Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP’s corporate team is highly active in international transactions, advising clients across the retail, leisure, real estate, technology, and defence sectors. The team, led by Ben Butler, is known for handling complex and high-value deals. Clients include multinational corporations, family-owned businesses, private equity-backed firms, and public authorities. The team also integrates tax specialists to provide corporate tax advice. Robert Phillips focuses on investment and exit strategies for owner-managers and shareholders, while Simon Watts leads the UK firm’s US desk. Stacey Hall and David Ridley specialise in M&A and private equity, and Oliver Rickett works with high-growth clients, particularly in the technology sector.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
- 'Excellent relationship management. I value the promptness and quality of the service they provide when engaged on a specific matter. I also value their judgement and guidance on wider issues, not just their legal expertise. I view them as trusted business advisers and they have introduced us to valuable partners.'
- 'WBD have an excellent and diverse multi-disciplinary team of specialists in all our necessary company activities. The team is always responsive and focused on what really needs to be done and not what could be done.'
- 'The individuals are all very responsive and listen carefully to inputs and needs. They remain attentive and have a very open and respectful manner.'
- 'WBD manage to bring the quality and experience of an international law firm to SME businesses at a regional level. The team are all commercially minded and WBD are great at getting the right team members on the right projects.'
- 'Oliver Rickett leads our relationship. He is an excellent lawyer but brings a huge degree of commercial pragmatism to all projects he works on.'
Key clients
- Shareholders of Chianti Topco Limited
- Tradechoice Distribution Limited
- Lomond Group
- NorthEdge Capital Fund II, LP and the Managers of Cutwel Limited
- Notify Technology Ltd
- Mercia Regional Ventures
- NVM Private Equity
- Pure Pet Food
Work highlights
Advised Tradechoice Distribution Limited, previously Carpetright group company, on its latest expansion with the acquisition of T&R Floor Covering Distribution, a Nottingham-based flooring business.
Advised the shareholders of Lomond and private equity investor LDC on a landmark investment by global asset manager ICG.
Advised NorthEdge, a private equity firm, on the sale of Cutwel to Inflexion Private Equity Partners.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
Robert Phillips
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Oliver Rickett
David Ridley
Practice head
Ben Butler
Other key lawyers
Robert Phillips; Simon Watts; Stacey Hall; David Ridley; Oliver Rickett