England - North West • Corporate and commercial

Shoosmiths LLP

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The corporate team at Shoosmiths LLP regularly acts for large international companies, with significant experience in public company matters and cross-border acquisitions in the insurance sector. Co-heads Richard Millington and Elia Montorio focus on reorganisations, private equity and venture capital work. Fellow co-head Luke Stubbs leads the commercial offering with expertise in payment services and fintech. Andrew Millar provides corporate support across the retail, technology, media and sports sectors. Suzanne Taylor advises clients on financial services issues ranging from regulatory compliance and consumer credit issues to contractual arrangements.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘We dealt direct with Elia Montorio and her team, who had good experience dealing with international companies and gave us a really good personal service.’

  • ‘Elia Montorio is the kind of lawyer you would trust your M&A deal and your kids to. She has your back 100%, does a great job of ensuring you are getting the quality of service that you want, able to pull favours/resources at short notice. She will source her best teams for your deals and fight hard on your behalf. She has been both a great work partner and mentor for me personally too.’

  • ‘The practice has an excellent reputation and provides a first class service. The are a proactive practice and go above and beyond to ensure clients get the best advice. Shoosmiths are unique in that they are a large firm, but still maintain a hands-on approach. I have worked with the team on several transactions and it’s always been a pleasure to work with them. They also provide excellent value for money when compared to the law firms I have worked with.’

  • ‘Elia Montorio is an excellent lawyer. Technically exceptional, but also very commercial understanding of what it takes to get a deal over the line. She is outstanding at guiding clients through the legal jargon and highlighting the key commercial risks so clients can make an informed decision. She is also very personable and hard working, which is a unique trait amongst corporate partners.'

  • 'I would recommend Elia and her team to clients without hesitation.’

Key clients

  • Whaivu Holdings Limited
  • B&M Bargains plc
  • Apex Partners SA
  • Euro Garages
  • Sports Direct
  • Wilkie Farr & Gallagher
  • Door & Joinery Solutions Limited
  • Avant Homes Limited
  • Tudor Group Limited
  • Moorfield Group
  • Peakbridge VC
  • Jensten Group Limited
  • MVI Vehicle Integration
  • French Connection
  • Zip Co Limited (listed on AUS)
  • Hedges Direct Group Ltd
  • Wraith Holdings International Limited
  • Hallam Land Management Limited
  • Matillion Limited
  • Fissara Limited
  • Sandcastle Care Limited
  • Radii Planet Group Limited
  • Infex Therapeutics Limited
  • Crown Golf Limited
  • Lingit A.S.
  • Alcidion UK Limited
  • Compusoft GB Limited
  • MIP Holdings Limited
  • Thinksmart Limited
  • ABN Amro Bank NV
  • N Brown Group Plc
  • Manchester City FC Limited
  • Cellnex

Work highlights

  • Advised AIM traded Thinksmart Limited on English law matters in connection with its acquisition of Tuscan Equity Pty Ltd by way of scheme of arrangement.
  • Advised existing key client Moorfield Group Limited on a series of cross-border, time-sensitive disposals totaling £200,000,000.
  • Advised a leading UK vehicle finance business on the procurement of a new core system and related implementation services.

Lawyers

Leading individuals

Andrew Millar

Andrew Millar

Shoosmiths LLP

Andrew is a corporate partner whose clients include public and private companies, investors and management teams. Andrew has extensive experience of running local and cross border transactions and client relationships. He is experienced in helping his clients to identify, prepare for and resolve their legal issues, whether through the provision of company law advice or in leading companies, from technology start-ups to listed companies, through complex corporate transactions. Andrew’s particular expertise covers company law advice, mergers and acquisitions, equity capital markets transactions, takeovers and group reorganisations. Recent transactions include: advising Datix on its acquisition of a business from Health Matrix; advising LDC on sale of ByBox to Francisco Partners; advising Ikon Science Limited on its sale to Great Hill Partners; advising a local authority on its corporate joint venture to regenerate a housing estate which will involve the construction of circa 2,500 new homes; advising AMR Centre Limited on a fund raising; advising Gaist Holdings Limited on its investment from BGF; and advising the sellers of Verpihy Limited on its sale to Davies Group.

Elia Montorio

Elia Montorio

Shoosmiths LLP

Elia Montorio is the head of the North West Corporate team and national head of M&A at Shoosmiths, having joined as one of its senior partners in March 2022. Elia was previously a corporate partner at a global law firm, where she spent just over 28 years, ranked for many consecutive years as No.1 in deal volume in the UK, Europe and globally (Mergermarket). She practices in all aspects of corporate law, including M&A, complex reorganisations and corporate venture arrangements but with a particular focus on international cross-border transactions. She is also known for successfully managing international corporate law matters and global client relationships. Elia has been described as a very experienced, pragmatic and client-orientated lawyer, who listens to her clients and their needs. She is a recommended leading lawyer in Legal 500 and is described as 'brilliant', and an 'exceptional deal counsel'. Elia is often cited as one of the most influential and powerful businesswomen in the UK, having been included as one of the Top 50 most powerful Businesswomen (Northern Power Women), voted for four consecutive years as one of the Top 100 most influential businesswomen in the North of England (Insider, 2014-2017), won Corporate Leader of the Year award (2018, Forward Ladies) and was selected by Cambridge Judge Business School as “one of the women internationally leading the charge in the future of law”. Elia's experience includes advising on: • English law governed transaction on the sale of CEE group by listed international company. • Acquisition of Canadian-HQ international robotics group by FTSE 100 global company. • Sale of fire safety UK company to listed Swedish company, Lagercrantz Group. • Acquisition of Danish-HQ international robotics business by FTSE 100 global company. • Investment and acquisition into a UK based e-commerce and retail skincare business by the private equity arm of French leading cosmetics/skincare brand. • Swedish-based listed global company on its acquisition of a UK-based online cosmetics retailer. • Co-operative Bank plc on the corporate aspects of the sale and outsource of its mortgage book. • Sale of perfume speciality chemicals international business Fragrance Oils plc to Swiss group, Givaudan SA. • The African Coast to Europe cable consortium of around 19 West African telecom operators together with Orange France on the corporate aspects of an unprecedented, ground-breaking project for international telecoms capacity. • South African listed company, Ascendis Health, on its acquisition of global pharmaceutical group, Remedica. • Online retailer on its IPO and its international expansion. • Global corporate on its multi-jurisdictional reorganisation including US, UK, Netherlands and Ireland. • Reorganisation of a Fortune 500 business in multiple jurisdictions with merger, sale and liquidation transactions in over 16 jurisdictions in EMEA. • £1+ billion buy-back of shares of UK private company.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Elia Montorio, Richard Millington, Luke Stubbs

Other key lawyers

Andrew Millar, Suzanne Taylor