Christopher Haynes is an English qualified corporate partner in the London office of Gibson, Dunn and Crutcher.

Chris has extensive experience in equity capital markets transactions and mergers and acquisitions including advising corporates, investment banks and shareholders on initial public offerings (including multi-track processes), rights issues and other equity offerings as well as on public takeovers, private company M&A and joint ventures. He also advises on corporate and securities law and regulation.

Chris is recognised as a leading lawyer by Chambers, IFLR1000  and Legal 500. In Legal 500  2024 he is described by clients as being a “standout partner” and the team is praised for its “partner lead engagement” and being “great to work with”, and in the 2022 edition he is described by clients as “one of our most trusted business advisers” and as providing advice that is “excellent”. In Chambers 2024 clients note that he “has consistently demonstrated his knowledge, skills and ability to deliver.”, “is easy to work with, and highly experienced across his field.”, “is an expert in his field, extremely knowledgeable and pragmatic and creative when the situation calls for it.” In prior editions of Chambers  he has been described as being “hugely capable in all corporate and transactional matters”, “really good, commercial and gets stuff done”, “extremely user-friendly”, “a pleasure to work with”, “excellent” and “extremely strong when situations are stressful”.

Chris practiced with Herbert Smith Freehills LLP from 1998 to 2016 and became partner in that firm in 2002. Prior to that he was a solicitor with Bell Gully in New Zealand.

Selected experience includes*:

• Trustpilot Group – £1 billion London listing and IPO (for the company)
• THG – £5.4 billion London listing and IPO (for the banks)
• Network International – £2.2 billion London listing and IPO (for its parent company, Emirates NBD Bank)
• THG – various matters including its $350 million acquisition of Dermstore.com, $255 million acquisition of Bentley Laboratories and pre-IPO equity issuances to BlackRock, Merian and Sofina (for the company)
• Sophos Group – placings of shares by Dr. Peter Lammer and Dr. Jan Hruska raising $582 million, in connection with the takeover offer by Thoma Bravo (for the selling shareholders)
• CMR Surgical – $240 million series C financing (for the banks)
• AO World – £1.2 billion London listing and IPO, on its subsequent placing and on its class 1 acquisition of Mobile Phones Direct (for the company)
• Hostelworld – £176 million IPO and London and Irish listings and on its subsequent placing (for the banks)
• The Weir Group – £363 million placing in connection with the acquisition of ESCO Corporation (for the banks)
• J2 Acquisition – $1.12 billion London listing and IPO (for the banks)
• Ocelot – $425 million London listing and IPO (for the banks)
• Photobox Group – sale by way of auction to Exponent and Electra (for the company)
• Permanent TSB – €400 million capital raising and London and Irish listings (for the banks)
• Trainline – proposed IPO (sold to KKR pursuant to a M&A track) (for the banks)
• Sky – £1.36 billion placing in connection with the acquisition of Sky Deutschland and Sky Italia (for the company)
• Zoopla – £918 million London listing and IPO (for the banks)
• Just Eat – £1.47 billion High Growth Segment London listing and IPO and on the step up to a London premium listing (for the company)
• National Grid – £3.3 billion rights issue (for the banks)
• MoneySupermarket.com – £840 million London listing and IPO and £87 million acquisition of MoneySavingExpert (for the company)

*Includes matters prior to joining Gibson Dunn