With an ‘incredibly commercial and knowledgeable‘ corporate and commercial offering, Muckle LLP is regularly instructed to advise on leading regional transactions, private equity investments, and the full range of commercial work by regional, national, and international clients. Practice co-head Anthony Evans leads the corporate offering and takes point on corporate finance instructions, attracting praise for his ‘unparalleled‘ expertise in the area. Philip Clare is another key name on the corporate front, as well as Adam Rayner, who advises on corporate finance, investments, and private equity issues. Matthew Walsh acts for acquisitive public companies, advising on buy-and-build programmes as well as refinancings, while Sarah Forster handles strategic private equity investments, and is well supported by Stephanie Brown. On the commercial front, practice co-head Alex Craig handles IP, data, and technology issues, including licensing deals, media rights agreements, and data protection compliance matters. Tom Justice is another key contact for commercial work, handling contracts, IP, and patent work for clients in the tech and data industries. Andrew Davison left the team in March 2024.

Counting major port authorities, sports clubs, and entities operating in the leisure, human capital, and transport sectors among its impressive roster of clients, Ward Hadaway LLP’s sizeable corporate and commercial offering spans the full range of matters, including M&A, financing, corporate restructuring, commercial contracts, and data protection issues. Robert Thompson heads the corporate department, while Damien Charlton leads the commercial team. Thompson advises public and private sector clients on disposals, mergers, and corporate structuring, while Charlton has notable experience handling outsourcing, joint ventures, and general commercial contracting. Tom Pollard advises public and private companies as well as private equity houses on disposals, investments, and reorganisations, while Clare French has notable experience acting for clients in the healthcare, leisure, and e-commerce industries. Steven Roper offers commercial, contract and corporate governance advice, and heads the transport and infrastructure subgroup. Colin Hewitt is a known for expertise in governance issues and corporate structures.

Leveraging the firm’s national and international network of offices, the corporate team at Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP has a particularly strong track record advising on cross-border M&A and investments, regularly acting for clients in the retail and leisure, technology, and energy sectors. Ben Butler heads the team and advises leading regional players on significant transactions, working alongside Simon Watts, who specialises in corporate transactional and advisory work. Stacey Hall is recommended for private equity investments and business disposals. Other key names are venture and growth capital expert Oliver Rickett and private equity specialist David Ridley. The core team also includes seasoned corporate finance expert Robert Phillips, and Iain Pritty, who handles instructions concerning the establishment of corporate joint ventures.

Mincoffs Solicitors LLP regularly acts for regional and international clients from a variety of industries, with particular expertise in the leisure and hospitality, construction, and healthcare sectors. On the corporate front, practice co-head Paul Hughes handles capital markets instructions and advises on IPOs, transactions, and secondary offerings. He works alongside John Nicholson, who has considerable expertise advising on corporate finance matters, and experienced M&A expert Chris Hughes, who also heads the firm’s healthcare sector team. With a significant foothold in the entertainment, media, and tech industries, the ‘very personable, cooperative and technically capable‘ team is well-placed to advise on brand licensing, franchising, and general advisory work for clients in the creative industries; co-head Antony Hall, who leads the firm’s commercial offering, is a key name here. Another important team member for commercial instructions is Jennifer Wade. Luke Philpott left the team in August 2023.

SMEs, owner-managed businesses, and private corporations regularly instruct the corporate and commercial team at Sintons LLP on the full gamut of transactional, corporate, and commercial matters. Karen Simms leads the commercial group and has extensive experience advising private and public sector clients on commercial projects and contract work, including green energy projects, joint developments, intellectual property issues, and licensing agreements. With a primary focus on M&A, private equity, reorganisations, and general corporate finance issues, the corporate department stands out for its expertise across the technology, manufacturing, and healthcare sectors; practice co-head Adrian Dye is the name to note here. Dye works alongside Matt Collen and Emma Pern, who have a track record of handling matters in the oil and gas industries. Christopher Welch  is equipped to handle the full spectrum of corporate acquisition, disposal, and finance transactions.

With expertise spanning M&A, private equity and venture capital transactions, as well as debt funding, the corporate team at Weightmans regularly acts for up-and-coming tech businesses, financial advisors, and wealth managers based in the region. Duncan Reid leads the team and specialises in providing corporate transactional advice to clients in the tech and financial services sector. He works closely with Paul Wigham, who has particular expertise in advising newly established companies on private equity investments. Reid and Wigham are ably assisted by corporate finance expert Nick Gray, the ‘first-rate’ Rosie Roof, and the ‘very impressive‘ Kirsty Adamson, recommended for advice concerning the disposals of private companies. Strengthening the group’s commercial offering, Nathan Bilton joined the team from Ward Hadaway LLP in July 2023.

The corporate and commercial team at Clarke Mairs LLP stands out for its strength in transactional work in the pharmacy and healthcare sectors. Routinely advising regional and national pharmacy groups, dentistry shareholders, and healthcare providers on acquisitions and the disposals of assets and share capitals, the group is led by founding partner Tim Clarke. Clarke has a broad commercial and corporate practice and works closely with Alex Robson, who advises on M&A instructions.

Hay & Kilner attracts high praise for its ‘excellent advice and guidance on all things corporate and commercial‘. Focusing on providing corporate M&A advice,  Mark Adams leads the practice with notable experience acting for automotive, veterinary, and pharmacy sector clients. Adams works closely with the ‘commercially savvy and extremely knowledgeable‘ Ben Jackson, who advises on all corporate aspects of transactional work. Also in the core team is Jonathan Waters, who advises care home operators and clients in the leisure and charity sectors on complex restructuring. Lucy Gray left the practice in May 2023.