DLA Piper has advised The Europcar Lab, the Europcar Group unit dedicated to innovation, on the acquisition of a majority stake in E-Car Club, the UK's first entirely electric pay-per-use car club. This is the first acquisition of a crowdfunded business in the UK.

E-Car Club is a start-up electric car sharing business headquartered in London supported to date by business angels and Centrica (through an investment by Ignite Social Enterprise). E-Car Club successfully raised funds from Crowdcube investors in December 2012, to add to the funding provided by its other investors. Its vision is to improve local mobility whilst reducing the cost and environmental impact of each journey decision made.

The DLA Piper Corporate team comprised partners Simon Charbit (Paris) and Chris Baird (London) who were supported by senior associates John Pryor (London) and Matt Davies (London) and associate Seamus McKimm (Birmingham).

Chris Baird added: "This is the first acquisition of a crowdfunded business in the UK to date. We are delighted to have been able to assist the Europcar Group with this exciting landmark transaction."