Shoosmiths corporate partner moving on
Kieran Toal, a partner in law firm Shoosmiths’ Manchester corporate team is moving to Pinsent Masons.
Toal, who specialises in all aspects of corporate work, particularly private equity transactions, is expected to take up the new role around May.
Prior to joining Shoosmiths in June 2013, Toal spent over 10 years in the corporate team at Addleshaw Goddard, which included a period on secondment as an investment banker at Altium Capital.
Before university and qualifying as a lawyer, he spent five years as a full-time footballer at Manchester United Football Club, the final three years as a professional.
Toal’s move fills a gap for Pinsents, following the departure of Andy Phillips at the start of the year to lead Eversheds’ private equity group in the North West.
It leaves Shoosmiths with just one private equity partner in Karen Procter, somewhat weakening its position according to those in the marketplace.
Vaqas Farooq, head of Shoosmiths’ Manchester office, told TheBusinessDesk: “2017 will be landmark year for Shoosmiths in Manchester with our move to a stunning new home at the XYZ building at Spinningfields and also with a number of new partners joining shortly.
“Shoosmiths was ranked top of the 2016 Experian MarketIQ UK & Ireland M&A league tables to become the UK’s leading legal adviser by deal volume and remains one of the most prolific and active legal advisers to the private equity sector. We wish Kieran well for the future.”
Gregg Davison, head of private equity at Pinsent Masons, said: “Within the last six months our team advised AMC on two major deals – its US$1bn acquisition of Odeon & UCI cinemas and its US$900m acquisition of Nordic Cinema Group – helping it to significantly enhance its market position in Europe.
“These transactions really help to demonstrate the strength of our private equity practice and the international nature of much of the work we are doing.
“We have a really strong team that is well positioned to respond to both local and international market demands and we welcome the added expertise that Kieran will bring to further strengthen our private equity capability in Manchester and the UK in particular.”
