About
May is a partner in our London tax team, with an international corporate tax practice covering private and public M&A, joint ventures, capital markets, funds structuring and restructurings.
May works across a wide range of sectors, including energy and natural resources, pharma and consumer goods groups. She also regularly advises financial sponsors (including on their management incentivisation arrangements).
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May’s experience includes advising:
- Cinven on the acquisition of a majority stake in Grant Thornton UK
- Sanofi on its exclusive negotiations with CD&R to transfer a 50% controlling stake in Opella, its consumer healthcare business
- GASC BNZ on its minority investment in Sustainable Development Capital LLP
- Lloyds Register, a global provider of maritime professional services and digital solutions, on its acquisition of Ocean Technologies Group
- Cinven on its acquisition of a majority stake in Idealista, the leading online real estate classifieds business in southern Europe
- Hargreaves Lansdown plc on the recommended final cash offer from a consortium comprised of CVC, Nordic Capital and ADIA
- Cinven on its investment in Swedish healthy drinks and snacks company Vitamin Well
- Warburg Pincus on the sale of Vodeno
- Patient Square Capital and its Elevage Medical Technologies platform on an investment by Elevage and Prudential Assurance Company in 4basebio PLC
- Cinven on its sale of a majority stake in Partner in Pet Food, a market-leading pan-European pet food manufacturer
- Universal Music Group on its majority investment in independent Afrobeats record label Mavin Global
- General Atlantic on its significant minority investment in Partners Capital Investment Group
- General Atlantic on its additional investment in Argus Media Group
- General Dynamics Corporation on the sale of its General Dynamics Mission Systems – Italy division
- AstraZeneca on its acquisition of Gracell Biotechnologies Inc, a global clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing innovative cell therapies for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases
- GIC on its acquisition of Cinven's interest in Miller, the leading independent specialist (re)insurance broker
- Convatec Group on the acquisition of the advanced wound care business of the 30 Technology group
- AstraZeneca on its $39bn acquisition of Alexion Pharmaceuticals
- Aveva Group on its takeover by Schneider Electric
- Cinven and Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board on an investment in the combination of group.ONE and the dogado group, creating a leading pan-European one-stop-shop provider of online presence solutions for SMEs
- General Atlantic on the acquisition of a stake of approximately 21 per cent in Gymshark, the fitness community and apparel brand in its first-ever fundraise, valuing the business at over £1bn
- Grünenthal, the Germany-based global leader in pain management and related diseases, on a collaboration with Kyowa Kirin International, the Japan-based global specialty pharmaceutical company, regarding Kyowa Kirin's established medicines portfolio
- Haleon on its demerger from GSK and its listing on the London Stock Exchange
- Honeywell on the combination of Honeywell Quantum Solutions and Cambridge Quantum Computing
- iCON Infrastructure on its partnership with Royal Caribbean Group to develop strategic cruise port infrastructure
- Oxford University on its £4bn development partnership with Legal & General and subsequent agreements for Legal & General to finance and develop the new Life & Mind Building and the Begbroke Science Park
- Starbucks Corporation on its US$7.15bn global coffee alliance with Nestlé S.A
"May is very capable and technical, and she has an incredible depth of knowledge. She's also pragmatic, so it is a great combination."
— Chambers & Partners 2025
May Smith
Partner
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