
- Tel:
- Work 0141 566 9900
- Fax:
- Fax 0141 565 1222
- DX:
- GW409 GLASGOW
- Email:
- Web:
- www.shepwedd.com
George Frier
- Tel:
- Work 0141 566 8520
- Email:
Work Department
Corporate Finance
Position
George is a partner and head of the firm’s food and drink group with a client list drawn principally from the food and drink, technology and engineering sectors. He conducts a wide range of corporate work, including strategic corporate advice, acquisitions and disposals, joint ventures and group reorganisations/restructurings, for international and domestic clients. He is also a member of the firm’s family business and wealth protection group . Recent deals include acting for AIM listed Collagen Solutions PLC on its AIM fundraise and Bond issue to Norgene Ventures; for Satellite Solutions Worldwide Group PLC in its acquisitions of the broadband division of Avonline PLC, the broadband business of Australian Skymesh Pty Ltd and Bordernet Pty Ltd; and AIM fundraising and acquisition of Quickline Communications Limited; J.R.Dalziel Limited, various acquisitions; Blackwood Plant Limited, Vendor financed MBO; Chivas brothers Ltd in its disposal of the Glenallachie Distillery; Scottish Seafarms Ltd in its acquisition of development site for their new £30m freshwater aquaculture facility with associated hydro scheme.
Career
Trained Dorman Jeffrey 1985-7; assistant, Maclay Murray and Spens 1987-93; associate then corporate partner, McClure Naismith 1993-2012; partner Shepherd & Wedderburn 2012
Member
Scotland Food and Drink; Food and drink Federation; Wooden Spoon (charitable).
Education
Morrison’s Academy, Crieff; University of Glasgow (LLB Hons Private Law).
Leisure
Cycling, hillwalking, skiing, golf.
London: Corporate and commercial
Flotations: small and mid-cap
Within: Flotations: small and mid-cap
Walter Blake heads up the practice at Shepherd and Wedderburn, where 'the transaction proceeds in an easier and more efficient manner'. In addition to having a team in London, the firm also counts on the experience of practitioners based in Scotland, including Stephen Trombala and George Frier. In 2017, Blake and Frier advised Collagen Solutions on its £8m placing and open offer. The two practitioners also assisted Satellite Solutions with a number of transactions, including its £8m share placing on AIM, and various related strategic acquisitions. European Assets Trust NV, Cairn Energy Plc, Cenkos Securities, Bowleven Plc and Numis Securities are among other clients.
Scotland: Corporate and commercial
Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow
Within: Corporate and commercial: Edinburgh and Glasgow
Shepherd and Wedderburn‘s team, which ‘understands the bigger picture in terms of business consequences‘, includes a number of first-rate practitioners, such as food and drink group head George Frier and Joanna Boag-Thomson, who are ‘commercial, innovative and provide great client service‘. In addition, Danny Lee and John Morrison ‘understand points easily and their drafting is high quality‘ and senior associate Tom Swan is lauded for his ‘attention to detail‘. Stephen Trombala leads the group, which is adept in transactions spanning a wide range of industries, including food and drink, renewable energy, corporate real estate, oil and gas (upstream and services sectors), technology and life sciences. It consistently excels in headline deals; in 2017, highlights included Frier and others acting as the lead legal adviser to Chivas Brothers (part of the Pernot Ricard Group) in the sale to the Glenallachie consortium of its Glenallachie distillery, and certain whisky stock and whisky brands. Frier also led a team in the advice to Collagen Solutions on its £8m placing and open offer, and also on a £4m bond issue. Morrison assisted TVSquared (one of Scotland’s most successful recent start-up companies) with its $6.5m series A equity financing. Also recommended are George Boyle, Andrew Blain, Paul Hally, Keir Willox, Joanna Monaghan and Ian Mitchell.