Well regarded for advice on corporate finance and commercial contracts, Freeths LLP excels in M&A matters with a client roster ranging from SMEs to listed public companies. Recent work highlights extend to an instruction regarding a £1.3bn merger, including post-exchange restructuring process, led by Malin Svanberg Larsson. Heading the firm’s corporate team, Leon Arnold is a key contact for cross-border M&A, while Rebecca Howlett leads the commercial team and is well versed across the full spectrum of commercial agreements, including distribution and warehousing contracts, with noteworthy experience in the beauty industry. Tom Walker offers expertise in advising shareholders and directors at the intersection of their business role with private wealth aspects, including the structuring of trusts, family investment companies, and holding vehicles. Malin Svanberg Larsson‘s focus areas include private equity transactions and early-stage investments. James Lapham left the firm in April 2024.

Shoosmiths LLP is lauded for a wealth of experience in private equity and venture capital transactions and is frequently engaged by clients from the technology, health, and retail sectors. Sanjeev Sharma heads the corporate practice and is a key contact for the firm’s international clients. The commercial team is led by Nick Holland, who specialises in global outsourcing transactions and privacy compliance. Nina Smith advises shareholders on the seller side, corporate clients on acquisitions, and private equity houses on investments. Ami Bhatt’s busy workload extends to management buy-outs, joint ventures, and corporate governance matters. Fiona Teague moved to the firm’s Birmingham office in 2024.

Recommended for a wealth of experience in the healthcare and technology segments, Blake Morgan LLP demonstrates proficiency across the full range of commercial work, including advice on supplier contracts, customer agreements, and procurement. The team is also geared to handle M&A and equity capital market transactions and frequently acts for charities and not-for-profit organisations in a variety of contract negotiations. Specialising in outsourcing projects and  IT procurement, Alison Patten-Hall leads the firm’s commercial offering. The corporate team is headed by Simon Staples, whose broad portfolio encompasses reorganisations, disposals, and public company takeovers. Elisabeth Bell specialises in advice on technology projects, including licencing and outsourcing agreements.

Boyes Turner operates across a broad scope of corporate and commercial work with focus areas such as advising US and European clients with business interests in the UK. SMEs within the technology sector constitute a significant portion of the firm’s client portfolio, which extends to solution suppliers and software houses. Chris Dobson leads on numerous of the department’s most significant cross-border M&A instructions and co-heads the department alongside Sarah Williamson, who is a key figure for technology agreements, including license, SaaS, and reseller contracts. Duncan Kay joined the team in January 2025, further strengthening the firm’s capabilities in cross-border instructions such as international group reorganisations.

Maintaining a strong position in the TMT sector, Gateley Legal operates comfortably across a variety of industries, including food and beverage, recruitment, and financial services. The team is reputed for its expertise in the M&A arena while also covering related competition law and tax aspects. Practice head Andrew Peddie is well versed in private equity transactions, while Nicola Bennett specialises in supporting family and owner-managed businesses and SMEs on business sales. Mo Shabbir joined the team in September 2024, bolstering the firm’s corporate offering.

Harrison Clark Rickerbys is lauded for its extensive experience in private equity-backed transactions and offers notable expertise in data protection matters with recent instructions from a variety of sectors, including technology, education, energy, and health. Chairing the firm’s corporate group, Rachel Turner‘s repertoire extends to advice on M&A, venture capital, joint ventures, and shareholder agreements. Offering niche expertise in SRA regulations, Rachel Khiara heads the commercial team and covers partnership and LLP law. Robert Rice focuses on the firm’s US clients.

Penningtons Manches Cooper LLP has a track record in cross-border transactions with a particular focus on M&A deals with US buyers and a strong presence in the life sciences and technology sectors. The team is equipped to handle the full spectrum of corporate work, ranging from advising start-ups on funding rounds to supporting clients with business sales and IPOs. The department is chaired by London-based Matthew Martin, who also acts as the firm’s Global Head of Corporate. Important team members in Oxford include Will Axtell, whose specialisms extend to advising entrepreneurs exiting to private equity, and James Went, one of the firm’s key contacts for high-volume corporate transactions, including spin-outs and venture capital financing. Both are well-supported by Dominique Sabatini.

Strength in sales and acquisitions is at the core of Field Seymour Parkes LLP‘s practice, which is sought out by owner-managed SMEs, venture capital and private equity investors, startups, and multinational corporates.  The team covers a broad range of segments and offers particular experience in the technology, insurance, and manufacturing sectors. Rachael Maunder leads the department and combines expertise in transactions with proven knowledge of corporate governance. Jeremy Parkes excels in corporate finance transactions and advice on restructurings, while Philip Stephenson‘s varied workload encompasses M&A, equity investments, joint ventures, and reorganisations.

M&A in the technology sector are at the heart of White & Black Limited’s practice, which has a track record in cross-border transactions with recent instructions involving a variety of jurisdictions such as Japan, US, and Norway. John Allen heads the department, leading numerous of the firm’s most sophisticated M&A and private equity transactions, with vast experience in the high-tech and marketing services industries. Jonathan Williamson‘s recent workload includes advice on the disposal of five aesthetic clinics to a North American Buyer.

Led by Duncan Walker and equipped to advise on all corporate aspects of a business lifecycle, Broadfield Law UK LLP specialises in M&A mandates and offers expertise in a variety of sectors, including real estate, technology, and automotive. Philip Weaver handles a busy M&A practice while also being adept at shareholder agreements and disputes. Stephanie Perry‘s portfolio extends to investments, shareholder agreements, and joint venture agreements.

Clarkslegal LLP‘s practice strengths include private equity investments, shareholder issues as well as the sales and acquisitions of business assets. The team frequently acts in cross-border M&A mandates and offers vast experience advising owner-managers on business exits. Practice head Ashan Arif is adept at corporate restructurings, business transfers, and joint ventures with a focus on the technology, media, hotel, and automotive segments.

KPMG Law‘s focus areas include M&A, investments, joint ventures, as well as corporate restructurings and reorganisations. Leveraging the firm’s international network to comfortably operate across the full spectrum of – frequently multijurisdictional – corporate transactions, the department’s comprehensive offering also benefits from collaborations with the firm’s tax and accounting teams. Emma Gibson leads the team alongside Tim Sydor, who is a key contact for management teams in private equity buyouts. Duncan Kay left the firm in January 2025.

Blandy & Blandy LLP covers a broad range of corporate and commercial matters, with expertise in M&A, joint ventures, and restructurings. Debbie Brett, who has more than 25 years’ experience in the practice area, leads the department. Peter Woolley joined the team from Moorcrofts LLP in July 2024, and is praised for his ‘huge experience of commercial matters‘. Emma Ford is a key name in the team, and advises on a range of corporate transactions.

Clifton Ingram LLP Solicitors specialises in the sale and acquisition of owner-managed businesses. The practice is led by Barry Niven, whose portfolio extends to shareholder and joint venture agreements, corporate structures, and private equity investments. Lily Holland-Hammond is adept at corporate and commercial matters, including distribution and franchise agreements.

Advising shareholders on company sales is at the core of Gardner Leader LLP‘s corporate practice, while the firm’s commercial group is recommended for expertise across the full range of commercial contracts, including IT, IP, and data protection elements. Practice head Philip Humphreys excels in M&A, management buyouts, and reorganisations, while Peter James leads the firm’s commercial offering and is particularly well versed at the intersection of commercial, intellectual property, and competition law.

SE-Solicitors handles a busy workload, encompassing company purchases and sales, shareholder agreements, and corporate restructurings, with the team operating across a range of industries such as food, logistics, energy, automotive, and construction. Practice head Hitendra Patel frequently leads on the firm’s highlight transactions and is a key contact for advice on distribution agreements.

Focusing on the technology and life sciences segments, Mishcon de Reya LLP is a port of call for start-ups and investors, with the team’s repertoire extending to advice on M&A on the corporate side and support with licensing and IP issues on the commercial domain. The practice is jointly steered by investment expert Nicola McConville, a key contact for university spin-outs, and Hugh Tebay, who is proficient across the full range of commercial contracts with a specialism in IP rights. Attilio Leccisotti is another name to note.