14 August 2024
As part of our Meet the Team blog series, we’ve spoken to Translink Corporate Finance UK’s Director of SPA Advisory & Disputes, Emma Oakley.
As well as discussing her day-to-day job and her Translink highlights, Emma talks about what she likes to do outside of work and her role models. Emma also regards Translink as a ‘warm, friendly and welcoming place to work’ and as a workplace that looks after and values its workforce.
What is your role at Translink Corporate Finance UK and when did you join?
I joined in June 2018 as part of BHP’s risk and forensics team where I specialised in transaction and shareholder disputes. Given this focus, I recently became Head of the SPA Advisory and Disputes team in Translink Corporate Finance UK (formerly BHP Corporate Finance).
What is it about Translink Corporate Finance UK that you love being a part of?
Translink is a warm, friendly and welcoming place to work with a great entrepreneurial way of working.
There is a real emphasis on looking after and valuing our staff as well as our clients – they genuinely care!
We all take pride in the business and strive to deliver on quality and client service. For me, we are in a unique position and offer the best of all worlds by delivering quality client service at a personal level.
Can you tell us a bit more about your day-to-day job at the firm and what your responsibilities are?
One thing I love about my work is that there’s no such thing as typical day!
Translink is great at allowing the freedom of flexible working (although Covid taught me that I much prefer to work in an office environment!). Due to the nature of my work, there’s never a dull day. It often includes:
- Talking to, listening to and working with clients and their advisor teams (including my corporate finance and other colleagues, solicitors and other advisors) to strategise, understand and help mitigate our clients’ risks.
- ‘Road-testing’ the contractual mechanisms in the SPA to check whether they achieve the desired outcomes.
- Reviewing, commenting on and challenging the financial elements of Share Purchase Agreements (SPAs) and other transaction documents.
- Discussing and challenging the respective positions with the ‘other’ side to help our clients reach a strong position.
- Working with the client through the post-deal SPA processes, helping them prepare or review completion accounts and earn-out accounts.
- Acting as an expert determiner to decide the outcome of third-party complex transaction disputes.
If you had to pick – what are your highlights and biggest achievements whilst working with Translink UK?
A big achievement for me was getting promoted to Director in April 2021. Looking back, some of my biggest highlights were also some of the biggest challenges at the time.
Due to the nature of my work, I can work on some challenging and unique projects which naturally bring both highs and lows. After a lengthy deal process we’ve recently had a favourable conclusion for a client who was selling his business, which produces a great feeling of satisfaction and achievement.
Working closely with our client, my colleagues and his legal team, we advised on the SPA and, by relying on the protective SPA mechanisms put in place pre deal, we guided him through the post deal completion accounts process to resolution. We did this by firstly helping him to prepare the completion accounts, and then to successfully rebut and negotiate the challenges raised by the buy side.
Do you have any role models and, if so, who and why?
At work there are some brilliant women who inspire me in many ways.
Lisa Leighton, BHP’s Joint CEO (along with Hamish Morrison of Translink Corporate Finance UK), leads BHP with passion and integrity, and is very open, honest and genuine while being warm, friendly and personable.
I’m also inspired by the new wave of ‘Gen Z’ women starting out in the business. They have a refreshing attitude to work and life and are determined and driven. They are confident in their abilities and know their worth – empowerment at its best!
What advice would you give to your younger self when starting out in your career?
Looking back, it would have been great to have been my own cheerleader! I would say: “Trust yourself and have confidence in your own judgement. Don’t be afraid to fail, in the right way, and if you do, then be kind to yourself.” It’s also good advice for me now!
What do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I like to go out with friends for good food and good company. I also have regular PT sessions, although ‘enjoy’ is probably a stretch!
What is your favourite TV boxset or film?
This completely depends on my mood! However, I do love a good crime/police drama, true crime documentary, or an easy watching cheesy rom com.
What is your favourite restaurant to go to? Your favourite cuisine?
That’s a tough one! I love most foods, but if I had to pick one, it’d be italian – you can never go wrong with pasta or pizza.
What/where is the best place you have ever visited and why? Where is your dream destination?
I’ve been fortunate enough to travel to lots of amazing places, but in no particular order: Scandinavia for the stunning scenery and Northern Lights, Thailand for their food and hospitality and North America to visit family in Toronto or Mickey Mouse in Orlando.
However, I’m always partial to a simple beach holiday as I think that life can be so hectic at times that it’s nice to just slow down, put the brakes on and put your feet up.
