Victoria Ferguson

Head of Legal

2023

Backed by Dawn Capital and MMC Ventures, C TWO Automate provides intelligent automation software for On Prem and SaaS deployment. I joined as C TWO's first lawyer working on: - Contracts: B2B enterprise contracts; created suite of sales document for new product; major new sales partnerships; NDA, supplier and contractor contracts - Corporate: shareholder and board management; option schemes; board reporting; share issuing; updating Articles and Shareholder Agreements - IP: reviewing and protecting trademarks, names, logos and IPR - Ad hoc: Data Protection: GDPR/UK GDPR and HIPAA; employment; disputes; investor and customer queries, SOC II support; managing external counsel - Company wide training

General Counsel & Partner

2020 - 2023

One of the most active Seed and Series A tech venture investors in the UK (FCA regulated). I was MMC's first lawyer, responsible for all legal matters for MMC and its investments and funds, creation of its ESG strategy, working with portfolio companies, directors and overseeing People and Training. MMC's Investments covered all types of equity and secondaries in UK, US and across Europe and its exits included successful sales of portfolio companies to UK, US and elsewhere; trade and finance sales; wind-downs, administrations, liquidations and insolvent sales. During my time, MMC raised public money and private money funds as well as its evergreen EIS fund, and I managed the legal aspects of all raises and funds. I supported the COO and Compliance Manager on regulatory matters for the FCA. In relation to the portfolio, work covered venture debt, topco flips, refinancings and later-stage rounds, and advice and training on directors' duties to MMC's investor directors. I was the investor director for portfolio company, Talmix. Recruitment and retention is a strategic issue in venture capital. As lead for People for MMC's team of c 25, I ran fortnightly training on legal and other issues; created a plain English HR Hub; advised on employee issues at MMC and portfolio; instigated the team survey; and persuaded Board to adopt equal maternity and paternity paid leave. This work was recognised when MMC was awarded "Best for the World" as a B Corp Employer, putting it in the top 5% of B Corps of its size in the world in 2021 and 2022. Additional ad hoc work included: data protection/GDPR, IP, disputes, investor and regulator queries; NDAs, supplier and vendor contracts; investor and regulator enquiries and similar. In 2020, I led MMC's application to become the first generalist VC to be a B Corp in the UK. This led to my creation of MMC's Responsible Investment framework and ESG strategy for itself and portfolio, including a hub of resources for portfolio companies.

General Counsel

2016 - 2019

Legal Counsel

2014 - 2016

Director

2018 - 2023

MMC's investor director at Talmix

Solicitor

2005 - 2013

Associate in the Business Restructuring and Reorganisation practice.

Solicitor

2004 - 2005

Trainee Solicitor

2002 - 2004