Noted for its ‘top quality commercial advice,’ the corporate M&A team at Marriott Harrison LLP has extensive experience advising clients from a range of industries, including technology, life sciences, and industrials, on mergers, acquisitions, and disposals, as well as private equity and venture capital deals. Leading the group is Jonathan Leigh-Hunt, who is sought after by private equity houses, management teams, and investee companies for advisory services regarding acquisitions and disposals, and venture capital and private equity matters. Ian Morris stands out for his expertise leading on leveraged buy-outs, M&A, and exits, while David Baverstock is well-regarded for his aptitude in multijurisdictional M&A transactions. The practice also benefits from the proficiency of Simon Charles, who covers M&A, equity financing, and stock market admissions, and Daisy Divoká, whose practice extends to M&A, disposals, and restructurings.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘A diverse team with broad skill sets providing top quality commercial advice in an efficient manner.’

  • ‘Daisy Divoká and Ian Morris are all commercial, personable and responsive.’

  • ‘They have an excellent partner and associate team and cover all the key specialities that an SME might have. The advice always seems accurate and helpful.’

  • ‘The people are what make this firm. They have a strong balance between legal and commercial advice.’

  • ‘From the start of a deal, this team works extremely closely and collaboratively. They spend time to properly understand the brief, will make suggestions to improve the exercise. The lead partner, with a strong sense of personal responsibility, ensures that the team works within deadlines.’

  • ‘Daisy Divoká takes the time to understand the client's team, strategy, and values. This understanding is crucial when dealing with transactions. Her experience as a corporate finance lawyer and her client-friendly approach are exemplary. Daisy inspires trust and communicates in a clear and open manner.’

  • ‘They worked very well as a team - inter-changing according to the ebbs and flows of the transaction, according to seniority and the demands of each phase, despite which we never faulted them for communication between themselves or with us. We always felt that the lead partner, Ian Morris, was genuinely leading.’

  • ‘Ian Morris was calm, authoritative, and commercially astute. Daisy Divoká was responsive, thorough, and excellent with detail.’

Key clients

  • Chiltern Capital LLP
  • The Fulham Shore Plc
  • Beardow Adams Holdings Ltd
  • Arq Limited
  • The sellers of OfficeRnD Limited
  • Novastone Capital Advisers GmbH
  • The Partners of NelsonsLaw LLP
  • Niterra EMEA GmbH
  • Volt Bidco Limited
  • The shareholders of Oysta Technology
  • Cross Assets Ltd
  • Starlims UK Limited
  • Audiotonix Group
  • Liberate Wealth Limited
  • I@D UK Limited
  • Lagercrantz UK Limited

Work highlights

  • Advised The Fulham Shore plc on its GBP 100,000,000 acquisition by Great Sea Kitchens through a court-approved scheme of arrangement.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Jonathan Leigh-Hunt

Other key lawyers

Ian Morris, David Baverstock, Simon Charles, Daisy Divoká, David Strong