Next Generation Partners

Corporate and commercial: Norwich in East Anglia

Birketts LLP

The corporate and commercial practice at Birketts LLP is ‘practical, approachable, and strives to deliver the best commercial outcome'. The firm has an an outstanding reputation for corporate and transactional work in the Norwich market, but its lawyers handle matters across the region and nationally. Adrian Possener, who handles transactional matters for public companies, and the ‘very friendly, competent‘ Ed Savory, who acts for regional SMEs and leads the firm’s food sector work, are the lead partners. Corporate finance specialist Greg Allan and technology expert Paul Palik are also pivotal to the practice.

Practice head(s):

Adrian Possener; Ed Savory


Other key lawyers:

Greg Allan; Paul Palik


Testimonials

‘They worked well as a team and were on-hand when needed.’

‘Ed Savory was the partner involved in the sale of our business and we were very pleased with the deal he helped us arrange with the buyers.’

‘The team provides exceptional customer service. They are always available when we need them and continue to go over and above.’

‘Ed Savory is one of the best legal practitioners my team and I have come across in the corporate space.’

‘Ed Savory is very friendly, competent and understands the objectives of the client.’

‘Strong, diverse knowledge base delivered in a sensible way. The team is engaged in assisting clients in finding the best commercial outcomes, rather than just presenting clients with a series of legal options.’

‘Practical, approachable and strives to deliver the best commercial outcome based on the facts.’

‘A straight-talking team who deliver results and not legal fluff.’

Key clients

BUUK Infrastructure– Brooklands Utilities


Brineflow Ltd


Richard Koch


Poly – Pure


Aenco SmartCap


Chorus Intelligence


Mills & Reeve LLP

The five-partner corporate and commercial practice at Mills & Reeve LLP in Norwich ‘stands out through its professionalism, quality of advice, commercial acumen and pragmatic approach'. It handles regional, national and cross-border corporate matters. The lead partners are the ‘extremely knowledgeable and ultra-responsive‘ Natalie Wade, who frequently handles strategic acquisitions of health assets, and Greg Gibson, who is national lead of the government sector group. Key names to note include firm-wide head of corporate James Hunter who is experienced in acting for owners and acquirers of mid-market businesses; head of the firm’s national food and agribusiness sector group Craig Hodgson; M&A and funds specialist Matthew Short; and principal associate Christina O’Brien who handles private equity and healthcare transactions.

Practice head(s):

Greg Gibson; Natalie Wade


Other key lawyers:

James Hunter; Craig Hodgson; Matthew Short; Christina O’Brien


Testimonials

‘With Mills & Reeve’s help we were able to navigate our path to a successful merger in an area of high complexity. They were able to bring specialised expertise to bear.’

‘Natalie Wade was extremely knowledgeable, communicated clearly and was ultra responsive.’

‘We have a long-standing relationship with the Norwich team. They stand out through their professionalism, quality of advice, commercial acumen and pragmatic approach.’

‘The individuals at Mills & Reeve that we work with are commercial, engaging and proactive in their approach.’

‘The team is always available and ready to support our business through the most complex of transactions. From bank refinancing to corporate sales, we have come across a wealth of talented individuals.’

Key clients

Shareholders of essDOCS Limited


Mark Taylor and Jamie Stuart


Department for Work & Pensions


Shareholders of ProeonSystems


Supply Chain Coordination Limited


Plasvacc Holdings Pty Limited


Karen Strang & Ian Westgarth


Vita Health Group Limited


Xaar plc


Riverdale Midco Limited


Downing LLP


Department for Health & Social Care


Bango Plc


The British Council


The Lee Company, Inc.


Jarrold & Sons Limited


Midwich Group plc


Work highlights


  • Acting on the acquisition by an independent dental group of a private dental company, comprising 18 dental practices and a laboratory.
  • Advising a company on all aspects of the procurement of its £2.8bn Functional Assessment Services contracts.
  • Advising the shareholders of a company on all aspects of its sale.

Ashtons Legal

Norwich is a focal point for the Ashtons Legal‘s firm-wide corporate and commercial practice, which handles a broad range of transactional work. Its niche focuses include transactions spanning the franchising, veterinary, care home, and technology sectors; firm CEO James Tarling built the firm’s technology offering. Franchising specialists Damian Humphrey and John Chambers are key team members who act for a large and growing national client base. Corporate transaction specialist Richard Bailey acts for numerous national and international trade organisations and associations, and senior associate Mark Watson advises both local and national businesses on transactional matters. ‘Friendly and clear’ senior associate David Sloman has a focus on technology and information law issues.

Other key lawyers:

James Tarling; Richard Bailey; John Chambers; Damian Humphrey; Mark Watson; David Sloman


Key clients

Stow Healthcare Group


Cosworth Group


Medical Management Systems


TaxAssist Group


Signs Express


Titan Motorsport & Automotive Engineering


Camgrain


xDNA Group Limited


FO Ventures Limited (Flip Out)


HTK


Sutura Group Limited


easyGym


Witnesham Ventures Limited


ServiceTick


Ubisend


Work highlights


  • Advising on a company’s acquisition of the entire issued share capital of a digital marketing agency set up in 2015.
  • Advising the shareholders on the sale of the entire issued share capital of a renowned marine engineering and equipment specialist to a large group owned by a French recreational/commercial boating and marine equipment distributor.
  • Acted for the founders of ubisend on their exit to Australian multinational communications supplier Soprano Plc.

Fosters

Fosters has a long-standing reputation in Norwich and across Norfolk for its corporate and commercial work, which has a specialist sports and entertainment division. The firm’s ‘fresh and enthusiastic‘ approach is epitomised by Jamie Arnall, who leads the commercial practice, and associate Charlotte Darkins; both also play major roles in the firm’s in-house retainer offering. Senior associate Josh Perez-Fosh leads the corporate side of the team and his advice is noted as being 'of great value' to his clients.

Practice head(s):

Jamie Arnall; Josh Perez-Fosh


Other key lawyers:

Charlotte Darkins; Zach Spelman


Testimonials

‘I have a long-standing professional relationship with Jamie Arnall and highly value his advice and support. He has a commercial approach and has built his team to reflect the his values. Their support has therefore always been of a high standard.’

‘It’s the whole ambience that Fosters exudes is fresh and enthusiastic – from reception to the conference room and beyond, the comfort level is high.’

‘Josh Perez-Fosh and Zach Spelman are accommodating, enthusiastic and friendly, and oh so professional – very thorough throughout with great attention-to-detail.’

Key clients

The Basketball League Limited


Motorplus Limited


Nottingham Forest Football Club Ltd


Bistrot Pierre 1994 Limited


Norwich City Football Club Plc


Snelling Business Systems Limited


Zatu Limited


Headway Norfolk & Waveney Ltd


Howes Percival LLP

Howes Percival LLP has ‘a great team that makes clients feel confident'. The firm is a key adviser on corporate transactions and commercial matters across Norfolk and beyond, notably in the leisure and tourism, healthcare, automotive and technology sectors. Head of the East Anglia corporate practice Oliver Pritchard is known for his ‘pragmatism, efficiency and attention-to-detail'. Pritchard, alongside director Richard Turner notably assisted agricultural machinery dealer Ben Burgess Holdings Ltd in its acquisition of the Doubleday Group. Associates Lizzy Page, who is regarded as being 'incredibly efficient', and Helaina Mann also play central roles in the practice.

Practice head(s):

Oliver Pritchard


Other key lawyers:

Lizzy Page; Richard Turner; Helaina Mann


Testimonials

‘Howes Percival are particularly good at bringing together multiple disciplines whilst providing a strong lead who will pull together the various elements for the client, ensuring the transaction is considered as a whole. I find this is quite rare and really does add value for the client. I found Oliver Pritchard to be particularly good at this.’

‘A great team that makes clients feel confident in their abilities and steer them well.’

‘An honest, approachable team that were always available when required and gave prompt responses.’

‘Everyone from partners to trainees show professionalism and good knowledge – they are very pragmatic and approachable. They work closely together and juniors are not just left to get on with it, which often can be the case for the larger law firms.’

‘Pragmatism, efficiency and attention-to-detail. Oliver Pritchard in particular has a wide range of knowledge from deals in various sectors which he applies to provide effective advice and to help get a deal over the line. Associate Lizzy Page is incredibly efficient and not only has strong knowledge of corporate law but brilliant deal management skills.’

‘Oliver Pritchard and Lizzy Page and are always commercial, practical and respond quickly to any work required. Great value for money in dealing with legal issues.’

‘Oliver Pritchard has a great deal of experience dealing with corporate and commercial situations. He is always quick to respond and offer practical and commercial guidance in any corporate situations that arise. Lizzy Page works in the corporate engagement team with Oliver is is always thorough – everything is produced on a timely basis and she always has a positive, can-do attitude.’

‘Oliver Pritchard has detailed company law knowledge coupled with relevant commercial experience. Lizzy Page is extremely well-organized and can be relied upon to produce accurate documentation on a timely basis.’

Key clients

Hughes Electrical Limited / Washco Limited


British Marine


Ben Burgess Holdings Limited


Anchor Hanover Group


Anglia Restaurants Ltd


Pruce Newman Group


Falcon Cranes


Stuart Group Ltd / Stuart Plant Ltd


Glazing Vision Group Limited / Glazing Vision Limited


Natwest


Accentuate Group Ltd / Global Chair


The Shackleton Design & Manufacturing Company


SG Wealth Management Limited


So Code Limited


BHR Pharmaceuticals Limited


Lind Group


Marfa Stance Limited


JMR Healthcare Limited


Vision Norfolk / Thomas Tawell Care Home


George Tufts and Son Limited


Work highlights


  • Advising leading East Anglian agricultural machinery dealer, Ben Burgess Group, on its acquisition of the Doubleday Group.
  • Advising Anglia Restaurants Ltd on the sale of its Castle Carvery restaurant chain to the RedCat Pub Company Group and on the sale of the Wherry Hotel, located within the popular Norfolk Broads National Park, as part of the same transaction.
  • Advised on various matters regarding the Southampton International Boat Show 2022, one of the largest on-water boat shows in Europe and the biggest of its type in the UK.

Spire Solicitors LLP

Spire Solicitors LLP's team, regarded as ‘professional and responsive', provides a broad-range of services including advising large companies, owner-managed and family businesses on transactional and corporate finance matters. Practice head Matthew Downing and his team are ‘friendly, pragmatic and deal with issues promptly'. Downing recently advised a management team on the purchase of a company’s entire issued share capital from its founding shareholders.

Practice head(s):

Matthew Downing


Other key lawyers:

Abigail Milliken


Testimonials

‘Professional and responsive team who communicate effectively.’

‘Both Matthew Downing and Abigail Milliken have been very helpful in all our dealings with Spires corporate team. They are friendly, pragmatic and deal with issues promptly.’

Key clients

Flagship Housing Group


One Broker Ltd


GSL Dardan Limited


Zaks (UK) Limited


Duration Brewing Limited


Work highlights


  • Advised the management team on the purchase of a company’s entire issued share capital from its founding shareholders.
  • Advised a financial services business on the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of another financial services business and the related borrowing arrangements to fund the transaction.
  • Advised an owner manager on the sale of the entire issued share capital of their engineering business to another engineering business.