The Legal 500 > United Kingdom - Solicitors > North West > Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in the North West

Aaron & Partners LLP's Chester-based corporate and commercial team focuses on the Manchester, Cheshire and North Wales regions, as well as working with national and overseas clients. Clients include owner managed businesses (OMBs), venture capitalists, banks and angel investors. Areas of expertise include commercial and corporate transactions, acquisitions and commercial sales contracts. Stuart Scott-Goldstone  heads the team; senior partner Simon Edwards and newly-promoted partner Jamie Hawley are also recommended.   The firm recently expanded by opening an office at Manchester’s Airport City.

Gorvins Solicitors is adept at handling matters including mergers, acquisitions, disposals, management buyouts and buy-ins, private equity and corporate transactions. It also advises on commercial contracts and outsourcing arrangements. Its clients include owner-managed businesses, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), entrepreneurs, banks, corporate funders and service providers from the local region as well as nationwide. Key client sectors include media and publishing, housing and construction, finance, retail, healthcare and market research, where the firm has seen an increasing number of instructions. Andrew Curwen heads the team.

Myerson Solicitors LLP advises local and national owner-managed businesses, banks, venture capital institutions, listed companies and individuals on corporate and commercial matters. Key client sectors include IT, IP, professional services and manufacturing. Mohammed Akeel Latif heads the team and focuses on corporate finance work, such as M&A, sales, equity investments, restructuring and capital markets. Terry Moore was promoted to senior solicitor.

SAS Daniels LLP has a good geographic coverage across the North West, with offices in Chester, Stockport, Congleton and Macclesfield. The firm has particular expertise in transactional work for SMEs including M&A, demergers, sales and joint ventures. Client sectors include healthcare, music and education. Chester-based Jeremy Orrell and Kaye Whitby head the corporate and commercial teams respectively.

DTM Legal LLP advises owner-managed businesses, SMEs and family businesses in the Cheshire and North Wales regions. The firm has recently seen an increase in instructions from alternative funding organisations, banks, investment companies, insurance, wealth management companies and private equity houses. Areas of expertise include M&A, restructurings, IP, commercial contracts and governance. Edward Barnes, who is based in both the Chester and Liverpool offices, heads the team.

Slater Heelis LLP advises a wide range of clients including life sciences companies, charities, education, professional services, healthcare, veterinary and entrepreneurial clients. Sale-based Katharine Mellor is adept at handling M&A, reorganisations and partnerships matters, particularly in the SME and OMB space. Associate solicitor Richard Riley, who is also based is Sale, deals with software development, licensing and franchising. Simon Wallwork heads the team from the Manchester office. Jim Tully joined as partner from an in-house position at Co-op.

Butcher & Barlow LLP 'provides the complete spectrum of legal services'. It advises on various corporate and commercial matters including share options, shareholder agreements, commercial agreements and partnership agreements. The team is headed by Gadbrook Park-based Jonathan Aldersley who specialises in enterprise management incentive (EMI) schemes. Andrew MacKenzie, Adam Shawcross and Rebecca Jepson were promoted to partner in May 2018.

Farleys Solicitors LLP is 'always easy to work with', according to clients. It  advises mainly SMEs in the Lancashire market on sales and purchases, corporate restructurings, mergers and demergers. investments and joint ventures. The firm has a start-up advice program called Evolve that supports the growth of new businesses, entrepreneurs and enterprises. Debbie King heads the team.

KBL Solicitors LLP acts for individuals and businesses in relation to share issues, management restructurings, growth and development, sales and mergers. The practice has recently seen an increase of instructions relating to secured lending for property developments and projects. Department head Philip Stephenson focuses on corporate transactions, commercial contracts, MBOs, joint ventures and partnership work. Consultant Jonathan Shorrock is experienced in advising sports clubs on governance matters.