Rob Sharpe’s practice focuses on the UK and international tax aspects of a broad range of transactions, including public and private M&A transactions, reorganizations, and corporate finance.

He regularly advises on the tax aspects of M&A deal execution and structuring for private equity and other investment funds, including management incentive and other equity planning, oversight of acquisition finance and loan documentation, and transaction structuring. He also represents clients on fund manager M&A deal execution and structuring, GP stakes, and preferred equity transactions.

Rob has been active in promoting the use of the UK’s new “qualifying asset holding company” regime for widely held funds and has worked with various clients to introduce QAHCs into their structures.

He is also experienced in advising on contentious tax matters and tax litigation.

Rob joined the firm as a partner in 2025 from another major international law firm.

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Notable Experience (including those prior to joining Cleary)

  • Arcus in its sale of Constellation Cold Logistics to EQT and sale of AEIF2’s interest in Constellation Cold Logistics.

  • 17Capital with its strategic partnership with Oaktree and related issues.

  • AppLearn International in its sale to Permira-backed Nexthink.

  • Apax in its acquisition of Zellis.

  • Blackstone in its acquisition of a majority stake in VFS Global, a global leader in visa outsourcing services.

  • Coller Capital with its strategic minority investments by Hunter Point Capital and Dextra.

  • CPP in its investment in Ontic, a global aerospace firm and a portfolio company of CVC.

  • GBL in its acquisition of Affidea, a leading provider of medical diagnostic services in Europe.

  • Helmerich & Payne in its $1.97 billion all-cash acquisition of KCA Deutag International Limited.

  • K1 Investment Management in its strategic growth investment in Board Intelligence.

  • Nordic Capital in its acquisition of Ascot Lloyd, an independent UK financial and planning advisor.

  • PAI Partners in the strategic minority investment in its business by Dyal Capital.

  • A UK power company in the sale of its non-renewables businesses.

  • An international ports operator on the sale of its businesses across Europe and the Middle East.

  • A major Hong Kong-based crypto-focused FinTech organization on its international structuring and issues for its end users.

  • A major asset management firm on the acquisition of a number of high-profile UK bookstore chains.

  • High-profile UK and EU insurance price comparison website businesses on their auction sale.

  • A major UK insurer on the establishment of a new insurance platform involving the acquisition of underwriting assets from another insurer.

  • A major U.S.-headquartered bank in a significant transfer pricing dispute.

  • A UK real estate group in settlement negotiations with HMRC concerning historic tax-structured arrangements.

  • A major bank in a series of disputes with HMRC concerning VAT grouping eligibility.

  • A major U.S.-headquartered beverage company in several corporate reorganizations.

  • A mining company in a series of tax disputes in Tanzania.

  • A number of major corporates in EU and UK law challenges to proposed sectoral taxes including the soft drinks industry levy, plastics packaging tax, and others.

  • A Premier League football club in a proposed reorganization of its ownership structure, and in the corporate criminal offence of failure to prevent facilitation of tax evasion.

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