Mr David Kirchin > Addleshaw Goddard > Edinburgh, United Kingdom > Lawyer Profile

Possessing a team of ‘highly commercial and pragmatic lawyers’ who are ‘real catalysts to delivering successful deals’, Addleshaw Goddard has consolidated its strong position in the Scottish market through the hire of former Dentons duo Derek McCombe and Iain Sutherland towards the close of 2023, who bring established expertise in M&A, private equity, joint ventures and corporate restructurings. The pair join the practice, which is renowned for its leading private equity and capital markets offering, as well as its broad sector focus that includes a significant volume of healthcare, tech, food and drink, and energy mandates. David Anderson leads the team and is well placed to advise on an array of cross-border instructions, especially in the tech and fintech space. Murray Jack‘s practice straddles M&A and private equity and sees a steady stream of instructions from investors engaging with the pharma sector. ‘Stand-out partner‘ Laura Falls chiefly focuses on private equity deals, while David Kirchin has recently been active on retail, consumer and financial services transactions. Anna Brown handles PE investments, secondary placings, and joint venture agreements, and Andrew Ley is noted for his work in the food and drink and energy sectors. Sarah Dick is ‘a fantastic lawyer who continually delivers ahead of expectations’. Maeve Wright and Kevin Beattie are also recommended for their support on a range of deals.

Noted for its ‘exceptional industry knowledge,’ the M&A team at Addleshaw Goddard is a powerhouse in the London market. The group works with both national and multinational companies from a wide array of industry sectors including financial services, retail, energy, and infrastructure. With expertise in complex and cross-border transactions involving private and public entities, the department is continuing to expand its client roster. Head of the Africa group and consumer, life sciences, and renewables specialist Chris Taylor co-leads the M&A practice alongside managing partner David Kirchin, who is an expert in private equity matters. The practice benefits from the capabilities of Simon Wood – former Secretary to the Takeover Panel – who is recognised for his vast experience handling takeovers and combinations, as well as Graham Cross, who specialises in M&A and private equity transactions for clients from the financial services sector. On the public M&A front, Louise Pritchard is a notable name for her breadth of experience, leading on sales and acquisitions, IPOs, fundraisings, and securities regulation compliance. Other key practitioners include Nick Pearey and Hugh Lauritsen, both of whom have extensive experience in the financial services sector.