Law firm comes out on top for M&A activity in first quarter

The corporate and commercial team at the Birmingham offices of law firm Mills & Reeve has been recognised as the most active advisor of merger and acquisitions (M&A) in the Midlands in the first quarter of 2018.

The report, launched quarterly, nationally and regionally by information services company Experian Market IQ, saw the Birmingham team rise to the top of the most active legal and professional services firms in the region after supporting the completion of eight deals in the first three months of the year.

While the report suggests a 38% fall in M&A activity in the Midlands compared to the first quarter of 2017, Mills & Reeve continues to support a growing number and variety of clients.

Among the deals completed are the acquisition of Midlands-based jewellery manufacturer Western Beamor by German client Heimerle + Meule GmbH; the purchase of 22 elderly care homes from Bupa by entrepreneur Sanjeev Kanoria; the management buyout of affordable housing business Rentplus backed by Enigma Holdings; a series of acquisitions for investment fund Elaghmore including Kesslers and Priden Engineering.

There were also various acquistions for mental health provider Elysium Healthcare including the acquisition of Broadham Care and a series of acquisitions on behalf of New Zealand based skincare provider FAB.

Peter McLintock, corporate partner at Mills & Reeve Birmingham, said: “Mills & Reeve is proud to have our recent successes recognised in the Experian Market IQ rankings, which is testament to the strength of the corporate and commercial team here in Birmingham. We’ve hit the ground running in 2018, having completed a collection of significant deals for clients across the UK and beyond, reflecting the continued confidence in the current M&A market.

“In Birmingham, both in the corporate team and firm-wide, we have focused heavily on consolidating our position and capitalising on the opportunities for us to grow and evolve. The range and quality of our client base is rising each year and this is a demonstration of the talent we have in the team and their commitment to ensuring we remain one of the top law firms in the Midlands.

“With a number of further deals already in the pipeline, we look forward to continuing this success into the second quarter of the year and further supporting the vibrant business community in Birmingham and the Midlands.”