Weightmans

   Kirsty is a technically skilled, highly competent solicitor, offering advice to well-known businesses such as Camerons Brewery Limited, BGF, Northumbrian Water Limited and Crafter's Companion Limited on matters including acquisitions and disposals, private equity investment, general company law matters e.g. corporate governance issues, compliance and shareholder agreements.  Kirsty has experience in acquisitions and disposals of private companies with both local and national presence.  Kirsty also advises on private equity investment, including dealing with early stage investment or subsequent supplementary funding, advising both venture capital funds and companies. Kirsty has further demonstrated her business acumen within the Financial Services sector, advising on a number of mergers and acquisitions.  Kirsty has contributed content for two publications aimed at the Financial Services sector, How are advisers adapting to a changing environment? and, more recently, Fintech - Embracing the future, adapting to innovation.  Demonstrating a mature commercial awareness, Kirsty understands the environmental pressures facing the legal industry and is aware of the changing needs of the client. Delivering above and beyond the level of service the client expects, Kirsty's pride in her work ensures she goes that extra mile to understand the needs of the client and their business and enables her to deliver a service that is truly supportive of the client's objectives and the desired outcome.  It is testimony to Kirsty's legal ability that the sectors she has advised so early in her career make up an enviable list and include banking and financial services, education, utilities and energy, leisure, technology, healthcare and construction.  Kirsty's growing reputation within the market was recognised when she was named the North East's Emerging Dealmaker of the Year for 2019 at the Insider Dealmakers Awards and enhanced further by Legal 500 in which she was cited as "definitely one to watch."

Duncan is well-known amongst the North East business community for providing strong, pragmatic legal advice on a whole range of corporate transactions, including acquisitions and disposals, as well as private equity and venture capital transactions. In addition to his experience of working in national law firms, Duncan also spent two years working in-house at a leading private equity firm. Specialising in the technology, financial services, waste and leisure sectors, Duncan’s impressive client list includes BGF, LDC,  Perwyn, Camerons Brewery Limited, Transmission Dynamics, Broadband Satellite Services, Bluetree, Perspective, Praesto Consulting and SaleCycle Limited. As one of the North-East’s 'go to' lawyers, Duncan’s track record in providing solutions-driven, bespoke advice combined with his ability to engage with clients in a business context, ensures that his clients feel supported at every stage, from instruction through to completion. The loyal client base Duncan has built is testimony to both his professional, approachable demeanour and his ability to provide outstanding advice to business owners who truly value the personal service they receive. Duncan is an ‘Acritas Star – independently rated lawyer’, an accolade given to those identified as a client-nominated, stand-out lawyer in private practice. Duncan was also awarded Corporate Lawyer of the Year at the North East Business Insider Dealmakers Awards 2022. Recent experience:   Advising BGF on its investments in Arc Trinova, Broadband Satellite Services and J &  B Recycling and on its subsequent exits from Arc Trinova to Permira-backed Quotient, from J & B to Urbaser and from Total Recycling Services to Biffa Advising LDC on its investments in Cleveland Containers and ScarlettAbbott Advising Ramarketing & PR on its investment from NorthEdge Advising Datum360 on its investment from BGF and on the subsequent sale of Datum360 to NASDAQ listed Autodesk.Advising Praesto Consulting on a number of acquisitions

   Paul specialises in acquisitions and disposals of companies and businesses for both owner managed business and large corporate clients. He advises on private equity investments, particularly in relation to early stage companies, and provides general funding advice to companies, including advice on banking facilities and security documentation.  In addition, Paul provides general corporate governance advice to companies and directors and assists companies with their annual compliance and statutory obligations under the Companies Act.  Paul provides advice to all organisations within, or who interact with, the education sector, including schools and academies (including free schools, alternative provision academies and university technology colleges), further education corporations and universities.  In relation to schools and academies, Paul has significant experience in providing advice to academy trusts on expansion through the sponsorship of other schools and re-brokering of existing academies (including advising trustees on their duties in connection with expansion), and major capital build projects. He also advises academies on compliance with the financial handbook and governance handbook, and on the establishment of trading subsidiaries and other group structures.  Within the maintained sector Paul has advised on federation and de-federation issues, as well as the establishment of charitable companies providing opportunities for collaborative practice, shared learning and other professional development opportunities for clusters of schools.  Paul forges strong relationships with clients underpinned by his focus on making things happen. He has an excellent project management track record and an enviable breadth of knowledge in connection with DfE policy and cutting edge academy work.  Recent experience     Advising a corporate client in relation to a $80,000,000 syndicated multicurrency banking facility involving group companies in 7 jurisdictions.   Acting for both further and higher education institutions on term loan and revolving credit facilities totalling in excess of £45.5 million.   Acting for a charity and one of the North East’s most visited tourist attractions on the restructuring of its banking facilities.   Acting for bank on the provision of acquisition finance in relation to the management buyout of a precision engineering company.   Acting for bank on the provision of development facilities for the construction of care homes.    Paul also provides advice to Further Education colleges on a whole range of matters including:     The merger of further education colleges following the government’s area review process;   The establishment of shared services companies and associated advice to governors;   The establishment of trading subsidiaries and the acquisition of training providers by further education colleges;   Large finance projects including development and working capital banking facilities;    Paul also advises universities on a wide range of corporate and commercial matters including:     University spin outs and subsequent venture capital fund raising;   Banking and finance including significant term loan and development finance facilities;   The establishment of university technology colleges and collaboration with schools and academies;   Mergers and acquisitions within the sector (including advising on the disposal of a HE campus to a further education college);   Advice on constitutional issues.