Clifford Chance says it is “heartbroken” following the news that Autonomy founder Mike Lynch and Clifford Chance partner Christopher Morvillo are confirmed to have died when superyacht Bayesian sunk off the coast of Sicily on 19 August. At Luminance, CEO Eleanor Lightbody said she is “devastated” by the news, in a touching tribute to the man who founded the UK-headquartered legal tech company.
Lynch was hosting a party to celebrate his recent acquittal on fraud charges in the US and had invited guests from his legal team, among others. Clifford Chance commercial litigation senior associate Ayla Ronald is among the 15 people to have been rescued after the boat sank in a tornado.
Often described as ‘Britain’s Bill Gates’, Lynch was a controversial character who had many touch points with the legal sector. He served as Autonomy’s CEO for over fifteen years, during which time it became one of the UK’s most successful technology companies listed on the FTSE 100, acquiring companies including email archiving and litigation support company Zantaz for $375m, Interwoven (now iManage) for $606m and eDiscovery provider Iron Mountain Digital for $380m. Lynch sold Autonomy to HP for $11bn in 2011, sparking a decade-long legal battle in which he was accused of inflating the purchase price – charges that he was acquitted of in the US only in June.
Lynch is also the founder of Invoke Capital Partners, a machine learning and artificial intelligence investment and advisory company, which is the vehicle he used to found both Luminance and cybersecurity company Darktrace.
Commenting on the tragic news on LinkedIn, Lightbody said: “I am devastated to hear the news about our founding investor, Mike Lynch, and all of those involved in this tragic accident.
“Mike was a visionary unlike any other. He had a unique ability to spot the next technological revolution and solve tomorrow’s challenges before others even knew they were coming.
“Beyond that, it was his connection to people that made him special. He had a steadfast belief in the UK’s technology sector, in our incredible academic institutions, and in the talent he took the time to spot and nurture, regardless of background or discipline.
“Above all, Mike was a kind man who had an impact on many and will be sorely missed. I feel honoured to have known him, worked with him and learnt from him over the years.
“The UK has lost someone with the means, authority, knowledge and drive to propel the UK into technological leadership, but his legacy will live on in all of the extraordinary businesses he built and mentored, as well as his family who are in my thoughts.”
A spokesperson for Clifford Chance said: “We are heartbroken at the tragic passing of our partner, Christopher Morvillo and his wife, Neda. We are deeply saddened and still coming to terms with this terrible loss. Our utmost priority is to continue to support Chris’s family at this very distressing time. Our thoughts extend to the families and loved ones of all those affected.
“We wish to express our deepest condolences and our love and support to Chris’s family and friends at this incredibly difficult time. We also want to thank the Italian authorities and rescue teams for everything they have done.
“We have no further comment at this time. We, and the families, ask that their request for privacy is honored during this period.”