A City practice built around two disciplines
Greer, Vane & Thorold LLP advises on corporate transactions and commercial contracts — and on the disputes that test both. We are small by design, partner-led by conviction, and instructed because the work is difficult, not because it is fashionable.
Established 1987
The firm was founded by Helena Greer’s father, the late Charles Greer, as a commercial practice serving industrial and trading clients in the City and the near Continent. Marcus Vane joined in 1998 from a manufacturing secondment; Julian Thorold in 2003 from a Magic Circle corporate seat. The modern partnership — Greer, Vane & Thorold — was reconstituted in 2011 when the three equity partners formalised the firm’s focus on corporate equity and commercial contracts as the twin centre of the practice.
Amara Okonkwo joined the partnership in 2018 to integrate disputes with the transactional desks. Eleanor Finch made partner in 2021, recognising that technology and data contracts had become a permanent, not peripheral, stream of work for the same client base.
We remain deliberately compact. Matters are not farmed through a pyramid of under-supervised juniors. Associates and counsel support partners; partners remain responsible for the quality of the paper that leaves the building.
Draft for the hostile reader
Every clause is written on the assumption that it will one day be read by someone who wishes it said something else. Ambiguity is not diplomacy; it is deferred cost.
Transactions and disputes as one craft
Litigation outcomes feed drafting standards. Drafting experience feeds case theory. Clients benefit from both without hiring two firms that do not speak.
Boards, investors, general counsel
We act for public and private companies, private equity and growth investors, founder teams, and in-house legal departments that need external depth on defined mandates.
Engagement standards
Conflicts first
We run conflicts and confidential-information checks before substantive advice. If we cannot act, we say so immediately and, where appropriate, suggest alternative counsel.
Partner accountability
A named partner leads every matter, attends the material calls, and reviews the operative drafts. You will not discover at closing that the partner was ornamental.
Clear economics
We quote fixed fees where the scope allows, staged estimates where it does not, and we re-forecast when assumptions break. Surprises belong in negotiations, not invoices.
Document hygiene
Version control, defined-term audits, and schedule consistency checks are part of the fee, not optional polish. A beautiful main body with a broken schedule is a broken contract.
Commercial English
We write for decision-makers as well as lawyers. Board notes, negotiation mark-ups, and risk matrices are plain enough to act on under time pressure.
Aftercare
On significant deals we offer a post-completion implementation review: conditions subsequent, registration filings, and the contracts that now need to match the new ownership map.
Professional standing
Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority. SRA number 564821.
Professional indemnity insurance arranged with a qualifying insurer under the SRA Indemnity Insurance Rules.
VAT registration 482 1193 66 The firm is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales. A list of members is available for inspection at our registered office.
We do not hold client money except through regulated client-account arrangements on transactional matters that require it. Interest policy and complaints procedure are available on request from the Senior Partner’s office.