment research.

Advising a leading FX provider on their terms of business

We updated the terms of business of a leading FX provider to ensure compliance with the latest law and regulation.

Advising a leading higher education provider

We advised a leading higher education provider on the Higher Education Act.

Advising on a project to issue music NFTs

We advised Goldreel on their project to issue NFTs representing new music.

Advising on crypto trading terms of business

We advised a brokerage house introducing crypto trading offering to clients.

Advising on management buyout of leading economics consultancy

Advised on the purchase of a leading economics consultancy business by members of senior management.

Advising on sale of translation tech business

We advised on the sale of Language Connect, a translation technology business, to one of the largest UK-based e-commerce organisations.

Spotlight

Review your business documents

Contact us today to find out more about CB Checkpoint and to begin your review.

Learn more

Publications

  • Share-Classes-Corporate-guide-cover

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Classes

    Creating new share classes can be a useful way of attracting new participants, allowing a company to offer shares that are particularly focussed towards their desired investors. Whether you are considering re-organising the ownership of your business or are keen to understand the most suitable structure for a planned investment, this guide can help you with some common questions in relation to share classes.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Getting a business ready for sale-Corporate guide-Cover

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Getting a Business Ready for Sale

    Prior to approaching the market or agreeing terms with a prospective buyer, undertaking adequate preparations for sale can contribute to a smoother transaction for all parties. In this guide, we look at some key questions to consider in respect of the readiness of a business for a potential sale.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate-know-how-guide-share-buybacks-cover

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Share Buybacks

    Put simply, a share buyback is where a company purchases its own shares from an existing shareholder. In this guide, we will look at some key aspects of share buybacks in relation to private limited companies incorporated in England & Wales.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • corporate-know-how-guide-heads-of-terms-visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Heads of Terms

    In this guide we will look at heads of terms as they relate to the sale of a business or assets in England & Wales. Whether identified as “heads of terms”, a “letter of intent” or “heads of agreement”, these documents summarise the key terms of a proposed transaction.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate-know-how-guide-shareholder-rights-cover-visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholder Rights

    Whether you are a minority shareholder concerned about what influence you can exert over a company’s affairs, or a founding shareholder, considering the amount of equity you would be prepared to sell to investors without losing control – this guide is here to help you understand what shareholders can do and when.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Share v asset sales guide visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Share v. Asset Sales

    Share and asset purchases are the two methods of acquiring a business in the UK.

    Do you know their differences? The business of a sole trader or unregistered partnership can only be acquired through an asset purchase as there is no owning entity for the assets which can be acquired, while a share purchase can be used for the acquisition of all or part of the shares in a company which owns and operates a business.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Shareholders' agreement guide visual

    Corporate Know-How Guides: Shareholders’ Agreements: the Basics

    Did you know that a shareholders’ agreement is a written agreement, between the shareholders of a company, as to the relationship between them and how the company should be managed. By including the company as a party, the shareholders can ensure that it is both bound by and able to enforce the terms of the agreement against contravening shareholders.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate Know-How Guides: Selling a Business

    We look at the flip side of price structuring, instead focusing on how a seller could secure elements of the purchase price that are delayed – or at least obtain comfort around the buyer’s ability to pay them.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • Corporate Know-How Guides: Buying a Business

    When making an offer for a business, the question of when the consideration will be paid can often be just as important as how much will be paid. We look at four of the most common options available to prospective buyers (beyond upfront cash payments) and the risks/rewards posed by them.

    Discover our new series of Corporate Know-How guides.

    Download now

  • The City of London just after sunset, United Kingdom

    Private equity/post M&A disputes

    Often involving complex, cross-border issues, our team has a great deal of experience in resolving the full range of post-M&A disputes.

    Download now

Nigel's colleagues

Nigel Brahams

Nigel Brahams

Partner - Head of Financial Services

Contact Nigel

Qualification 1992

Specialising in...

About

Nigel heads our Financial Services group and is a Partner in our Corporate team.

Nigel specialises in regulatory and transactional FinTech and financial services. His experience includes brokerage, trading, investment research, derivatives and post trade issues across equity, debt, FX, fund, cryptoasset and derivative product lines; Cryptoasset regulation and blockchain projects; payments, E-Money, peer-to-peer lending and crowd-funding; Collective Investment Schemes; and consumer credit and finance.

Nigel has specialist experience in early stage (Seed Funding, Series A) funding for technology firms. He is also an M&A lawyer with sector experience of technology and financial services deals.

Nigel has a specific interest in blockchain, digital assets and crypto currencies. As such, he regularly advises and speaks on blockchain projects, as well as the application of English law and regulation to the selling and issuance of ICOs and advises crypto brokers, payments firms and fund managers.

Nigel’s experience includes drafting and negotiating master purchase and sale agreements for Islamic finance products, including commodity based Murabaha trades and Sukuk bonds, negotiating with a number of Middle Eastern Banks.

Nigel qualified as a lawyer in 1992 with Clifford Chance. Prior to returning to law firm practice in 2015, Nigel spent 20 years as in-house counsel at a series of investment banks and brokerage / FinTech firms, including Nomura, Societe Generale, NatWest Markets and was Head of Legal, EMEA at GFI Group, a leading wholesale broker and markets-based FinTech provider.

Recognition

  • "Nigel Brahams is our lead lawyer for our significant fintech platform. We valued his deep level of expertise in fintech not only in the UK and Europe but globally as well."

    Legal 500

  • "Nigel Brahams has spent a lot of time in-house and understands both sides of the client-lawyer relationship. I pass him most of my corporate work."

    Legal 500

  • "Nigel's legal craft is outstanding"

    Client feedback

  • "Benefiting from former in-house experience within the brokerage industry, Nigel Brahams is ‘excellent at identifying the key issues that are relevant’ to clients in that space"

    Legal 500

  • chambers-uk-2024-firm

work highlights

stock-charts
city london evening
Close up image hand using mobile phone
working from home
bitcoin
uk-bunting

Advising a commodity derivatives platform

We advised a commodity derivatives platform, on the regulatory and commercial aspects of managing its platform. In particular we provided perimeter regulatory guidance as to whether the platform could be undertaking regulated activities in various scenarios, in order to conduct brokerage of potentially exempt products. We also had to consider whether its activities could be interpreted as operating a trading venue.

Advising a crypto currency trading platform

We advised a central Europe-based client building a platform offering access to artificial-intelligence powered crypto currency trading tools, on UK regulation regarding ICOs and token sales.

Advising a family office on FCA regulatory requirements

We advised a family office on the FCA regulatory requirements of operating a multi-family office, as well as advising them on SAFEs under which they were investing in two early-stage companies.

Advising a financial research provider

We advised a financial research provider on regulatory issues of offering investment research.

Advising a leading FX provider on their terms of business

We updated the terms of business of a leading FX provider to ensure compliance with the latest law and regulation.

Advising a leading higher education provider

We advised a leading higher education provider on the Higher Education Act.

Advising on a project to issue music NFTs

We advised Goldreel on their project to issue NFTs representing new music.

Advising on crypto trading terms of business

We advised a brokerage house introducing crypto trading offering to clients.

Advising on management buyout of leading economics consultancy

Advised on the purchase of a leading economics consultancy business by members of senior management.

Advising on sale of translation tech business

We advised on the sale of Language Connect, a translation technology business, to one of the largest UK-based e-commerce organisations.

Spotlight

Insights, News & Events

Review your business documents

Contact us today to find out more about CB Checkpoint and to begin your review.

Learn more

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