Regional law firm advises on transactions worth over £270m as deal activity soars
West Yorkshire-based law firm Schofield Sweeney continued to see an increase in deal activity in 2018, reporting a 108% increase in transaction activity and a 163% rise in deal value.
The corporate team advised on over 70 transactions worth over £270m, including acquisitions, disposals, joint ventures and forms of equity finance both nationally and internationally.
Among the corporate team’s highlights was the sale of Royal Armouries International to The Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, advising C4X Discovery Holdings on its £10.4m fundraise and EMIS Group on its acquisitions of Dovetail Digital Limited and its outstanding minority stake in RX Systems.
Adrian Ballam, corporate partner Schofield Sweeney, said: “Looking back, 2018 (the firm’s 20th anniversary) appears to have been the year when the business world stirred and finally decided to do all of the things it had been putting off for some time.
“The firm as a whole, and particularly our corporate department, have been very busy and, given the size of the team, we were well placed to take advantage of this upward curve. This is borne out in the figures, which clearly reflect a very busy and successful year”.
Steven Millward, fellow corporate partner, added: “Our corporate team is now twenty strong, including eight partners, so we have the strength in depth and experience to service all types of transactions.
“2019 promises more uncertain times with Brexit on the horizon, but we approach this year with momentum and optimism. We have already completed a couple of transactions in 2019, getting the year off to a positive start”.
The firm’s corporate team comprises 20 lawyers based from its three offices in Leeds, Bradford and Huddersfield.
