Corporate and commercial in Wales

Benefiting from a dedicated corporate offering which is co-headed from Cardiff by the 'pragmatic' Robert Cherry and 'exceptional' James Williams, and also able to draw upon the expertise of lawyers from the same office with tax, banking and regulatory knowledge, should the need arise, Blake Morgan LLP has 'excellent strength-in-depth' and is able to provide 'pragmatic and client-friendly solutions' to public and private sector entities across the spectrum of their transactional needs. Williams has strong ties with the local business community and is regularly engaged in transactions across a myriad industry sectors on both the buy and sell-side, while Cherry is perhaps best-known for his work for companies seeking growth through buy and build strategies. The 'commercial and proactive' Richard Jones also continues to develop a strong following in the market, particularly on behalf of management teams on private equity and venture capital-backed deals. Penri Desscan heads up the firm's commercial offering and has an emphasis on long term, complex, high-value services and supplies contracts.

Under the guidance of the 'brilliant' Tom Kelleher and benefiting from the 'considerable wisdom and business ties' of the 'vastly experienced' Duncan Macintosh, who was himself formerly in-house at 3i, Capital Law Limited has a particular sweet-spot advising stakeholders, including funds and management teams, engaged in lower mid-market private equity transactions. Kelleher has developed strong ties with SME fund, Westbridge Capital, regularly representing it on its downstream investment work and its exits. The 'outstanding' Philip Barratt is also pivotal to the firm's growing success in the private equity market, with expertise on behalf of management teams and funds on deal execution, as well as ongoing portfolio management-related work. In addition to handling sponsor-side private equity M&A, senior associate Laura Spendiff also regularly advises start-ups/early stage companies seeking growth financing, and has successfully nurtured strong ties with numerous local SMEs. Maria Coggins leads the commercial team and has a strong grounding in commercial contract drafting and data protection matters.

Led by the 'exceptional' Paul Pugh, Eversheds Sutherland (International) LLP's ten-strong team provides 'clear, practical and commercial advice' to corporates and private equity sponsors engaged in upper mid-market transactions, invariably in deals outside of Wales and often within regulated sectors. Pugh is particularly well-versed at advising on transactional work within the financial services space and continues to regularly advise specialist fintech-focused investment fund, Pollen Capital, on its downstream investment work.

Headed by 'consummate professional' Gerallt Jones, Hugh James' five-partner team has the strength-in-depth to be able to resource a range of corporate and commercial mandates for high-profile regional private and public sector clients, as well as international entities with a pervasive Welsh presence. Although the firm is active across a myriad industry sectors, its niche expertise within the hospitality and leisure space has ensured that it has been particularly busy of late from a crisis management perspective (given the disproportionate effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector), as demonstrated by its recent high-profile advice to the board of S.A. Brain on Marston Plc's high-profile takeover of the company's portfolio of 156 pubs throughout Wales (thereby safeguarding 1,300 jobs which were jeopardized by the impact of Covid-19). Other recommended partners include the 'commercial and pragmatic' Aled Walters , whose former in-house role at S4C ensures that he is particularly well-suited to handling media-related corporate and commercial matters, and Greg Williams, who has developed a particular niche advising on healthcare-related M&A transactions.

Headed by 'consummate professional' Gerallt Jones, Hugh James' five-partner team has the strength-in-depth to be able to resource a range of corporate and commercial mandates for high-profile regional private and public sector clients, as well as international entities with a pervasive Welsh presence. Although the firm is active across a myriad industry sectors, its niche expertise within the hospitality and leisure space has ensured that it has been particularly busy of late from a crisis management perspective (given the disproportionate effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the sector), as demonstrated by its recent high-profile advice to the board of S.A. Brain on Marston Plc's high-profile takeover of the company's portfolio of 156 pubs throughout Wales (thereby safeguarding 1,300 jobs which were jeopardized by the impact of Covid-19). Other recommended partners include the 'commercial and pragmatic' Aled Walters, whose former in-house role at S4C ensures that he is particularly well-suited to handling media-related corporate and commercial matters, and Greg Williams, who has developed a particular niche advising on healthcare-related M&A transactions.

Led on the corporate front by the ‘responsive and considered‘ Andrew Morris and for commercial matters by the ‘very professional‘ Chris Williams, Geldards LLP is well-equipped to advise clients across a broad spectrum of transactional matters, including M&A and joint venture structuring, as well as ongoing commercial contracts work. Morris has developed a strong reputation advising on corporate and M&A work within heavily regulated sectors, including gaming, healthcare and financial services. As well as handling fairly conventional private sector corporate work, the firm’s overarching state aid and public law expertise, also ensures it is well-positioned to provide a ‘highly capable service‘ to stakeholders engaged in public sector-related transactional work. The recent departure of Geraint Tilsley to Lewis Silkin LLP was a setback for the firm, particularly in light of his strong regional private equity and venture capital offering.

Benefiting from well-established relationships with many local SMEs and owner-manged businesses from its Swansea head office, and also increasingly visible in the broader west Wales market by virtue of the continued growth of the firm's Carmarthen office, Morgan LaRoche continues to pick up a consistent flow of high-quality mandates across the waterfront of corporate and commercial work. Experienced team head William Barletta  is at the forefront of much of the most significant work handled by the firm, including a considerable amount of transactions in the energy, waste and healthcare sectors. Dividing his time between the firm's Swansea and Carmarthen offices, Christopher Evans has been pivotal to the firm's growing success in the West Wales market, with clients appreciative not only of his legal expertise but also his Welsh speaking capabilities.