![Roy Botterill](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/09/Roy_Botterill_Background-scaled.jpg)
Corporate and commercial: Elsewhere in East Midlands
Hall of Fame
The lawyers at the very top of the profession, widely known and respected by peers and clients for their longstanding involvement in market-leading work.
![Roy Botterill](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/09/Roy_Botterill_Background-scaled.jpg)
![Gerald Couldrake](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/10/Gerald-Couldrake.png)
Hall of fameHowes Percival LLP
Gerald has primarily been a corporate and commercial lawyer and advisor to privately owned businesses in and around Northamptonshire. His practice has included advising on: corporate finance transactions of buying and selling and reorganising businesses, joint ventures, commercial contracts, strategy and shareholder/boardroom disputes. He has become the trusted advisor to many substantial family and owner managed businesses. He also has extensive experience of advising members’ clubs, being the company secretary to The British Racing Drivers’ Club and to Guards Polo Club.
Gerald qualified in the City in 1985 and has been a corporate and commercial solicitor at Howes Percival in Northampton since 1986. He joined the partnership in 1989, and in his career has been head of the Northampton office, head of the corporate and commercial team across the firm, a member of the firm’s management board and was latterly the senior partner until he retired from the partnership in April 2022. He now
practices part time as a Consultant within the firm’s corporate, commercial and banking team, still based in Northampton.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
![Ed Nurse](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/07/D3042-178-scaled.jpg)
![Matt Worsnop](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/07/D3042-212-scaled.jpg)
![Keith Gilbert](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2022/04/Keith-Gilbert-2-Website.jpg)
Keystone Law
Keith is a corporate lawyer who advises on acquisitions, disposals and other corporate transactions across various sectors, advising corporates, owners, management teams and funders.
Several of Keith’s clients are well-known large businesses and therefore he is used to working alongside in-house legal teams to plan and execute transactions and adding value by ensuring a proactive, focussed delivery across all service lines.
Keith also advises on high-value commercial contracts and strategic ventures.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
![Miles Barnes](/cdn-cgi/image/width=256/https://www.legal500.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2023/10/Miles-Barnes.png)
Howes Percival LLP
Miles is a Director in the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team at Howes Percival. He advises businesses on a range of commercial contracts (including terms & conditions, supply, distribution, manufacturing and franchising agreements) as well as advising on corporate transactions (including acquisitions, disposals, reorganisations and joint ventures).
Miles has a particular interest in the food and drink sector, advising businesses on manufacturing, purchasing, marketing and distribution agreements for a range of household names and he also has expertise in e-commerce; including advising a specialist cyber-security firm on the roll out of its Software as a Service platform; and advising on the legal terms for e-commerce marketplaces.
Prior to joining the Corporate, Commercial and Banking team Miles completed two in-house secondments with major multinationals and also spent time working for a local authority Legal team, giving him considerable first-hand experience in Commercial, Intellectual Property and Public law issues.