Spearheaded by the ‘invaluable’ Sarah Riding and Chris Towle, the Birmingham-based Gowling WLG practice has vast expertise in the retail, automotive, and real estate industries, routinely handling corporate disposals and pre-sale reorganisations. The firm’s commercial offering is extensive, notably covering IP, logistics agreements, and consumer contract proceedings. Working between London and Birmingham, Riding focuses on manufacturing arrangements, while Birmingham-based Towle is highly knowledgeable in multi-jurisdictional restructurings. Anurag Singh is an M&A specialist; Sharon Ayres is experienced in real estate joint ventures; and Elizabeth Williams advises public and private sector clients. Christopher Letters and Amar Adatia are each highlighted for their investment work.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Highly knowledgeable, extremely commercial, and totally reliable.’
‘We work with Sarah Riding - her knowledge and understanding of both the sector we work in, together with the general automotive market, is invaluable.’
‘Gowlings provides a very joined-up service with their corporate/funds team and their property team. We have confidence that nothing is being dropped and that everyone on the Gowlings side is working together effectively.’
‘Sharon Ayres is a trusted advisor for complex real estate joint ventures, having helped us structure and document a number of key joint ventures across many years now. Sharon takes a commercial and pragmatic approach to getting deals done. We feel very safe in her hands.'
'Exceptional talent who deliver their service in a friendly and familiar way. They deliver well-managed teams and are very responsive.'
'Gowlings as a firm have exceptional talent who deliver their service with friendly and familiar way. They deliver well managed teams and are very responsive.'
'A diverse and hugely talented group of partners with real commercial drive, the ability to understand complex questions at pace and enough understanding of clients' businesses to give relevant and clear advice.'
'Sharon Ayres is the best corporate lawyer I've ever dealt with. She is able to digest huge amounts of material and identify and drill down on the key commercial issues. She is unflappable even under substantial pressure, and she is tenacious in driving matters through to conclusion, always recognising the things that really matter and focusing on the commercial imperative.'
'They really do understand commercial issues and add value. You don't need to 'translate' the work that they give - a real valuable extension to the in-house team and very knowledgeable. The advice is timely and efficiently given - they won't give you product that you don't need and will tell you what you do.'
'Handled our M&A competently and were a joy to work with.'
Key clients
- A F Blakemore & Sons
- All Saints Retail Limited
- Asda
- Aston Manor
- Aston Martin
- Atcore Technology Group Limited
- Avison Young
- Azumi Restaurants Limited
- Bakkavor
- Banyan Software
- Baylis & Harding
- Bentley Motors Limited
- BGF (Business Growth Fund)
- Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Birmingham City Council
- Bloor Homes Limited
- British Red Cross
- Brompton Bicycles
- Cadent Gas
- CBI
Work highlights
Advised Dyson on the renegotiation of its business-critical freight and logistics outsourcing contracts, involving guidance in the tender process and drafting the contract and statement of works and parallel negotiations with six suppliers against a strict deadline across EMEA and Singapore.
Advised US-headquartered insulated work apparel provider, RefrigiWear LLC (RefrigiWear), a Sentinel Capital Partners portfolio company, in its expansion into the UK and European market through a significant acquisition of UK-headquartered sub-zero temperature workwear supplier FlexiTog UK Limited and its Dutch subsidiary, FlexiTog EU B.V.
Advised TT Electronics PLC (TT) on the extensive pre-sale reorganisation and sale of three business units within its GMS and Power and Connectivity divisions to the Cicor Group.
Lawyers
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Leading partners
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David Vaughan
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Practice head
Chris Towle; Sarah Riding
Other key lawyers
Anurag Singh; Sharon Ayres; Elizabeth Williams; Christopher Letters; Amar Adatia; Alison Richards; Dominic Richardson; Frank Beeton; Vic Sewak; Rory Chatterton; Rachel Pennell; Charlotte Avery; Danielle Klepping; Matt Harris