The team at Ashfords LLP is led by Andrew Betteridge on the corporate side, handling M&A and capital market listings, as well as lending his longstanding expertise to the firm’s venture capital offering. An expert across a diverse array of industry sectors including renewable energy, consumer goods, and manufacturing, Brian Farrell heads the practice’s commercial law offering and elsewhere offers expertise concerning joint venture arrangements, corporate governance and M&A. Andy Young supports the team through his work on domestic and cross-border M&A, as well as joint ventures and private equity transactions.

Foot Anstey showcases notable experience in the private equity sector, offering bolt-on M&A for portfolio companies and elsewhere assisting companies with technology-enabled solutions to support portfolio reporting and compliance. Matthew Stoate leads the firm’s corporate department with a particular focus on private equity M&A matters. Chris Worrell leads the corporate advisory practice, handling M&A and group restructurings. Heading the owner-managed business group, which assists clients with various issues through the business, is Duncan Sykes and Ken Lewins. Emma Clayton is a further key contact.

Prominent across corporate finance, private equity and M&A, the team at Michelmores LLP handles a wide variety of mandates across the technology space and venture capital segment, providing particular support to entrepreneurs on innovative matters. The team is co-led by Richard Cobb and Henry Taylor, with Taylor a notable specialist in M&A, investment and buy-out mandates. Alexandra Watson handles portfolio investments, acquisitions and disposals across sustainable infrastructure, energy and natural capital. Francesca Hubbard assists with sales and private equity investments.

Operating across the vast spread of corporate and commercial mandates including M&A, business and asset acquisitions, and franchise work, Steele Raymond LLP executes its offering across distinct corporate and commercial teams. Tim Stone helms the corporate team, notably leading on high-profile M&A deals in addition to advising clients on corporate matters within a wide range of sectors including financial services and specialist care. Paula Eckton leads the commercial department, lending her expertise to commercial contract work covering outsourcing and supply arrangements and distribution and franchise agreements, with a particular focus on the data protection space. Craig Hardman and Nick Davies also contribute to the practice, along with Shaun Guppy.

Lester Aldridge LLP offers significant industry-specific expertise across areas such as real estate and technology, which allows the team to support owner managed businesses across a variety of mandates including corporate M&A, debt and equity fundraisings, as well as commercial agreements. Grant Esterhuizen leads the team with experience across both corporate M&A and commercial matters, with specialist knowledge on vehicle dealerships sector mandates. Dean Drew is notable for his engagement across a full spectrum of matters, ranging from private equity and company early-stage funding to group restructuring and reorganisation programmes. Edward Adamson is recognised for his work on share and asset purchases and sales, through to corporate reorganisations and shareholders’ agreements.

Stephens Scown LLP is renowned for its varied client roster consisting of SMEs and South-West based organisations, as well as longstanding family businesses. The firm is experienced in M&A deals and has a deep specialism in the tourism, mining, finance, healthcare and manufacturing sectors. Giles Dunning leads the team, with continued expertise in M&A transactions especially for financial services players and owner managed businesses. Laurie Trounce leads a strong commercial practice across a diverse range of sectors including food and drink, hospitality and local government. Tim Lane is a further key contact.

Showcasing strength in its handling of complex transactions, the team at Ellis Jones Solicitors LLP supports its client base on a host of mandates ranging from share schemes to management buyouts and corporate governance rectifications. Neil Cook leads the business services department. Wayne Spolander focuses on non-contentious business-related mandates for companies, limited liability partnerships, partnerships and sole traders, covering joint ventures, equity investments and company reorganisation. Diane Pearce handles commercial issues such as franchise agreements, commercial and consumer terms and conditions as well as distribution agreements.

The team at Porter Dodson LLP is well-versed in handling complex corporate and commercial arrangements and negotiations, with notable expertise in matters relating to acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations and equity and debt investments. Evelyn Adfield leads the practice with a varied client roster consisting of entrepreneurs, SMEs, owner-managed businesses and corporates, whom she assists with joint ventures, company reorganisations and shareholder arrangements. David Culshaw advises on M&A, joint ventures, and lending arrangements.

The Spencer West LLP team is noted for its industry sector expertise, ranging across the energy, tourism, and hospitality sectors. Sonya Bassett leads the practice, assisting SMEs in Cornwall and the South West as well as handling mandates for large multi-national corporates. Jo Probert focuses on a spectrum of corporate matters from M&A to private equity, Christian Wilson is regarded as an expert regarding employee ownership trusts, while Sonya Bedford regularly handles renewable energy transactions.

Tozers Solicitors LLP handles matters ranging from local M&A transactions and corporate reorganisations to shareholder agreements and corporate finance matters, particularly among a client roster of SMEs and owner-managed businesses. James Orpin leads the team and is capable of handling matters at any stage of the business lifecycle. Orpin also maintains a specialism in securing exits for shareholders of owner managed businesses. Amy Laver advises on corporate matters including transactional M&A work, MBOs and restructurings, while Rebecca Roberts focuses on transactions in the hospitality, leisure, education, and retail sectors.

The team at Trowers & Hamlins LLP provides advice on a range of corporate and commercial matters across a diverse array of sectors including real estate, technology and construction. The team is led by Stuart Mathews, who specialises in share and asset acquisitions and disposals, alongside elsewhere advising on joint ventures, equity investment arrangements and corporate reorganisations. Dominic Ring is recognised for his focus on equity investments, financial services, and crowdfunding.

Demonstrating key sector specialism across healthcare, farming and retail, the team at Wollens handles a range of corporate and commercial mandates including acquisitions, disposals, and restructurings. Daniel Gresswell leads the team, providing assistance across the full spectrum of the business lifecycle and boasts particular experience in franchising, partnerships, and outsourcing. Hayley Green supports the team with her work on public procurement and public sector funding arrangements as well as business sales and acquisitions.

Frettens LLP shows a particular capability in handling mandates across property-related transactions such as secured lending, property finance, and bridging finance. Karen Edwards leads the corporate and commercial team, while Matthew Fretten supports the practice as managing partner. Zoe Watson is particularly notable for her work on property finance and lending.

Specialising in handling matters in the healthcare sector, GA Solicitors’ client roster consists of SME and owner-managed businesses, for whom it executes sales, mergers, acquisitions and restructurings. James Peterson leads the practice assisting clients on M&A and restructuring matters, while commercial specialist Tony Cusack handles refinancing and securitisation transactions.

The corporate and commercial law department at Murrell Associates LLP handles a range of corporate transactions such as M&A and venture capital. The practice is jointly led by Rebecca Anforth and Henry Maples, with Anforth heading the commercial law practice and Maples leading on the corporate side. Eve Wright is noted for handling matters ranging from due diligence to leveraged M&A deals.

Trethowans LLP provides advice on a range of corporate transactions, particularly M&A deals for clients in sectors such as charity, academia and non-profit. On the commercial side of the practice, the team advises on specialist contracts, ranging from large scale outsourcing and manufacturing agreements, through to complex IP licensing and contracts for IT systems and software. The department is led overall by Nick Gent, while Lucy Gleisner and Jon Stickland head up the corporate and commercial teams respectively. Laura Trapnell is also a key contact.