Linzi Thomas advises clients on complex cross-border private equity and M&A transactions. She draws on a decade of experience acting for large private equity houses on their most significant deals.

Linzi is ranked as a Next Generation Partner for Private Equity in The Legal 500 UK 2020, 2022 and has been recognized by Legal Week’s 40 Under 40: The Rising Stars in Private Equity 2019, listed in The Lawyer Hot 100 2020, and in Black Women in Asset Management’s 40 Under 40 list of Black Women Shaping the Future of Asset Management.

Linzi's experience includes advising:

  • Norgine Europe B.V., a leading European specialty pharmaceutical company, on its agreement to sell a controlling stake in the company to Goldman Sachs Asset Management
  • CVC Capital Partners 
    • And Theramex, the leading global specialty pharmaceuticals company focused on women’s health, on the sale of Theramex to global investment firms PAI Partners and Carlyle
    • On its investment, alongside Oakley Capital, in TechInsights Inc., a leading provider of IP services and advanced technology analysis across a broad range of devices and markets
    • In the acquisition by Abu Dhabi Investment Authority of a 30% stake in Domestic & General, the leading appliance care specialist
    • On its Strategic Investment in Omada A/S, a Denmark-based provider of identity and access governance, risk management, compliance, role-based access management, and process governance solutions
    • In connection with the £2.4 billion IPO of Avast, the world’s largest consumer antivirus software supplier, listed on the London Stock Exchange
    • On its investment in Avast Software, world’s leading consumer security software company, which valued Avast at US$1 billion
  • Onex Corporation on the acquisition of Tes Global, a UK-based education software and technology company
  • The Carlyle Group 
    • And The Nature’s Bounty Co. on the £1.77 billion sale of Holland & Barrett, one of Europe’s largest health and wellness retailers
    • On the sale of Export Trading Group, who own and manage a vertically integrated agriculture supply chain across the African subcontinent with operations spanning procurement, processing, warehousing, transport, distribution, and merchandising*
    • On its investment in Export Trading Group, a company with operations in over 26 African countries — the first investment by the Carlyle sub-Sahara Africa fund and the largest private equity deal in Africa of 2012*
  • L Catterton Europe and Catterton
    • On its partnership with Maria Nila, the Swedish sustainable professional hair care brand
    • On its acquisition of a significant minority shareholding in Little Moons, a premium dessert brand in the UK
    • On its agreement with LVMH and Groupe Arnault to create L Catterton, a global consumer-focused investment firm
  • Helios Investment Partners
    • Along with TA Associates, and minority shareholders on the sale of a significant minority stake in Interswitch to Visa. Interswitch, headquartered in Nigeria, is one of the largest Africa-focused digital payments providers 
    • And Interswitch in relation to investment by LeapFrog and Tana. The investment will assist in supporting Interswitch´s plans to expand the digital payments ecosystem across sub-Saharan Africa
    • On its investment in renewable energy business Starsight
    • On its joint venture with Vitol to acquire the downstream business of Oando PLC
  • La Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec (CDPQ) on its partnership with Generation Investment Management LLP and investment in FNZ, a deal valuing the company at £1.65 billion 
  • Funds advised by Triton and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority (ADIA) (the Consortium) on the acquisition of IFCO, a unit of Australian Securities Exchange-listed Brambles Limited
  • BC Partners on its sale of Antelliq, a France-based developer of digital animal identification, traceability, and monitoring solutions, to Merck 
  • Global Infrastructure Partners in connection with its €1.94 billion acquisition of Italian railway operator Italo – Nuovo Trasporto Viaggiatori S.p.A.
  • Leonard Green & Partners 
    • And its portfolio company CPA Global, a leader in intellectual property software and tech-enabled services, on its US$6.8 billion combination with Clarivate Plc, a leader in providing trusted information and insights to accelerate the pace of innovation
    • In connection with its acquisition of CPA Global, the world's leading Intellectual Property management and technology company, from Cinven
  • Ares
    • On the acquisition of Farrow & Ball, a global leader in high quality paint and wallpaper in a deal that values the business at £275 million
    • On the acquisition of SLR Global, a UK-based ESG consultancy and advisory business, from Charterhouse and management shareholders
  • GTCR in Cision’s Cross-Border Acquisition of Gorkana Group, a provider of media intelligence and insight services for PRs, marketers, and journalists
  • African Capital Alliance on its equity investment into WIOCC (West Indian Ocean Cable Company), Africa’s hyperscale infrastructure provider
  • Bregal on the acquisition of Iptor Supply Chain Systems, a developer and provider of enterprise resource planning and supply chain management software to the distribution industry based in Sweden
  • Limerston Capital LLP in connection with its acquisition of Spark Energy, a company engaged in supplying renewable energy for residential tenants in the UK and Ireland
  • Brundage-Bone Concrete Pumping in connection with its acquisitions of Camfaud Concrete Pumps, Premier Concrete Pumping, and South Coast Concrete Pumping, UK-based companies providing concrete pumping and material placements services
  • Peninsula Pacific, a US based consumer and industrial private equity investor, in its proposed business combination of Concrete Pumping Holdings, Inc. to Industrea Acquisition Corp

*Matter handled prior to joining Latham

Bar Qualification

  • England and Wales (Solicitor)

Education

  • Legal Practice Course, College of Law, London, 2008
  • LLB (Hons.) Law with Legal Studies in Europe, King's College London, 2007