Legal news: Consolidation continues; AG; Hugh Jones
CONSOLIDATION among smaller practices in the region is continuing with two deals in the last week alone.
This week, Droylsden-based Almond Solicitors has acquired Hugh Joseph Solicitors on Heaton Moor Road, in a move that will strengthen both firms’ combined 30 years of legal experience.
Its combined team of 25 will offer a broad range of services from personal injury claims to family, employment law and conveyancing services.
Greg Almond, who founded Almond Solicitors four years ago, said: “I love the Heatons, having lived here for five years. Our aim now is to offer a mix of experience, all delivered with a modern approach. We want to provide a one-stop legal solution for residents, small local businesses and sole traders, to make sure they’ve got everything they need on their doorstep.”
Hugh Joseph, director of Hugh Joseph Solicitors, said: “We have been serving the Heatons for almost 20 years and this is a hugely exciting development for us. Although the name and location won’t change, our passionate team will be able to provide an even broader range of professional, friendly and affordable legal services to our Heatons neighbours.”
Meanwhile, in Trafford, J Arnold Hancock & Co, a practice based in Stretford, has become part of Altrincham firm McHale & Co Solicitors.
Hancock was founded in 1929 by Mr Hancock. Robert Thorpe who joined the practice in 1965 as an office junior and qualified as a solicitor in 1975 is going to remain with the enlarged practice.
The office in Barton Road will continue as J Arnold Hancock & Co at its present site with investment in the facilities taking place over the next number of months, McHale & Co said.
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MANCHESTER solicitors Hugh Jones has won a national award for its work with some of the most vulnerable people in society.
The court of protection specialist picked up the vulnerable client adviser of the year accolade at the 10th annual STEP Private Client Awards.
Hugh Jones Solicitors beat off tough competition from Genders & Partners, Martin Terrell of Thomson Snell & Passmore, Richard Williams of Roma Mitchell Chambers and Withers Elder law team to the win the award.
Hugh Jones Solicitors, which was set up in 2013, is the UK’s leading independent court of protection specialist.
Founder Hugh Jones said: “It is a great honour to win the award particularly against such strong competition. We have been supporting vulnerable people, particularly those with a mental incapacity, their families and their advisers for many years and pride ourselves on always putting the needs of our clients first.”
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ADDLESHAW Goddard’s private equity team won ‘Deal Structuring team of the Year’, at the 2015 Unquote awards.
The firm’s team completed more than 40 PE deals – including 13 in the North West.
Manchester-based partner Paul Medlicott, who leads the firm’s private equity practice in the North West, said: “The award recognises the market leading position of our private equity team both nationally and locally.
“Our proudly Mancunian heritage and drive means we work tirelessly to support Manchester’s position as second only to London as the most significant city for private equity in Europe. The quality of the transactions that we have worked on in the past year (including Accrol Papers, Bifold, Bright Blue Foods, Brookson, Concept Life Sciences, CTC Aviation, MiniCam, Sykes Cottages, Travel Counsellors and Waterfall) are testament to that.”
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Brabners has maintained its position as the most active M&A legal adviser in the North West so far this year and one of the top ten most active in the UK, in an independent report by Experian.
During the first nine months of the year, the firm’s corporate team has advised on 30 M&A transactions in the North West and a total of 57 M&A transactions across the UK.
Following a strong first half, the third quarter of 2015 saw Brabners advise on 16 deals throughout the UK. The firm secured a top 10 ranking in Scotland and Yorkshire and was also ranked as the most active M&A adviser in Wales.
David Bowcock, partner and head of corporate in Manchester, said: “We’re continuing to see corporates across the UK with a renewed determination and impetus to grow and this is reflected in the high volume of deals we’ve worked on throughout the year so far. Q3 saw the team particularly busy outside of the North West, reflecting our growing reputation across the UK M&A advisory market.”
Mark Rathbone, his Liverpool counterpart added: “While many expected to see the effects of a mid-year slowdown, it’s encouraging to see businesses across a wide variety of sectors continue to act on long-term investment plans and acquisition strategies. We’re looking forward to continue working with some of the UK’s most ambitious businesses as they look to close deals throughout the final quarter of 2015.”
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THE buoyant market for overseas investment into the student property market has led to a record month of completions for Chafes Solicitors’ investment property team.
Chafes, which has offices in Wilmslow, Alderley Edge and New Mills, completed nearly 500 transactions in September.
The firm’s completions were largely concentrated on student accommodation in Liverpool and Sheffield, developed by Manchester-based Select Property Group under its Vita Student brand.
Sarah Waddington, head of investment property at Chafes Solicitors, said: “We have acted on behalf of 465 purchasers of student accommodation in two Vita Student developments at Crosshall Street in Liverpool and Telephone House in Sheffield.
Our clients are largely based in the Middle East and Far East, with UK and other globally located investors also snapping up investments.”
