Tom Mercer

Tom is an experienced corporate lawyer who advises on a range of M&A, corporate finance and governance matters. He has particular expertise in public company takeovers and mergers and he was secretary to the UK Takeover Panel from 2011 to 2013.

Tom was head of Ashurst's corporate transactions practice in London from 2016 to 2018 and he currently sits on the firm's Audit and Finance Committee. In 2019 he was recognised as one of The Lawyer's Hot 100, a list which comprises the standout lawyers in the UK.

Tom is ranked in Chambers for Corporate/M&A: High-end Capability, with clients noting that "he's approachable and widely known in the market for Takeover Code expertise" and "he is a very impressive guy and a very nice person. You want him by your side in a crisis." The Legal 500 ranks Tom as a leading lawyer for Upper Mid-Market and Premium Deals (£500M+), commenting that he is "noted for his strong track record in public company takeovers, and is able to advise across a broad range of sectors". Supporting client testimonials include: "Tom Mercer is excellent. Very client focused, commercial and he never patronizes" and he has also been highlighted as being "very strong technically, very commercial and always available". He is also ranked as a highly regarded leading M&A lawyer by IFLR1000.

Tom is a member of the Takeovers Joint Working Party of the City of London Law Society (Company Law Committee) and is a trustee of the London Chamber Orchestra (LCO), the longest established professional chamber orchestra in the UK.