The Corporate Team at Burnetts has had a strong start to 2021, completing an impressive tally of 10 deals in the space of two months. The last six months also reflect a busy period for the team, advising on transactions with an aggregate value in excess of £115m, many involving local businesses. 

Despite a challenging year for most businesses, with most transactions grinding to a halt 12 months ago, deal activity for the Corporate Team at Burnetts has remained buoyant, and since 1 January, the team has completed the following transactions:-

  • Acquisition of Border Barriers and Border Show Services by Border Group Limited, and its acquisition of certain intellectual property rights from PolyJohn Enterprises Corporation.
  • Acquisition of Patricia J Arnold & Co. in Hexham by Armstrong Watson.
  • Sale of a Lake District Group of veterinary practices to a National Veterinary Group.
  • Acquisition of certain of the business and assets of CAD Works Engineering by Mitchell Dryers (Kingmoor) Limited.
  • Sale of shareholding in one of Cumbria’s leading professional businesses.
  • Advising London-based First Bridge Group on the legal aspects of an angel investment fundraising.
  • Advising on the £multi-million sale of a controlling interest in a leisure business with an asset base valued at around £50million.
  • Disposal of Alneburgh and H.S. Dobie pharmacies in Whitehaven.
  • Advising on the transfer of a holiday park business.
  • Acquisition of a commercial and residential property portfolio in Yorkshire by Chieftain Properties Limited.

In Cumbria: Anna Lovett (Employment Senior Associate), Atif Salim (Corporate Trainee Solicitor), Becky Brook (Corporate Solicitor). Vaughan Jones (Head of Corporate). Rebecca Davidson (Commercial Property Associate), Michael Walby (Corporate Partner), Stephen Kirk (Corporate Paralegal).Anna Lovett (Employment Senior Associate), Atif Salim (Corporate Trainee Solicitor), Becky Brook (Corporate Solicitor). Vaughan Jones (Head of Corporate). Rebecca Davidson (Commercial Property Associate), Michael Walby (Corporate Partner), Stephen Kirk (Corporate Paralegal).

A wider multi-disciplinary team from Burnetts also advised on property, employment, pension, and banking issues on the transactions. Commenting on this successful period for the Burnetts Corporate team, Michael Walby, Partner commented:

“We are extremely proud to have advised our clients on these completions, made even more challenging due to the circumstances created by COVID-19. Completing 10 deals in the space of a couple of months required a tremendous effort by all of us, and we can only deliver transactions like these due to the strength of our team. The recent appointments of Becky Brook and Stephen Kirk in the last six months has further strengthened the team.

Whilst we work across the UK, it is particularly pleasing is that most of these transactions involved Cumbrian businesses, ranging from larger companies to SMEs and family-run businesses. It is also pleasing that we worked alongside other regional advisers on a number of these deals. Clients tell us they instruct us because of our hands-on/ can-do approach, and delivering these transactions to these timescales demonstrates this. It also demonstrates that we are here to support local businesses, and provide the full range of commercial legal advice across a wide range of sectors and transaction types.” 

Vaughan Jones, Head of Corporate Law, added:

“Completing a wide variety of transactions like this within agreed timescales, and against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic is an achievement of which we are all justifiably proud. ”

Delivering results for Business

In Cumbria: Michael Walby and Robin Graham discussing a current acquisition Michael Walby and Robin Graham discussing a current acquisition

Burnetts have advised entrepreneur Robin Graham on a number of business transactions, including on recent investments into local companies.   Robin, former owner of Carlisle Brass commented:-

“I’ve used Burnetts for a number of years on several transactions, and I find their advice first-rate across the whole team.  What sets them apart as lawyers is their experience, commercial approach, and team ethic.  When it comes to business, they just ‘get it’, which is a real advantage.   When looking at a transaction, they often challenge me and say, “we can do better”, and more often than not we do.  It’s great going into negotiations knowing they are on your side of the table, and importantly, we have a few laughs along the way”.

Burnetts Corporate team is ranked in Tier 1 by Legal 500 and is the highest ranked Cumbrian Corporate team in Chambers & Partners. Each of the partners in the Corporate team is ranked individually by the guides too. 

In Cumbria: