Christopher Gardner

Christopher Gardner's practice focuses on the structuring and establishment of private funds domiciled in a range of onshore and offshore jurisdictions across a range of asset classes, with a focus on liquid and illiquid debt and credit, hedge, hybrid, real estate, buyout, listed equity and renewable energy funds. Mr. Gardner acts most frequently for sponsors and investors from Europe, the Middle East and North Africa, and North America.

Mr. Gardner also advises on post-Brexit strategy, M&A transactions in the financial services sector, the spin outs and establishment of new asset management businesses and on the sale and purchase of fund interests, fund and co-investment restructurings, as well as providing advice on portfolio company corporate and commercial and general financial services regulatory matters.

Mr. Gardner is listed in the "Spotlight" category for Private Equity: Credit Funds by Chambers UK. The 2022 edition notes that “he has a good balance of providing sound and succinct advice while being very commercial about his viewpoints” and client testimonial in the 2021 edition highlights his “ability to advise clients on European-focused credit funds,” that “he combines a lot of helpful skills and is good at managing legal services across disciplines and geographies” and that he “thinks strategically.”

Mr. Gardner is ranked for private funds in The Legal 500 UK. The 2022 edition states that “Christopher Gardner has exceptional knowledge and dedication that he brings to private equity groups and funds.” He is also noted for being “very measured with a diverse background. He brings a lot to the table in the funds area but is also a solid sounding board on a much broader array of legal issues” (2021). Mr. Gardner has been continuously ranked in The Legal 500 UK since 2015. In the 2019-2020 editions he is noted for his dual specialism in debt and credit funds and private equity buyout funds as well as being highly recommended for investment funds, specifically private and hedge funds. The guide describes him as “an established and high-performing private equity and private credit partner”. 

Mr. Gardner co-authored the “Private Equity Funds” chapter of Sweet & Maxwell's Law and Regulation of Investment Management.  He is a regular speaker at industry events.