Alastair Smith

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

SKILLS

ABOUT ALASTAIR SMITH

I advise a range of clients on finance matters (banking and equity), board governance, contracts, intellectual property / data protection, commercialisation of academic research and investment in emerging companies or academic spin-outs (angel / private equity / venture capital investment).Recently I have been working on investment deals in the software, gaming, hi-tech devices and biotechnology / life sciences sectors. Also advising in connection with the specialist area of IPR and data protection (GDPR) matters. In addition, I have advised on significant multi-million pound mergers and acquisitions in the financial, bio-tech, software and space technology sectors. Some highlights-a. advising in connection with a sale of a multinational (UK/French/US) security software company to a US purchaser for a multi-million pound consideration; b. advising in relation to the purchase of a Scottish technology firm for a Canadian based multi-national (space technology);c. advising in relation to the sale of a Scottish biotech firm to a Swiss purchaser for a multi-million pound consideration;d. advising video games enterprise (producing an game for release) on their operations, contracts (with partners, outsourcers and other 3rd parties) and intellectual property licences, data protection and other arrangements;e. advising The University of Edinburgh in connection with the multi-million pound procurement exercise surrounding the foundation of the state of the art Clinical Research Imaging Facility at the College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine (by Edinburgh Royal Infirmary) in partnership with the NHS. Including advice in connection with all aspects of the project and procurement of hi-tech medical equipment and dealing with all relevant partners to facilitate the CRIC centre\'s foundation; f. advising in numerous rounds of venture capital / investment deals in relation to start-up and growing hi-tech companies (ranging from seed to venture fund rounds). I have acted for either the investors or investee company and advise on the investment deal itself, IP rights, commercial contracts, consultancy contracts and option schemes. I have advised regularly on deals including matched Scottish Enterprise funding; andg. for 2 years I worked on secondment, as a research funding officer and solicitor, in relation to the commercialisation of academic research at (i) the University of St Andrews (Research Funding Office) and (ii) Edinburgh Research & Innovation (the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation subsidiary).