Columban Young-Smith

A Legal Director in our Ventures & Innovations team, working alongside Alistair Lang and Robbie Francis, Columban advises growing companies, established businesses, founders and investors on the commercial contracts and transactions that drive their growth.

His practice covers commercial contracts, including distribution, supply, services, partnership and IP agreements, alongside fundraisings (including SEIS and EIS), share option schemes, acquisitions and joint ventures. He works closely with clients’ management and commercial teams to turn agreed commercial positions into clear contract terms, and negotiates with counterparties and their advisers in the UK and internationally.

Columban trained at Dickson Minto, a leading corporate law firm, in Edinburgh and London before joining Thorntons. He is sector agnostic, with particular experience in technology, sport, life sciences, whisky and net zero. He works with the firm’s employment, banking, private client and commercial property teams to deliver a full client service. He also helps clients set up family investment companies. 

As the son of an entrepreneur, Columban understands the pressures that businesses face, and combines this with his City training to give practical, commercial advice.

A native English and French speaker, Columban is also a Scottish notary public.