Brabners named region’s most active M&A legal adviser

Brabners has been named the North West’s most active M&A legal adviser after advising on 61 transactions across the region during 2015.

In the latest MarketIQ report from information services group Experian, the corporate law firm came seventh in the UK in terms of deal volume with 97 M&A transactions completed, a 23% year-on-year increase in activity.

Brabners, which operates offices in Liverpool, Manchester and Preston, also ranked joint second in Wales for deal volume.

Partner David Bowcock, the firm’s Manchester-based head of corporate, said: “Our position in the league table reflects another busy year, which saw our corporate practice instructed across a diverse spread of sectors demonstrating our growing reputation in an increasingly active market.

“In particular it was a strong year for AIM-listed clients, with a number of high-profile deals completed, and we have a strong pipeline of work taking us into 2016.”

Q4 2015 saw the corporate team at Brabners advise clients in sectors such as real estate, construction and business services. The firm advised the AIM-listed office services provider Restore as it acquired its Wincanton Records Management in a £55.7m deal, as well as recruitment firm Impellam Group plc on its acquisition of healthcare company Global Group (UK) Ltd for circa £37m.

Brabners’ Liverpool-based head of corporate, partner Mark Rathbone, commented: “To be ranked as the North West’s most active M&A legal adviser for the past year is a fantastic start to 2016.

“Not only is it indicative of the strength of our team, but also reflects the firm’s reputation for corporate work across the UK M&A market.”

Mark continued: “International deals were a feature of the 2015 market, with the UK representing a strategic foothold for US and Far Eastern corporates targeting Europe.

“As such, all eyes will be on the negotiations around the UK’s membership of the EU in 2016, and its potential to impact international deal activity.”

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