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A highlight of 2010 for Gateley in Leicester was its appointment by Chinese car manufacturer Changan to advise on the establishment of its UK R&D subsidiary. A big draw for clients is the ‘commercial and very realistic’ Gareth John, who has ‘a very good, non-confrontational style and is an accomplished negotiator. Importantly, he is accessible and responsive’. The cross-office team also advises Aurum Group and Dunelm.

Harvey Ingram LLP provides a ‘personal service’ to large corporates and privately owned businesses on acquisitions and venture capital investments. Roy Botterill is ‘commercially very practical’ and heads the group, whose recent work includes advising on a Murabaha Islamic financing facility.

At Howes Percival LLP, corporate stalwarts Gerald Couldrake, Chris Houghton and Jit Singh advised Nampak Plastics, Spar and the Shanks Group on commercial projects through the recession, and assisted Welcome Break in relation to licensing, procurement and distribution contracts with Starbucks and Brake Bros.

Freeth Cartwright LLP runs a corporate finance practice across its offices in Nottingham and Birmingham. Corporate consultant Robert Rowley is on hand in Leicester, along with Mary Mackintosh for commercial work.

The four-partner team at Hewitsons LLP handled corporate transactions amounting to £150m in 2010. These included complex reorganisations and reconstructions; debt and equity fundraisings, including a £4m equity fundraising by Intamac Systems; and acquisitions of companies in insolvency, such as Apollo Building Supplies’ acquisition by Travis Perkins.

Langleys’ York-based corporate finance team advised on several transactions in Lincolnshire in 2010. Andy Kay assisted Animalcare Group on a business and share-capital sale, while James Towler handled various acquisitions and restructurings in the property sector.

Chris Rees at Nelsons Solicitors Limited has ‘excellent intellect, application and customer focus’. His practice ranges from acquisitions and restructurings to cross-border transactions, and seed-stage equity investment advice to both investors and companies seeking investment. The firm provides a ‘level of service which would appear to be rare nowadays’.

Spearing Waite LLP delivers a ‘fantastic service’. The team has gained some significant new clients, including Connells, for acquisitions and venture capital investments, and remains active in M&A (including distressed deals), restructurings and commercial agreements in and beyond the region. Martin Smith is ‘excellent: pragmatic and approachable’.

Chattertons’ senior corporate partner Stuart Cox is now a consultant, for substantial matters such as site acquisitions and developments. The team’s diverse recent workload includes the sale of a care home group, the acquisition of a refrigeration company, and the reorganisation of a £20m group of companies.

At Roythornes LLP, Paul Tate has 25 years’ experience in company/commercial matters. Recent work for the team includes a reorganisation of a property developer, and a £42m share sale of a hotel operating company. It also advised on the establishment of food producer organisations.

Matthew Crosse at Tollers LLP advised the management team on the MBO of Automotive Developments from US-listed parent company ATC Technology Corporation.

Wilkin Chapman has four partners – including the newly promoted Virginia Moggridge – around Lincolnshire advising clients in sectors such as food, oil and chemicals, education and technology sectors on acquisitions. It also advised Notts County FC on its acquisition.

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