Senior Associate Harry Pearson and Associate Shania Sood spoke to us to discuss their experience of working on the IPO which is an important part of CPH2’s growth story and development of crucial green hydrogen technologies.
With the countdown on to reach net zero and growing pressures on businesses to adopt greener ways of working, supporting the development of green energy technologies has never been more vital.
Founded in 2012 with the ambition to ‘clean up the environment for our children and future generations,’ Doncaster-based CPH2 specialises in the sustainable commercial production of green hydrogen. Its innovative technology is designed to have a key role in increasing the use of green hydrogen in UK industries. CPH2 relied on Browne Jacobson to guide the company through its IPO on AIM, the London stock exchange dedicated to small and mid-cap companies, as the crucial next step in its growth.
Senior Associate Harry Pearson and Associate Shania Sood spoke to us to discuss their experience of working on the IPO which is an important part of CPH2’s growth story and development of crucial green hydrogen technologies.
Shania: our Corporate team at Browne Jacobson has a focus on clean energy and renewables which is a big draw for me, and this transaction stood out because what our client does is innovative and they’re striving to make a tangible difference in addressing a global problem we’re all grappling with. Through the course of the transaction and working closely with the client, I was able to understand what CPH2’s technology does and the real-world impact it could have. Knowing this and being able to support CPH2 gaining further investment to develop its technology was inspiring and rewarding as a lawyer.
Harry: I agree, it was satisfying to work on a project where sustainability was at the core of our client’s business. This wasn’t just because it’s good for the planet – it is central to CPH2’s offering. The sustainability built into the product can make it a more cost-effective choice for the businesses that buy it, so it was satisfying to work on a project where sustainability was not only good for the planet but also good for business.
Shania: I took the lead supporting CPH2 on the verification process – which is the process where the directors confirm and substantiate the accuracy of all statements to investors. This is a significant part of any IPO but was particularly interesting in this transaction because the technology is cutting edge and exciting. I had a lot of contact with CPH2 throughout which meant I could build a much deeper understanding of its business than might normally be possible in transactions, which was something I really enjoyed. It was also great that the client team lead at Browne Jacobson entrusted me to take a prominent role in the transaction early on in my career, giving me lots of guidance and support along the way.
Harry: To add to Shania’s point, and what stood out for me, is that the verification process we helped with did mean that CPH2’s directors were comfortable confirming that - yes - this product is sustainable.
Harry: Collaboration was crucial throughout the due diligence process. Our commercial team had been involved with the client across several projects, so they were able to help us in the corporate team understand the client. We also worked closely with other specialist teams from across the firm, including employment, regulatory and property. These teams were across our Manchester, Birmingham, and Nottingham offices, but I felt that this project tied us together – we were working through some of the lockdowns but still gelled as a team, perhaps more so than we might have if we hadn’t all been working from home!
Shania: I would echo that and add that the other aspect of collaboration that was key for me is the amount of support we were given. Harry and I were very much involved in the, and from day one the Partners working with us made sure we were given the chance to learn and take responsibility. I was responsible for key documents and was encouraged to get in front of the client and understand their business. The Partners were always available to offer support and they encouraged the client to direct questions to Harry and me, trusting us to turn to them when we needed guidance and support.
Harry: While this project is definitely a stand-out in my career so far, we approached it in the same way that we always do at Browne Jacobson and so it didn’t feel exceptional in that sense. We’re doing important and interesting work all the time – it’s a given at our firm!
Shania: I couldn’t have put it better myself. It’s exciting, high-quality work, and even though this was my first IPO, working for a client that is making a real difference in the world, I felt that the way we worked together throughout the deal - from start to finish - was the same as it always is – the Browne Jacobson way.
Below are some of the questions we are regularly asked by startups, covering a range of topic areas.
UK law firm Browne Jacobson, which opened its first overseas office in Dublin in September, has outlined its strategic plans to grow its legal team over the next four years.
Bishopsgate Corporate Finance and law firm Browne Jacobson have jointly advised on the acquisition of award-winning tech solutions business, Custard Technical Services by US managers services and cyber security provider, Thrive.
In the ongoing complex litigation between Optis Cellular Technology LLC and Apple Inc., the Court of Appeal ([2022] EWCA Civ 1411) has upheld the High Court’s findings that implementers of standard-essential patents (SEPs) cannot refuse to accept a FRAND license and continue activities in the meantime which constitute infringement: that party must commit to accept a court-determined license if it wishes to avoid an injunction.
The war on plastic is being taken to a new level, and businesses that don’t consider sourcing recycled packaging materials could face costly implications.
Earlier in the year a number of fashion retailers, boldly announced the introduction of a charging fee for returning any product purchased via their online store. Yet, despite this commercial, and perhaps somewhat controversial decision, at least one major fashion giant that adopted this approach has recorded ‘historic highs’ in its September profits. Browne Jacobson partner, Cat Driscoll who heads up the firm’s commercial team in Manchester and is also head of its Fashion & Beauty sector discusses whether this change has put the average consumer off and whether the days of free returns are long gone.
A deepfake of Bruce Willis is advertising Russian mobile phones. Many great artistic and metaphysical questions are raised by this performance. However, this article is going to look at the intellectual property law implications, from a UK perspective.
The Digital Services Act (the “DSA”) has today (27 October) been given the go-ahead by the EU Council and will enter into force by early 2024.
The fashion industry has a mountain to climb when it comes to sustainability. More than 8% of greenhouse gas emissions come from the apparel and footwear industries, and approaching three-fifths of all clothing ends up in incinerators or landfill within a year of being made.
Created at the end of the Brexit transition period, Retained EU Law is a category of domestic law that consists of EU-derived legislation retained in our domestic legal framework by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. This was never intended to be a permanent arrangement as parliament promised to deal with retained EU law through the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill (the “Bill”).
Browne Jacobson’s corporate technology dealmakers have advised Agilico, a workplace technology business, on its acquisition of Capital Document Solutions Limited for an undisclosed amount.
Browne Jacobson’s lawyers have advised Suez SA and its shareholders on its acquisition of its former UK waste management business – Suez R&R UK - from French headquartered business Veolia for an enterprise value of £2 billion.
The increased use of artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionising the way businesses operate and is having a disruptive impact in sectors that have traditionally been slow to modernise.
The Chancellor’s recent mini-budget provided a significant announcement for business as it was confirmed that the off-payroll working rules (known as “IR35”) put in place for public and private sector businesses from 2017 and 2021 will be scrapped from April 2023.
The Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) has published a consultation on proposals to require Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) administering authorities (AAs) in England and Wales to assess, manage and report on climate change risks.
Browne Jacobson’s specialist cleantech lawyers have advised AIM listed Clean Power Hydrogen Group Limited (CPH2) on its licence agreement with Bentec GmbH, a member of the Kenera business of the KCA Deutag Group. Kenera will manufacture CPH2’s unique membrane-free electrolysers from its facility in Bad Bentheim, Germany.
Browne Jacobson’s corporate finance lawyers have advised leading mid-market private equity firm, LDC and management on the sale of specialist managed IT services provider, Littlefish to Bowmark Capital.
The Digital Markets Act (the “DMA”) joins the dots between competition law and data protection law and actively targets data-driven platforms. It is also a comprehensive regulation to take note of, with familiar GDPR-style fines tied to turnover.