George Peto

George is a corporate M&A, commercial lawyer and a Partner at IMD, leading the firm’s corporate and commercial practice. He advises founders, management teams, investors and business owners on strategic transactions, growth initiatives, governance matters and day-to-day commercial issues.

His practice is focused on post-revenue businesses, particularly those operating in B2B SaaS and software, tech-enabled professional and business services, digital businesses, e-commerce and product-led companies, marketplace and platform businesses and established private company groups. He regularly acts for businesses ranging from early-stage growth companies through to scaling businesses and acquisitive SMEs, typically with revenues from approximately £0.5 million to £40 million+ and teams ranging from a handful of employees to well over 200 people.

George brings together extensive private practice and in-house experience across the UK, Europe and the United States. Before joining IMD, he served as Associate General Counsel for UK and Europe at an NYSE-listed risk exchange platform, helping support significant business growth and a public market listing. This combination of private practice and in-house experience allows him to provide advice that is commercially practical, commercially aware and aligned with the realities faced by management teams and business owners.

Clients regularly seek George’s support on acquisitions, disposals, investment transactions, shareholder matters, commercial contracts, corporate governance and general counsel requirements. He is particularly experienced in cross-border transactions and in helping ambitious businesses navigate periods of growth, investment, acquisition and change.

His approach is outcome-focused rather than purely legalistic. Clients value his ability to provide clear recommendations rather than lengthy legal analysis, helping them understand legal risk while maintaining focus on commercial objectives. He is known for being commercially pragmatic, risk-aware without being risk-averse, and for aligning legal advice with stakeholder priorities, transaction timetables and business goals.

He speaks Dutch, German and French fluently, enabling him to work effectively with clients, counterparties and advisers across multiple jurisdictions.

Outside work, George spends much of his time running his family farm in the Scottish Borders. The practical experience of operating a business in a challenging and often unpredictable industry provides valuable perspective when advising business owners on risk, investment and long-term commercial decision-making.