Law firm's private equity team hails ‘strong year’

An international law firm has reported “2024 as one of the strongest years” in its private equity practice after it advised on deals worth more than £800 million.

Womble Bond Dickinson (WBD) played a “major role” in a number of high-profile deals, including global asset manager ICG’s investment in estate and letting agency group Lomond.

The Edinburgh, London and Newcastle-based firm advised on Lomond’s acquisitions of estate agents Kinleigh Folkard & Howard and Chase Evans, in London, Miles & Barr, in Kent, as well as Charters, in Surrey and Hampshire, helping expand Lomond’s UK footprint to more than 60,000 properties.

Meanwhile, WBD advised on a range of investments across the retail, hospitality and leisure industries, including supporting private equity firm Piper on investments into Inside Travel Group and Martin Randall Travel, while also advising on a £15 million investment in pet food brand Pure Pet Food by Felix Capital and Mercia Ventures.

Other major deals included the sale of Cutwel to Inflexion, the buyout of MRO+ Solutions by NVM and LDC’s investment in LendingMetrics and its £12 million investment into tech-enabled and ESG-focused water management consultancy Waterscan.

Simon Pilling, head of private equity, said: “There is no doubt 2024 was one of the strongest years in recent memory for the private equity team in regards to getting deals across the line and supporting our clients to achieve further growth and return on their investments.

"The sheer number of deals, as well as the significance of many of them, not only on the organisations involved, but the markets in which they operate, is incredibly encouraging. 

“We're proud to have played a major role in these transactions and we look forward to continuing this trajectory of growth in 2025."

Womble Bond Dickinson has further offices in Bristol, Leeds, Plymouth, Southampton and at the Wilton Centre, near Redcar.

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