Edward Craft

Partner

Corporate

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Expertise

Edward leads on the most complex and innovative transactions delivered at Wedlake Bell and provides technical leadership to both the team and the profession.

Edward has sat on the Company Law Committee of The Law Society since 2013 and served as chair 2019-2022. In that role, Edward was responsible for the guidance to solicitors in conducting verification under the new register of overseas entities. The 2021 practice note and Q&A on electronic signatures in the context of COVID has proven a very valuable resource to practitioners.

Edward has a long-established practice focussed on governance and transparency, including PSC, ROE and TRS.

Edward has twice been the author of the Corporate Governance Code issued by The Quoted Companies Alliance, which is used by the vast majority of companies on AIM.

Chambers & Partners said that Edward is “always thinking outside the box to come up with very clever and unusual ideas.”

Recent Experience

  • Farm-in transactions for significant Southern African exploration rights;
  • Successful fundraising for AIM-admitted oil exploration company operating on the South Atlantic;
  • £350m sale of seven companies for a trust involving a complex reorganisation and a total of 23 capital reductions, involving well over 500 documents;
  • Sale of holding company in consideration for a £4.25b loan note;
  • English advice on the structuring and joint venture establishment of a Luxembourg special limited partnership;
  • Sale of a portfolio of African embedded generation and low-carbon energy assets;
  • Private wealth management through corporate structures.

Career History

Edward joined Wedlake Bell as a partner in 2010. Before that, he spent twelve years at Nabarro (now CMS), where he qualified as a solicitor in 2000.

Edward studied law at the University of Nottingham (graduating in 1997) and obtained his post-graduate qualification at Nottingham Law School.

Publications

Edward is a regular author of consultation response and thought leadership pieces.

Edward’s officially published work includes:

  • QCA Corporate Governance Code, 2018 and 2013
  • QCA Remuneration Committee Guide for Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies, 2016
  • Delivering Proportionate and Effective Corporate Governance in Small and Medium-Size Quoted Companies (chapter in A Practical Guide to Corporate Governance), 2014
  • Local Authority Joint Ventures (chapter in Local Authority Companies and Partnerships)
  • Practical Law Practice note on Local Authority Joint Ventures

Edward Craft is fantastic. Totally aligned with his client’s commercial needs and works relentlessly hard to achieve the best for his clients. Very practical, pragmatic and a real gentleman to deal with.

Legal 500, 2023

He's very committed and solutions-focused.

Chambers UK, 2021

Edward Craft – the most knowledgeable governance professional I’ve come across in my career, whose strong technical competency is expertly conveyed with a suitable degree of pragmatism that is aligned with the business needs.

Legal 500, 2021

"always thinking outside the box to come up with very clever and unusual ideas."

Chambers UK, 2018

Edward Craft is described as "incredibly intelligent"

Chambers UK, 2018

"has made our lives very easy with his dedication and professionalism."

Chambers UK, 2018

QIA

Helping real estate investors keep on top of transparency disclosures

There is a lot of fresh regulation for real estate investors to consider. Over recent years we have been updating you on the range of initiatives which fall under theRead more

QIA

REGISTER OF OVERSEAS ENTITIES – THE DUTY TO UPDATE

As the register of overseas entities (“ROE“) marks its one-year anniversary, the overseas entities (“OEs“) on the register must prepare for the first annual update, if they have not doneRead more

News

THE UK GOVERNMENT’S ECONOMIC CRIME AGENDA: WHAT CAN BE EXPECTED FOR UK REAL ESTATE?

In 2022 there was a sea change for overseas-incorporated entities that owned UK real estate. We look at where things are almost 12 months on and where things are going.Read more

News

Beware the need for notice – Heffalump traps set by the Economic Crime (Transparent and Enforcement) Act 2022

This is the second of a series of articles highlighting some traps for the unwary under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (ECTEA).

News

Think you’ve sold, think again! Heffalump traps set by the Economic Crime (Transparent and Enforcement) Act 2022

This is the first of a series of articles highlighting some traps for the unwary under the Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (ECTEA).

Globally Speaking

The Register of Overseas Entities and the Verification Conundrum

The Economic Crime (Transparency and Enforcement) Act 2022 (“ECA”) introduced a register of overseas entities (“ROE”) and was passed on 15 March 2022 after a fast-tracked legislative process following eventsRead more