Corporate and commercial: Newcastle in North
Muckle LLP
Muckle LLP is noted for its strong regional presence, upon which it has built outstanding corporate and commercial teams, under the leadership of the 'knowledgeable, pragmatic and strategic' Andrew Davison. The corporate practice focuses on M&A and private equity, both of which are specialisms for Anthony Evans. In 2018, the commercial group benefitted from the arrival of consultant Robin Adams, who joined from Collingwood Legal. Adam Rayner focuses on corporate finance and company law matters.
Practice head(s):
Andrew Davison
Other key lawyers:
Anthony Evans; Adam Rayner; Hugh Welch; Philip Clare; Robin Adams; Matthew Walsh; Sarah Forster
Testimonials
‘Client focused team’
‘Able to deliver clear and concise professional advice’
‘Anthony Evan has fierce intelligence and foresees how events will develop‘
Key clients
LDC Private Equity
CriSeren Foods Limited
Fairstone Group Limited
Newcells Biotech Limited
NVM Private Equity
The Naked Deli Ltd
Work highlights
- Advised LDC Private Equity, the UK’s leading mid-market private equity investor, on its secondary buy-out of Synova Capital from Mandata.
- Advised CriSeren Foods on the sale of two businesses, Northumbrian Fine Foods and Walnut Tree Foods, simultaneously to the same French buyer, Biscuit International.
- Advised Transforming Training with Technology Limited on its acquisition of the Scottish registered Survivex Group.
- Advised Portion Pack Europe Holding on the acquisition by its UK subsidiary, Single Source Limited, of CustomPack Limited from Selecta.
- Advised NVM on investment of £2.75m of growth capital into Ridge Pharma Limited.
Ward Hadaway
At Ward Hadaway, Robert Thompson leads the corporate team, while Colin Hewitt heads the commercial department. The groups work closely together, providing advice on the range of transactions (for both buyers and sellers) and business operations in the North East. The commercial team has particular experience in outsourcing deals, often for businesses operating in the banking and insurance sectors.
Practice head(s):
Robert Thompson; Colin Hewitt
Other key lawyers:
Katherine Hay-Heddle; Damien Charlton; Tom Pollard; James Nightingale; Matthew Cormack; Steven Roper
Testimonials
‘The team has excellent attention to detail and commerciality‘
‘Katherine Hay-Heddle manages projects well and looks for a commercial solution‘
‘The team has the strength to use negotiated contract clauses to deliver successful outcomes when up against difficult clients in dispute scenarios‘
‘Fast turnaround, fast to quote and delivery in agreed timescales.‘
Key clients
Pacifica Group
Springfield Home Care Services
The Bannatyne Group
ASDA
Nissan
Virgin Money
Work highlights
- Advised North East Fund on the creation of the £145m North East Jeremie2 Fund.
- Advised Hyperdrive Innovation Holdings on equity investment from shareholders and new investors.
- Advised Kykloud on £12m sale to Accruent LLC.
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP
Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP's Newcastle office is a major hub for the transatlantic firm, ensuring it is well-placed to advise US investors into the North East. Unusually for the region, the office contains dedicated competition, tax and projects lawyers, all of whom support the corporate and commercial teams. The team is led by Ben Butler and includes corporate finance expert Jamie Pass and Stacey Hall, who specialises in corporate transactions. Ian Pritty is noted for corporate aspects of property transactions.
Practice head(s):
Ben Butler
Other key lawyers:
Jamie Pass; Robert Phillips; Simon Watts; Iain Pritty; Will Bonas; Stacey Hall; Oliver Rickett; David Ridley
Testimonials
‘The breadth of capability across disciplines is demonstrable‘
‘Jamie Pass and Oliver Rickett deserve special praise for their focus and dedication to ensuring the project is delivered‘
‘A longstanding and deep understanding of business‘
Key clients
Atom Bank plc
Augean plc
CN Group
EQT Infrastructure
Newcastle City Council
Richmond Group
Mincoffs Solicitors LLP
The team at Mincoffs Solicitors LLP is noted for its expertise in the healthcare, leisure, engineering, construction and technology sectors; handling advisory work for a variety of owner-managed businesses, entrepreneurs, corporates and institutions. Paul Hughes leads the team and is a veteran of corporate law in the North East.
Practice head(s):
Paul Hughes
Other key lawyers:
John Nicholson; Peter Robinson; Chris Hughes
Testimonials
‘The practice has great depth in its abilities giving clients a “one-stop-shop” to satisfy the bulk of their legal requirements‘
‘Always professional and timely‘
‘They combine a forensic knowledge of the law with a commercial and practical approach not found elsewhere‘
‘Paul Hughes and Chris Hughes are great to deal with‘
Key clients
High Street Group
Pharmacy Express
Northern Bear plc
LB Foster Group
Cairn Group
Telenomics Retail
Metnor Group
Work highlights
- Represented High Street Hospitality on a number of acquisitions of leisure outlets.
- Acted for Pharmacy Express in its acquisition programme.
- Acted for All Saints Developments on its acquisition of Westminster Works.
Sintons LLP
Sintons LLP's group handles the spectrum of corporate matters, including M&A, buyouts, private equity investments, solvent and insolvent reorganisations and corporate finance, with a particular focus on healthcare, life sciences and leisure. The commercial team's instructions include data protection and cybersecurity law advice. Practice head Karen Simms has significant experience in transactions involving the energy and waste management sectors. Senior associate Emma Pern is noted for complex transactions.
Practice head(s):
Karen Simms
Other key lawyers:
Christopher Welch; Emma Pern; Matt Collen; Adrian Dye; Chloe Dinsdale
Testimonials
‘A well organised practice, very knowledgeable and quick respond to queries‘
‘Team members are friendly and very approachable‘
‘Karen Simms is not only methodical but always remains calm during pressured situations‘
Key clients
North Tees Limited
NE1
Eagles Community Foundation
The Auckland Project
Techflow Group
Gainford Group
Malhotra Group plc
Work highlights
- Acted for Dr Nas Khan OBE in relation to the demerger of three motor dealerships.
- Assisted NE1 with sponsorship agreements for the Newcastle Motor Show.
- Acting for Northcare in relation to the acquisition of the entire issued share capital of Chrysalis Sales Limited.
Weightmans
Watson Burton LLP's team has experience across a broad ranged of sectors, notably technology, education, private equity, venture capital and franchising; advising a mixture of domestic and foreign companies on transactions in the North East. Duncan Reid leads the team, which includes all-rounder Paul Wigham.
Practice head(s):
Duncan Reid
Other key lawyers:
Paul Wigham; Marc Allison; Kirsty Adamson
Key clients
Broadband Satellite Services
Accelerated Digital Ventures
Northstar Ventures
Zerolight
Maven Capital Partners
Work highlights
- Advised The Car People on its acquisition by Sytner.
- Advised pub group Wear Inns and its shareholders on its £22.4m sale to property investor Aprirose.
- Advised Accelerated Digital Ventures on a significant number of investments in scale-up technology businesses, totalling an aggregate value of over £50.5m.
- Advised online shopping cart recovery business SafeCycle on an investment of £11.5m from BGF.
- Advised BGF Investment Management Limited to facilitate an investment into Arc Trinova Limited.
DWF
DWF's team draws on the firm's UK-wide presence to provide clients, including major domestic and foreign corporates, with a full-service offering for corporate matters. Areas of expertise for the firm include financial services, TMT, energy and utilities and real estate. Practice head Jeremy Swift regularly handles private equity transactions and M&A.
Practice head(s):
Jeremy Swift
Other key lawyers:
Jemil Visram
Key clients
Immotion Group plc
Polemos plc
Vibe Group Holdings
Digitalbox Group
Northern Gas and Power
Work highlights
- Advising Digitalbox Group Limited on a statutory demerger of three subsidiaries by share capital reduction.
- Advising Immotion Group, a virtual reality/augmented reality company, on three acquisitions on a share for share basis and raising £1.4m to fund working capital.
- Advising Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP on a secondary fundraise for its client by way of an accelerated book build.
Hay & Kilner
The lawyers at Hay & Kilner are the go-to firm for a variety of owner-managed businesses and regional SMEs in the care home, pharmaceutical and veterinary sectors, in addition to a number of corporates. The team is co-led by Jonathan Waters who, alongside significant corporate law expertise, advises a range of charity-sector clients on complex restructuring and operational issues. Mark Adams co-leads the team alongside Waters.
Practice head(s):
Jonathan Waters; Mark Adams
Other key lawyers:
Laurie Wilson; Ben Jackson; Sarah Hall
Key clients
Park Lane Healthcare
PLH Moorgate Holdco
Wingrove Motor Company
Bonds Group
Indigo Software
Work highlights
- Advised PLH Moorgate Holdco Limited in refinancing and related group restructuring.
- Representing Wingrove Motor Company Limited in the acquisition of a Peugeot dealership from the PSA national franchise operator.
- Representing Novares Venture Capital SAS on an equity investment in a Cambridge-based tech company specialising in advanced user interface technology for the automotive industry.