Corporate/M&A: £10-100 million
UK Guide 2025 : London (Firms)
Band 3
Contact number
+44 (0)20 3755 6000About
Provided by Howard Kennedy LLP
Howard Kennedy's M&A team advise entrepreneurs, family businesses and international businesses expanding into the UK and Europe, investors and family offices. We help businesses and individuals achieve their ambitions, whether through acquisition, investment or exit.
Our team gets the entrepreneurial mindset and we always apply this to the way we work with our clients. We fit into the way that clients want to do business and we know that for an acquisitive client the way we conduct ourselves on a deal impacts their reputation.
We help entrepreneurs grow their businesses, prepare for sale and guide them through exit. We work closely with our Private Client team to ensure that our client's personal and family arrangements are also well looked after.
Likewise, privately and family owned companies come to us to support them with their succession planning.
We act for large corporates looking to M&A as part of their growth and innovation strategies. We are well versed in all aspects of M&A from the terms and structure of deals, negotiations, the strategic aspects of growth and exit planning – right through to execution.
We also help clients (working with their other advisers) to re-structure their corporate affairs, whether supporting on personal wealth or tax planning, change in business focus, or for reasons of family or business succession.
Chambers Review
Howard Kennedy often advises on public M&A and fundraising transactions, including takeovers. It advises clients across a wide range of industries as well as assisting with deals in the hotels, leisure and retail sectors. The firm is based out of its London office but is active on domestic and cross-border transactions, with experience acting on matters across Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia.
Work Highlights
- Howard Kennedy advised Automated Systems in connection with its acquisition of Sharples, a document management and print solutions provider.
Strengths
Provided by Chambers
"Howard Kennedy partners are heavily involved, providing valuable insights and guidance at every stage. This level of partner engagement ensures that our legal needs are not only met, but exceeded."
"Howard Kennedy has the perfect balance of expert and commercial advice while being highly responsive and easy to deal with."
"The team at Howard Kennedy provides a client-friendly and pragmatic approach in combination with robust and highly professional advisory processes."
"Howard Kennedy partners are heavily involved, providing valuable insights and guidance at every stage. This level of partner engagement ensures that our legal needs are not only met, but exceeded."
"Howard Kennedy has the perfect balance of expert and commercial advice while being highly responsive and easy to deal with."
"The team at Howard Kennedy provides a client-friendly and pragmatic approach in combination with robust and highly professional advisory processes."
Notable Practitioners
Ashley Reeback impresses with his corporate practice, which is specialised in the representation of AIM-listed entities in M&A and capital markets matters. His practice is active across several sectors, including real estate. He heads the firm's corporate department.
Gillian White maintains a notable practice representing clients on complex acquisitions, sales and investments. She is particularly adept at advising on IP-related matters and currently sits as head of the firm's M&A team.
"Gillian is a highly competent adviser. She works tirelessly to solve issues as they arise and never gives anything less than 100% to what she does."
"Gillian provides a very high level of service with very strong sophistication in combination with very strong commercial awareness and focus."
"Gillian is a trusted adviser who provides practical and commercial guidance. She is also good at balancing many different requirements and is solutions-focused."
Ranked Lawyers at
Howard Kennedy LLP
London (Firms)