Corporate and commercial: Liverpool
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.
Hall of fameHill Dickinson LLP
With almost 30 years’ experience as a corporate transactional lawyer advising a wide range of public companies, large privately owned companies and SMEs, Jonathan has excellent experience in a wide variety of sectors, and a wide variety of clients undertaking transactions in the UK and abroad. Jonathan deals with all forms of corporate transactions including: Mergers Acquisitions Disposals Private equity Public equity Joint ventures Re-organisations His experience includes: Stobart Group - sale of 51 % of Eddie Stobart to DBay Capital Bibby Line Group - sale of Bibby Ship Management Edward Billington and Son Limited - acquisition of TSC Foods and Dunkleys Limited Cammell Laird - acquisition of A & P Carr's Group PLC - acquisition of Meneba Holdings including Class 1 transaction Cammell Laird Gibraltar - sale Highneal Group – section 110 re-organisation Benfield Sports - sale to IMG Swinton Group - sale of NI business Connect Airways/ Stobart Group – acquisition of Flybe Group plc Huaxiang Corporation - acquisition of Lawrence Automotive Systems Labelling – sale to Americk ( NI )
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Weightmans LLP
Laurence is a commercial partner and head of competition law.
Laurence advises clients on competition law, including merger control and the control of anti-competitive agreements and practices. Laurence has successfully handled many high profile investigations and inquiries by the European Commission and the Competition and Markets Authority in relation to a wide range of sectors as well as appearing before the specialist competition law court, the Competition Appeal Tribunal, the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court on competition law matters.
Laurence also advises on the new National Security & Investment Act regime and its impact on different types of transaction, obtaining clearances where appropriate from the UK Government Investment Security Unit.
Laurence is rated by the Legal 500 as a “leading individual” for competition law.
Weightmans LLP
John became Weightmans' Managing Partner in 2013 and was re-elected for the second time in 2018 until 2021. Prior to that, he was Weightmans' Commercial Director for 6 years, overseeing the 300% growth in that part of the business during that time. John joined Weightmans having been a CEO of a listed public company in the entertainment industry. During his time on Weightmans' board, John has overseen the firm's acquisitions, opening of new offices, overhauled the partnership remuneration structure and seen the firm's overall revenues rise from £43.8m in 2007 to £100m. Consistently accredited both in the Legal 500 and Chambers UK as a leading individual in corporate work, clients have recognised John as having a "pragmatic and commercially realistic approach", and noted his "extensive experience of corporate transactional, corporate structures and commercial contract work". John's clients range from technology companies and IT suppliers to a variety of private and public sector concerns who outsource the supply of technology and provision of IT services. John has extensive experience in preparing and negotiating innovative contracting arrangements which best fit the specific needs of our clients. He spent 3 years in industry as managing director of a plc technology company so has an authentic perspective of clients’ commercial needs.
Hill Dickinson LLP
Matt Noon has built a strong and growing reputation in both the local and national advisory community. Matt is also a Hill Dickinson LLP Board member as well as being a Board member of Professional Liverpool. Matt has recently led and worked on a number of high profile national transactions including, but not limited to:- Advising the management team of JLA (a leading critical asset supply and services business for laundry, catering and heating in the UK) on the acquisition of JLA by the international private equity firm, Cinven (Confidential deal value was £640M. Only the value is confidential and our role is otherwise publishable).- Advising Carr’s Group Plc on the acquisition for £8.5m of Animax Limited and Clinimax Limited (specialists in research, development and manufacturing of animal health products); - Advising the company and management team of the indoor climbing business, the Climbing Hangar, in the £3m of growth capital investment from NVM Private Equity; and- Advising the shareholders of Fieldway Supplies Limited in relation to the £2m investment from Foresight.- Advising the shareholders of We Are Discounts Limited on the MBO of WADL.
Hill Dickinson LLP
Sue is a legal director in our corporate team. Also holding the corproate finance qualification from the Institue of Chartered Accountants, Sue's time is predominantly spent leading acquisitions and disposals and providing strategic advice.Sue handles acquisitions and disposals of companies and businesses, corporate re-organisations and advises on company constitutional matters including shareholder issues and corporate governance. With a client base ranging from serial entrepreneurs to FTSE listed companies, she also frequently advises non-UK entities in connection with investment into UK companies.Sue has a lot of experience of working with manufacturing, production and processing companies through which she has gained a thorough understanding of the legal issues they face, which is particularly useful in resolving problematic due diligence issues. Frequently leading large and complex transactions, Sue has developed strong project management skills. She has also worked for clients in professional services (solicitors, surveyors) and in the football sector, including Everton Football Club and Blackburn Rovers.
Next Generation Partners
Junior partners with significant recognition from clients and peers in the market and key roles on multiple matters.
Weightmans LLP
Michael is a Partner in the corporate and commercial team and leads the Owner Managed Business Sector in Liverpool, having joined the firm in November 2019.
Michael advises on a range of corporate matters, including mergers and acquisitions, private equity and venture capital investments, joint ventures, corporate restructurings and general corporate governance matters. He has particular expertise in acting for owner managed businesses, from inception through to receipt of investment, buy and build strategies and exit.
Michael’s experience includes advising listed companies, private companies, private equity houses, management teams and entrepreneurs.
Michael is ranked as a Rising Star in The Legal 500, Corporate and Commercial: Liverpool.
Michael’s recent work highlights include:
Advising the shareholders of Ventcroft Limited in their sale to NKT Group.
Acting on behalf of the Management Team of Vivify Venues Limited on their receipt of investment from Arete Capital Partners.
Advising the shareholders of MD Insurance Services Limited in their sale to HSB Engineering Insurance Limited, a subsidiary of Munich Re.
Acting on behalf of Orange Property Services (Liverpool) Limited in its acquisition of Fit Property Lettings and Management Limited.
Advising the shareholders of Tuffx Processed Glass Limited on their sale to and receipt of investment from Alcuin Capital Partners.
Advising the shareholders of Design Reality Limited on their sale to Full Support Healthcare Limited.
Advising the shareholders of EDP Engineering on their sale to RSK Group.
Advising the shareholders of Online Legal Limited in their sale to Blume
Acting on behalf of River Capital in their investment in Baron’s (Fylde Coast) Supplies Limited
Leading associates
Rising stars with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
