I am a Partner in Michelmores’ Corporate team, specialising in M&A, Private Equity and what I regard as straight talking commercial common sense. I joined Michelmores in 1997, and from 2008 to 2017 was Head of our Business Department during a period of rapid growth and enormous change for the Firm – a time which I thoroughly enjoyed. I was instrumental in recruiting most of our Partners in the Business Department, some as trainees or junior lawyers and others as lateral hires, and I am extremely proud of the fantastic team we have at Michelmores – if you haven’t tried us then you really should! I have been practising corporate law since I qualified in 1986 with Farrer & Co, and have accumulated a great deal of experience since then. However, I firmly believe that we continue to learn until the day we die; I enjoy dealing with the different situations and finding solutions to the challenges that life as a corporate lawyer throws up. Both I and my good friend and Partner Richard Cobb (Senior Partner no less!) are top ranked in the 2023 Chamber’s Guide for Corporate and M&A work, and I am also a member of the Legal 500 Hall of Fame for Corporate and Commercial Work, as is my Partner Ian Holyoak, who is also a longstanding friend. I have experience across most sectors, and tend to focus mainly on private equity and investment work. Key sectors for me are the financial, technology and food sectors; however, a deal is a deal irrespective of sector, and I believe that I am able to operate effectively in virtually any sector with the right specialist back up such as we have here at Michelmores. As well as working with clients, I see a key part of my role as being to help our younger lawyers develop their skills, practices and careers. I am ranked as Band 1 for Corporate and M&A in independent legal guide Chambers. I have also been listed as a ‘Leading Individual’ by the Legal 500.