Led on the corporate front by Christian Farrow and for commercial work by Erica Westerman , following her arrival in August 2020 from Hugh James,  Acuity Law has broad-ranging expertise for technology, energy, healthcare, financial services and life sciences clients across the gamut of M&A, corporate finance and ongoing commercial contract-related work. The firm is increasingly active on mandates outside of Wales, in part due to the growth of its London office; Paul Lowe recently advised publicly-held US technology company ScanSource in its multimillion-pound acquisition of a cloud distribution platform. Co-founder and chairman of the firm Stephen Berry still maintains a fairly active practice and has a strong track record across a range of corporate and corporate finance matters, particularly within the technology sector. As well as his continued focus on early stage technology and life sciences work, including advice to university spin-out companies, Phillip Pugh is also particularly active in the healthcare sector and has advised clients on the sale and purchase of dental businesses. Clients also continue to benefit from the firm’s in-house legal support subscription-based service - Acuity Counsel.

Led on the corporate front by the 'experienced and pragmatic' Robert Cherry and James Williams, Blake Morgan LLP handles a significant volume of transactional work (including a sizeable amount of private equity-related matters for management teams) and day-to-day general company law advice, including on corporate governance matters and compliance issues. Although the firm is active across a myriad industry sectors, it has built up a particularly strong track record handling work in the healthcare space, and has advised on 19 sales of domiciliary care, foster care and Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools businesses in the last three years. Richard Jones was recently promoted to partner, partially in recognition of his pivotal role in many of the firm's most significant private equity and venture capital mandates; he recently took the lead for Zip World and the management team in connection with the £45m management buyout backed by LDC and HSBC. Penri Desscan leads the firm's commercial offering and specialises in advising on long term, complex, high-value services and supplies contracts, including on major public procurement matters.

The 'dynamic and entrepreneurial' team at Capital Law Limited holds 'a strong position in the legal market in Wales', as a result of its ability to provide 'commercially focused advice' on M&A transactions involving both local targets and those based outside of the country. Under the guidance of the 'commercial and very experienced' Tom Kelleher, and also benefiting from the expertise of Duncan Macintosh - who brings 'excellent commerciality and contacts' on deals as a result of his longevity in private practice as well as his former work in-house at 3i - the team has developed a 'superb reputation in the private equity space', for funds, management teams and investee companies. Promoted to partner in November 2019, the 'very personable and pragmatic' Philip Barratt is also a pivotal member and takes the lead on many of the most significant private equity/venture capital deals handled by the firm. 'Very responsive, diligent and professional' associate Laura Spendiff has excellent ties with local SMEs, while recently promoted partner Maria Coggins leads on the commercial front and has expertise on commercial contracts, data protection, compliance and risk management.

With two partners based out of Cardiff and also able to draw upon expertise from across the firm's UK and international network, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP excels at handling upper/mid-market M&A transactions, often without a Welsh nexus. Leveraging the firm's overarching subject matter industry expertise, the team is particularly focused on handling corporate/private equity transactions within the energy and financial services sectors. Paul Pugh excels at handling fintech M&A transactions and heads the overarching corporate team that also houses Michelle T Davies, whose combination of corporate nous and regulatory expertise has enabled her to develop a strong offering across the lifecycle of deals within the clean energy sector (including on acquisitions and exit strategies).

Led by Andrew Morris and Christopher Williams, on the corporate and commercial side, respectively, Geldards LLP's seven-partner team has the strength-in-depth to handle a tremendous volume and range of work for public and private sector entities. Morris is well-versed at handling transactional work for clients in heavily regulated sectors, including life sciences and gaming/gambling; he recently advised Novomatic on its $120m disposal of a large part of its UK gaming division to Inspired Gaming. Geraint Tilsley has successfully cultivated a strong private equity/venture capital offering in the local market for clients including BGF Investments, Development of Wales and LDC, and also has significant experience advising Welsh public sector bodies on governance and structuring matters.

The 'strong team' at Hugh James 'radiates a fine commercial understanding' on behalf of both high-profile regional private and public sector clients (Welsh Rugby Union, S.A. Brain), as well as international entities with a pervasive Welsh presence (including Rockwool and Qioptiq). Although the firm is active across a myriad industry sectors, it is particularly accomplished at handling media and gaming-related transactions, an area where Aled Walters  has specialist corporate and commercial expertise, gleaned not only from private practice but also by dint of his previous role as head of legal at a television network. Gerallt Jones heads up the firm’s corporate/M&A team and as well as advising on regional transactional matters, is also well-versed in handling mandates with a cross-border dimension having gained experience both in London and Hong Kong. Greg Williams 'is a pleasant guy who keeps a calm overview of lengthy and complicated UK law-based transaction documents', particularly as it relates to corporate and M&A matters in the healthcare sector.

Led from the firm's Swansea headquarters by the 'experienced and commercial' William Barletta , Morgan LaRoche's 'knowledgeable and efficient' team has a strong reputation among south west Wales-based corporates, SMEs and owner-managed businesses. The scope of the team's work is broad and includes M&A and joint venture structuring, as well as  corporate governance advice and shareholder agreement drafting. Although the firm is industry sector agnostic, it has developed particular areas of strength in relation to work within the healthcare, waste/recycling and energy industry verticals. Under the guidance of Welsh speaker Christopher Evans , the team has also successfully generated a thriving west Wales client base as a result of its growing presence out of its Carmarthen office.

Under the leadership of the 'very versatile and innovative' Theresa Grech , Ince has rapidly made strides in the local market since her arrival in January 2018 and the merger with Ince & Co at the end of 2018. Grech has a strong track record advising on M&A and joint venture mandates, and has developed a particular level of expertise over the years' acting for technology-based companies with significant IP-related issues.