The 'technically strong and commercial' team at Acuity Law provides a 'solutions-focused approach' to corporates and private equity sponsors across their M&A transactions, joint venture structuring and corporate reorganisations, both in a purely domestic and UK-wide context. 'Exceptional in his ability to boil an issue down to the essentials', Christian Farrow  co-heads the corporate offering alongside Beverley Jones , and provides 'very commercially astute' advice to listed and private companies, including many within the financial services and renewables sector, across a range of domestic and cross-border transactional work. Stephen Berry  maintains an active role on the fee-earning side, alongside his duties as firm chairman, particularly in the context of aiding technology focused growth companies through the investment life cycle, through to potential exit, if applicable. Paul Lowe is another senior member of the team and provides gravitas and experience to corporates from a range of sectors, most notably on complex cross-border mandates, as underscored by his recent representation (alongside Farrow) of US-headquartered company Alamo Group of Timberwolf Limited. Jon Lawley continues to maintain a thriving corporate offering within the dental space as a result of his work for Portman Dental Care, the largest acquirer of dental practices in the UK. Phil Pugh is also active in the healthcare sector, and combines this with a very strong offering o behalf of tech, IT and life sciences companies, including work for university spin-outs. Rachelle Sellek leads the team's efforts on the commercial front, which is enhanced by the firm’s in-house legal support subscription-based service - Acuity Counsel. 'Unflappable and candid' senior associate Tom Saunderson is also recommended.

Able to draw upon 'rich professional experience' derived from many years at the pinnacle of work within the Wales market, the 'professional and pragmatic' team at Blake Morgan LLP is a popular choice among corporates from a range of industries, including healthcare and manufacturing, to guide them through their highest-profile mandates in the market. Now solely led by the 'very calm and reassuring' James Williams , following Robert Cherry 's move to a consultancy role, the corporate team has also recently begun to pick up an increased flow of cross-border work, including for Esatec Sweden on its acquisition of electronic manufacturer, JJS Manufacturing - on what was its first foray into the UK market. The 'very pragmatic' Richard Jones has taken the lead on many of these international transactions and also continues to excel at advising management teams on private equity transactions. Penri Desscan  leads the firm's commercial offering and has an emphasis on long term, complex, high-value services and supplies contracts.

Displaying ‘dedication beyond the call of duty, along with expertise and professionalism’, Capital Law Limited provides a ‘solutions-led‘ approach to private and listed companies on transactional work in the immediate geographical confines, as well as beyond the Welsh borders. Under the guidance of ‘unassuming and intelligent’ corporate head Tom Kelleher and ‘effervescent’ senior partner Duncan Macintosh (who was himself formerly in-house counsel at 3i Group), the team has particularly strong credentials among stakeholders within the private equity/growth capital sector, including funds and management teams. As well as his continued work for core client WestBridge on an array of investments and exits, Kelleher also recently deepened the firm’s ties with BGF, acting for it for the first time in a sponsor capacity in relation to its investment in Welsh online retailer Fun Brands Group. ‘Passionate and talented‘ senior associates Laura Spendiff and Gareth Williams-Davies are also key members of team and are recognised as the ‘next generation of business leaders‘ for the firm. Maria Coggins leads the commercial offering at the firm and excels in advising on commercial contracts and data protection. Philip Barratt joined TLT in December 2021.

Acting on its own and often forming a key role alongside practitioners from across the firm's vast domestic network of offices, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP stands out for its ability to handle M&A, joint venture structuring and corporate governance advice primarily on deals outside of Wales. The team, which is led out of Cardiff by Paul Pugh, is appreciated for its 'understanding of the commercial rationale' of deals, particularly on mandates within the financial services and renewable energy sectors. Praised for her 'patience and tenacity', principal associate Shelley Evans  is also a key member of the team and is afforded a great deal of autonomy to act on financial services-related M&A deals, in particular.

Benefiting from 'good regional resources', Hugh James has developed excellent ties with domestic businesses from across a range of industry sectors, and is consequently regularly instructed on significant M&A transactions, including a number of recent sell-side mandates to international purchasers. 'Commercial and pragmatic' team head Gerallt Jones  is a 'consummate professional', who has vast experience in the market not only on domestic M&A mandates but also ones with a cross-border element. Formerly head of legal at S4C, Aled Walters  has significant media and gaming industry knowledge, ensuring that he is particularly well-placed to advise on commercial contraccts-related work for clients in those sectors. Greg Williams is also recommended and is noted for his M&A experience in the healthcare sector. 

Drawing upon deep public sector ties, which informs a good deal of the firm's commercial work, as well as a strong private sector offering, including among private equity/venture capital entities, Geldards LLP's 'exceptional' 12-strong team has strong market visibility, particularly in the context of domestic mandates. Andrew Morris heads up the corporate function of the team and has a strong reputation in the local market as a result of his versatile practice that includes clients within the gaming, IT , healthcare and financial services sectors, among others. The 'proactive and creative' Alex Butler , who joined the firm in March 2021 from an in-house position at a global business services provider, has rapidly become a highly valued member of the team, as a result of his cross-border corporate expertise, as well as his venture capital expertise - which has seen him leading the firm's relationship with the Development Bank of Wales.

Headed by the ‘knowledgeable, commercial and pragmatic‘ Martyn Davies following his move from Geldards LLP in November 2020, Harrison Clark Rickerbys‘ small but growing team is beginning to pick up some significant mandates, including several sell-side M&A matters.  David Beynon, another former Geldards LLP alumnus, provides ‘clear and succinct advice’ to start-ups and established companies (including medtech entities) on commercial, technology and IP matters. The team was also recently enhanced by the arrival of Theresa Grech , who joined in March 2022 from Ince in the capacity as a senior legal counsel.

While it is still in its formative stages and as yet lacks any commercial contracts expertise, Lewis Silkin LLP has hit the ground-running on the corporate transactional front, in large part due to contacts and experience team head Geraint Tilsley has in the market. Tilsley had during his tenure at his previous firm Geldards LLP developed a particularly strong reputation for handling sponsor-backed M&A and many of those funds, including Tenex Capital Partners and BGF, have followed him to his new home and already begun to instruct him.

Under the leadership of the 'very knowledgeable' Siôn Tudur , boutique Cardiff-based firm Loosemores Solicitors has successfully grown its corporate transactional offering in recent years, particularly on behalf of SMEs and owner-managed businesses, which are appreciative of its 'big firm experience with a personal touch'. Mark Loosemore is 'steeped in commercial nous' and heads up the commercial offering which is particularly strong in the sports sector.