Chris Johnson
Director & Co-Founder
Chris is a Chartered Legal Executive and former Partner with over 17 years of experience across the legal, asset management, and professional services sectors. As a Director and Co-Founder of Arx Nova, Chris leads on legal risk, governance, structural oversight, and organisational turnaround during periods of business distress.
Having progressed from legal assistant to equity partner and board director, Chris has operated at every level of leadership. For the past eight years, he has held Director and Head of Operations roles, overseeing legal, financial, and strategic functions across complex portfolios in both the UK and international markets.
At Arx Nova, Chris is the legal and structural anchor in crisis scenarios. He advises boards on governance integrity, regulatory engagement, capital restructuring, and strategic recovery plans. His calm, analytical approach ensures that legal frameworks align with operational realities, enabling businesses to stabilise quickly and move forward with clarity.
Chris brings experience in mergers and acquisitions, refinancing, litigation funding, and stakeholder negotiation. He has led corporate restructures, chaired board and investor meetings, and managed the rationalisation of distressed business units under pressure.
Known for building high-performing teams, coordinating cross-functional delivery, and engaging with regulators, legal counsel, and investors, Chris brings discipline and control to some of the most complex challenges organisations face.
Past experience
- Former Director and Partner at a leading national consumer law firm, with strategic and operational oversight of three trading divisions. Held direct accountability for a budget exceeding £30 million and led a team of over 15 Partners across multiple practice areas.
- Successfully restructured a business unit of more than 200 employees by designing and implementing a new Target Operating Model (TOM) in collaboration with the senior leadership team. This included leading collective consultation processes, engaging with trade union representatives, and clearly communicating both the rationale and future vision to colleagues. Supported remaining staff through change with targeted training and new ways of working.
- Extensive experience managing external relationships with private equity owners. Known for bridging the gap between investor priorities and the operational realities faced by legal teams on the front line, ensuring alignment between commercial objectives and employee engagement.
- Acted as commercial and legal lead for a prominent asset management firm during the negotiation and purchase of several high-value land acquisitions across the UK and North America. Worked closely with top-tier law firms in London and Toronto to secure successful outcomes on complex cross-border deals.
- Appointed as interim CEO of a high-profile business under regulatory investigation. Worked with internal stakeholders to develop a comprehensive restructuring plan addressing both financial viability and regulatory concerns. Led coordination with external parties including insurers, legal advisors and PR agencies to protect brand reputation and stabilise the business for clients and employees alike.