RW Blears

What RW Blears does

RW Blears LLP is a London-based boutique law firm founded in 1997 by Senior Partner Roger Blears, advising fund managers, entrepreneurs and investment companies on the full fundraising, investment and exit lifecycle with a singular specialisation in UK tax-efficient investment structures (SEIS, EIS and VCT schemes). The firm is registered as a limited liability partnership in England and Wales (OC349449) and is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 520260), operating from a single office at 1st Floor, 6 Kinghorn Street, London.

The firm's service offering is organised around Fund Establishment Services (including GP/LP fund formation, S/EIS and VCT structuring and IHT/BPR strategies), Corporate Finance Services (capital raising through public and private debt and equity), Investment Advisory (multi-series financing rounds and leveraged buyouts), and Exit Advisory (pre-sale reorganisations, share and asset sales, secondary buy-outs). Underlying expertise is in HMRC-controlled S/EIS/VCT qualification regimes, FCA financial promotion compliance, Prospectus Regulation applications and broader regulatory advisory, with no proprietary technology platform supporting the practice. Differentiated technical expertise has been externally validated through consecutive EISA Best S/EIS Legal/Regulatory Adviser awards (2023, 2024), UKBAA Best Legal Team for Early Stage Deals (2025) and Peer2Peer Finance Law Firm of the Year (2022).

Revenue is generated exclusively through bespoke, quote-based professional services fees, with multi-year engagements and a lean partner-led structure (approximately 19 named professionals including 6 partners, 2 senior associates, 4 associates and a trainee pipeline). The firm operates a relationship-driven go-to-market combining direct client engagement, content marketing through blog/news and email newsletter, active participation in industry events (EISA, Legal Geek, UKBAA) and earned media coverage in Sifted, EU-Startups, Tech Funding News and Sky News. Recent disclosed deal activity includes 8 new funds closed, 30 series fundraisings and 9 acquisitions/exits, anchored by a continuous 28-year relationship with Foresight Group and additional mandates for emerging managers including Ruya Ventures ($50m), Arãya Sie Fund (£7.5M first close) and Onstage (£10m).

Name

RW Blears

Legal name

RW Blears LLP

Website

https://blears.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

London-based boutique law firm advising fund managers, entrepreneurs and investment companies on the full lifecycle from formation to exit, with award-winning specialisation in UK S/EIS/VCT tax-efficient investment structures, fund formation, transactions and exits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Legal Services – Fund Formation & Investment Law

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) & Securities Law (BPAHAAAI)

Keywords

• Fund formation legal
• SEIS EIS advisory
• Venture capital law
• Corporate tax advisory
• Investment scheme law

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Legal Advisory Services: Professional legal fees for advising fund managers, entrepreneurs, and companies on the full investment lifecycle including fund establishment, corporate finance transactions, investments, and exits. Services include prospectus fundraisings, VCT flotations, EIS and GP/LP fund launches, private equity investments, and M&A transactions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

RW Blears is a UK-based limited liability partnership (LLP) law firm providing corporate, regulatory, and tax advice to fund managers, entrepreneurs, and investment managers. The firm holds deep specialisation in S/EIS/VCT tax-efficient investment schemes, supporting clients across fund establishment, corporate finance transactions, regulatory compliance, and investment and exit advisory.

Product overview

RW Blears is a law firm providing integrated legal services across the fund formation and investment lifecycle. The firm operates as a single unified practice offering Fund Establishment Services (including GP/LP fund formation, S/EIS and VCT structuring), Corporate Finance Services (debt and equity capital raising), Investment Advisory (funding rounds and acquisitions), and Exit Advisory. The firm has particular specialization in S/EIS and VCT tax-efficient schemes, with award-winning expertise in this technical field. Services are delivered through a lean team structure providing direct access to experienced advisers without departmental silos.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Fund Formation & Establishment Services Legal advisory on structuring, establishing, and launching UK investment funds, including documentation and ongoing operational support for fund managers and sponsors.
• SEIS / EIS / VCT Tax-Efficient Investment Advisory
• Corporate Finance Services
• Regulatory & Compliance Advisory
• Investment & Exit Advisory

Quantifiable outcome

• 8 new funds closed
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Solicitors Regulation AuthoritycoreOthersRW Blears LLP is authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). Firm registration number: 520260. The SRA is the independent regulatory body of the Law Society of England and Wales.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Marriott Harrison LLP: London-based boutique law firm focused on venture capital, emerging companies, and fund formation. Most directly comparable to RW Blears in size, specialization, and emerging-manager client base; competes head-to-head for S/EIS/VCT mandates and early-stage financings.
• BCL Solicitors LLP: London-based boutique law firm with a strong technology, venture capital, and emerging companies practice advising startups, investors, and fund managers. Closely comparable in scale and boutique positioning to RW Blears, with overlap in S/EIS/VCT and early-stage transactional work.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwin Procter LLP: Global law firm with a London venture capital and fund formation practice advising emerging managers and growth companies. Comparable in advising on S/EIS/VCT structures and venture financings, but operating at much greater scale and across multiple geographies.
• Cooley LLP: US-headquartered law firm with a London office serving venture-backed companies and venture fund managers on formation, financings, and exits. A direct competitor for emerging-manager fund formation mandates in the UK, including those involving tax-efficient schemes.
• Lewis Silkin LLP: UK law firm with a corporate practice that advises venture and growth capital investors and investee companies on financings and exits. Serves comparable client segments to RW Blears but as a broader commercial and employment-focused firm.
• Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP: Global law firm with a dedicated technology and venture capital practice operating in London, advising emerging fund managers and growth-stage companies on fund formation and investment transactions. Overlaps with RW Blears on emerging-manager mandates.
• Mishcon de Reya LLP: Large London-based law firm with a well-known venture capital and emerging companies practice serving fund managers, entrepreneurs, and growth-stage companies across the UK. Overlaps with RW Blears on fund formation and early-stage deal work but operates as a full-service firm.
• Bird & Bird LLP: International law firm with a London fund formation and venture capital practice advising emerging and institutional managers on EIS/VCT-qualifying structures and investments. Comparable client segments to RW Blears but delivered as part of a much broader, multi-jurisdictional platform.
• Taylor Wessing LLP: UK-headquartered international law firm with a strong technology, venture capital, and fund formation practice. Advises fund managers and growth-stage companies on formation, investment, and exit transactions across Europe, overlapping directly with RW Blears' core services.
• Womble Bond Dickinson UK LLP: UK law firm with a corporate practice advising venture and growth investors on fund formation, investments, and exits. Comparable transactional practice to RW Blears but delivered through a wider full-service platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rw--blears
• Xx.com/rwblears

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about RW Blears