Dispensing ‘industry advice that is second to none’, Gowling WLG works with a litany of corporates and PE firms on multi-jurisdictional corporate and commercial matters - particularly in the automotive manufacturing, transport, and consumer goods sectors. The sizeable team is jointly chaired by corporate head Chris Towle and commercial lead David Lowe, who divides his time between London and Birmingham. With more than three decades of experience in the market, corporate partner David Vaughan is a key contact for a diverse range of public and private sector entities, while on the commercial side, Sarah Riding is a highly active practitioner who handles all manner of arrangements for clients in automotive, sport, and retail. Stuart Young and Anurag (Ragi) Singh are similarly noted for their automotive sector expertise; Young chairs the firm’s wider automotive group, while Singh is recommended for his expertise in manufacturing and electric vehicles. Other key figures include Jeremy Millington, a key port of call for the firm’s entrepreneurial clients, and Micky Yang, a real estate-focused corporate partner who joined the team from Herbert Smith Freehills LLP in April 2022.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘We use Gowling WLG for industry advice that is second to none, their expertise in the automotive industry, particularly relating to health and safety, is excellent.’
‘Sarah Riding has extensive knowledge of the automotive industry, health & safety, and insurance, together with an understanding of franchising. All of this is also applied with practical commercial considerations.’
‘Genuine focus on real estate with strength in depth. Amazing client list and big deal exposure.’
‘Mike Twining is on top of every deal and offers commercial solutions.’
Key clients
- Cummins Inc
- Coca Cola European Partners
- Halfords
- Avison Young
- Sanctuary Group
- Atcore Technology Group Limited
- Hill & Smith Holdings Plc
- HC One
- SLR Global
- BGF (Business Growth Fund)
- LDC
- The Midcounties Co-operative
- THG
- Perwyn Advisors UK Limited
- Salto Systems S.L.
- Galway Sustainable Capital Inc
- Sdiptech AB
- Royal London
- Mitek Holdings Inc
- A F Blakemore & Sons
- Birmingham City Council
- Southco Inc.
- M+W
- Rettig Group
- Staffline
- Otto Bock
- Palatine Private Equity
- Hyundai
- Sandvik AB
- Tarmac
- Metsaliitto Cooperative
- GCI Group
- GCP Applied Technologies
- Codemasters Group Holdings plc
- ReBound Returns
- Aston Manor
- M&G Real Estate
- University Superannuation Scheme
- St Modwen
- NFU Mutual
- Banyan Software
- Evolution Funding
- All Saints Retail Limited
- Asda
- Aston Martin
- Azumi Restaurants Limited
- Baylis & Harding
- Bentley Motors Limited
- Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Bloor Homes Limited
- British Red Cross
- Baylis & Harding
- Cadent Gas
- CBI
- CBRE
- Cherry Park Residential
- Chips Away International Limited (Franchise Brands plc)
- Church & Dwight
- Cummins
- DivideBuy
- Ford
- GSK
- Gordon Murray Automotive
- Hermes (Parcels)
- Hovis
- Hydrafacial UK Limited
- Jaguar Land Rover
- Marks & Spencer
- Mazda Motors UK Limited
- Medicine Discovery Catapult
- Molson Coors
- NCP Limited
- Nomad (Birds Eye)
- Norton Motorcyles
- Oxfam
- Pandora
- Polestar
- Pret A Manger (Europe) Limited
- Premier Foods
- Prologis
- Rodan & Fields
- SMMT (The UK automotive trade association)
- Saint Gobain
- Spirit AeroSystems
- Starbucks
- St Modwen
- St Peter's Spirits
- Tarmac
- Taylor Wimpey
- The Office Group
- Toyota Motor Manufacturing
- Transport for London
- Triumph Motorcycles Limited
- United Biscuits
- Upfield
- Weetabix
- Weston Park Limited
Work highlights
- Advised Rigby Private Equity on the sale of Nuvias Group to Bridgepoint-backed Infinigate Group, to form a combined business across Europe and EMEA with an anticipated turnover in the region of €1.4 billion.
- Advised Weetabix Food Company on its acquisition of Lacka Foods Ltd.
- Advised Motors UK Ltd on a number of key commercial matters, including updating dealer and repairer agreements, alternative retail models and electric vehicles.
Lawyers
Hall of Fame
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Leading partners
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Next Generation Partners
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Chris Towle, David Lowe