Nathan has spent more than 20 years advising corporate clients on private equity and venture capital investments, mergers and acquisitions and management buyouts.
He acts for UK and international companies, although the majority of his clients are entrepreneurs/founders, start-ups and scale-ups, SMEs and management teams. Nathan is ideally placed to help clients to grow their business by raising angel, venture capital or private equity funding (including under the SEIS, EIS, or VCT schemes), or assist clients to exit their business via an M&A or MBO.
Nathan leads VWV's national Technology practice, which he founded in 2008 and is also a key member of the firm's Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals team, leading VWV's work in supporting emerging life sciences companies. Nathan acts for a significant number of tech and life sciences start-ups (including University 'spin-outs'), scale-ups and other high-growth technology and life sciences companies and was previously judged by business publication, Corporate INTL, as the Emerging Companies Corporate Lawyer of the Year in England.
Nathan regularly attends our free Lawyer-in-Residence or legal surgery sessions at: SETsquared Bristol, SETsquared Bath, Science Creates, Future Space, Bristol Robotics Lab, MedCity and Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst providing support for tech startups, and life sciences startup and early stage companies.
He is frequently invited to serve as a judge or expert panel member in technology, life sciences and other business competitions/events and regularly runs webinars and other training sessions on the early stage investment and investment readiness.
Nathan also regularly advises clients on how to prepare a business for equity investment or exit. Having a significant network of contacts, Nathan also helps clients by introducing them to other businesses, professional advisers and key contacts who may be able to help them - whether in connection with an actual or potential transaction or ongoing commercial matters.
Nathan is based in our Bristol office, but can support you nationally.
"Nathan is an outstanding corporate lawyer but also understands the wider commercial aspects and the potential impact of legal issues on the wider transaction."
What others say
"He has an excellent client manner and communicates with clients in a way they can understand and which instils trust." - Chambers & Partners 2026
"Nathan is an excellent partner with an outstanding level of experience." - Chambers & Partners 2026
"Nathan was excellent as the lead on our case. He provided a level of confidence and knowledge throughout and guided the team well. A very friendly service too." - Chambers & Partners 2026
‘Nathan Guest and Sonya May quickly established a relationship of trust as they ably helped navigate us to a very successful completion. In doing so, they showed excellent market knowledge, uncommon and valuable commercial appreciation in nuancing their legal advice to fit our situation, and market leading core legal skills.’ - Legal 500 2026
What you might like to know
Married with a young family, Nathan's time out of the office is generally absorbed by: entertaining his two young children; planning DIY (depreciate-it-yourself), but never actually doing it; remembering when he used to have time to watch movies or sport (see reference to young family); playing football in the Bristol Veterans (over 35s) league (which is becoming increasingly challenging given he is more than a decade older than some of the opposition).. Nathan also claims to be a keen golfer and cricketer, but having barely played either for about two years, there is mounting evidence that his enthusiasm is on the wane.
