Ashtons Legal ‘provides an excellent blend of technical know-how, with great responsiveness’. Practice head Geoff Hazlewood works in both Ipswich and Bury St Edmunds; working closely with the banking and care home teams, he frequently acts in MBOs and M&A deals. Craig Fiddaman in Ipswich specialises in share and asset acquisitions and disposals. Praised as ‘extremely proactive and engaged in the client’s best interest’, he frequently assists clients in the insurance sector and acts on corporate matters involving veterinary practices.
Corporate and commercial: elsewhere in East Anglia in East Anglia
Ashtons Legal
Praxisleiter:
Geoff Hazlewood
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Craig Fiddaman; Tom Beattie
Referenzen
‘The co-operation with the employment team is fantastic and they almost function as one entity at a level that is not very common. They build a brilliant and personal relationship with their clients helping them dive deeper than the formal side of discussions to help understand what really makes their clients tick and what is important to them.’
‘Whether it is Craig Fiddaman, Geoff Hazlewood or Tom Beattie they are always available, happy to help and willing to listen. Their drive to network in the local area, be part of the local business community and build connections is unrivalled.’
‚Ashtons always provides an excellent blend of technical know-how, with great responsiveness. We find them a pleasure to work with.‘
Kernmandanten
Stow Healthcare Group
Medical Management Systems
TaxAssist Group
Signs Express
Titan Motorsport & Automotive Engineering
Camgrain
xDNA Group Limited
Flip Out
Quadrant Management
Euston Ventures Limited
Lofty Inc
Algaris Limited
ServiceTick
Ubisend
Tech Educators
Gipping Construction
Abbey International Finance Limited
Smartspace Software PLC
CNet Training
Beamglow Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Acting for Rockford Components Holdings in its sale to AQ Group.
- Acting for Euston Ventures in the share acquisition of Hampshire-based silicone manufacturer Silex.
- Acting on the sale of Porticus Insurance.
Birketts LLP
At Birketts LLP, ‘communication is excellent and prompt’, and clients receive ‘very efficient and straightforward advice’. The firm maintains a strong presence in its Ipswich office, where practice head Alexandra Nelson oversees a vastly experienced team. Former senior partner James Austin plays a vital supervisory role in transactional matters, drawing on his many years of experience in commercial contracts. Lisa Hayward leads the employee incentives team, and is a key adviser to employers and business owners. M&A specialist Andrew Tubb has developed a niche practice for the acquisition and sale of Lloyd’s limited liability vehicles. Corporate partner and co-head of the automotive practice Emma Bysouth is also a key name to note.
Praxisleiter:
Alexandra Nelson
Weitere Kernanwälte:
James Austin; Andrew Tubb; Emma Bysouth; Emma Tubb; Lisa Hayward; Sarah Pearce; Rachel Astill
Referenzen
‘The entire process went exceedingly smoothly and professionally, and I was wholly satisfied with the transaction. Communication was excellent and prompt. If I were asked to fault the service, I should be hard pressed to do so.’
‘I dealt with Emma Tubb, who in my opinion deserves the highest praise.’
‚Very efficient and straightforward advice.‘
Kernmandanten
Taylor Made Joinery Ltd
Thurlow Nunn
Denny Bros Limited
Foresight Group
Skinner Pet Food Ltd
Notcutts Limited
Muntons Plc
Nationwide Metal Recycling Limited
Green Label Foods Limited
Autumn Foods Holdings Limited
Morrison Freight Limited
Marshall Wolfe Limited
Gressingham Foods
Berlin Packaging Limited
Host Capital Ltd
Vehicle Replacement Group Ltd
EO Charging (Juuce Limited)
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised the Taylor family shareholders on all legal aspects of a management buyout.
- Advised Thurlow Nunn Limited on a strategic acquisition of the business and assets of Lings Hyundai, enabling Thurlow Nunn to expand its brand portfolio.
- Acted for the shareholders of Anglia Registrars Limited on the sale of the entire issued share capital to The Bright Group.
Greene & Greene
Greene & Greene in Bury St Edmunds has a deep bench handling corporate and commercial matters. Clients describe the ‘responsive and hardworking team’ as ‘hardworking and diligent’. Practice head Simon Ratcliffe, who ‘stands out as an exceptional corporate lawyer who rapidly grasps the issues and delivers pragmatic and workable solutions’, and Mark Daly, who frequently handles international strategic commercial contracts and transactions, are key names to note. Neil Walmsley excels in acquisitions, disposals, financings and restructurings, while Andrew Cooper and the ‘absolutely brilliant’ Mark Williams are also singled out. Mark Whittaker is a key adviser to private equity and VC-backed clients.
Praxisleiter:
Simon Ratcliffe
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Mark Daly; Neil Walmsley; Andrew Cooper; Mark Whittaker; Mark Williams; Jonathan Hewett
Referenzen
‘Mark Whittaker was always available for advice and to discuss the specifics of our requirements. Jonathan Hewett also available and quick to reply to any issues that arose. I felt that there was a high level of personal service and good advice and understanding of our requirements from both.’
‘Responsive and hardworking team who have delivered for me over many years.’
‘Simon Ratcliffe stands out as an exceptional corporate lawyer who rapidly grasps the issues and delivers pragmatic and workable solutions.’
Kernmandanten
Miles & Barr Holdings Limited
Q&Q Control Services (UK) Limited
Lawton Yarns Limited
EMG Holdings Limited
Shareholders of Labb Limited
Curo Care Group Limited
With Nothing Underneath Limited
Heathpatch Limited (1)
Heathpatch Limited (2)
TMJ Interiors Group Limited
The partners of Hackett Griffey LLP
Greenwoods
Greenwoods maintains a strong presence in Peterborough, though the firm has greatly expanded over recent years and increasingly draws in work through its London office. Practice head Stephen Jarvis is mainly based in London, but works throughout the office network as required, frequently calling on the ‘very effective and efficient’ Claire Banks in Peterborough for her in-depth knowledge of the charity and education sectors. The firm has a ‘highly professional and diverse team, which provides exceptional insight and guidance’.
Praxisleiter:
Stephen Jarvis
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Claire Banks
Referenzen
‘As a client of Greenwoods, we have been impressed by their highly professional and diverse team, which provides exceptional insight and guidance for our license agreements with global distributors. Their unique composition enables them to offer solutions that are well-informed and tailored to our specific needs.‘
‚One of the key strengths of the Greenwoods team is its deep understanding of international markets, paired with a collaborative approach that ensures we are always aligned. Overall, our experience with Greenwood has been outstanding, and we value their dedication to excellence and innovation in supporting our licensing needs.’
‘The individuals we work with at Greenwoods truly stand out due to their exceptional responsiveness and dedication to client service.‘
Kernmandanten
Wolf Eyewear Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advising Wolf Eyewear Limited with its acquisition of White Optics Limited.
Buckles Solicitors LLP
Buckles Solicitors LLP retains a strong corporate and commercial presence in its Peterborough thanks to the experience of lead practitioners Alastair Gunn and Nigel Moore. The ‘pragmatic, realistic, and highly commercial’ Gunn frequently handles MBOs, MBIs, and the share acquisitions and disposals. The ‘diverse, friendly, knowledgeable, and credible group of lawyers’ includes emerging talent Katy Poole, who handles M&A and corporate restructurings for clients across the UK and internationally. The firm is particularly adept in matters concerning the agricultural industry and family-owned businesses, and has in-depth knowledge of the media, automotive, food, technology and engineering industries.
Praxisleiter:
Alastair Gunn
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Nigel Moore; Katy Poole; Nichola Stephens; Martino Barzaghi
Referenzen
‘Buckles are a diverse, friendly, knowledgeable, and credible group of lawyers. They are a pleasure to work alongside.‘
‘Alastair Gunn is a fantastic lawyer; pragmatic, realistic, and highly commercial. We work in a collaborative fashion, which always drive positive outcomes for the client. Nichola Stephens is a friendly, bubbly lawyer, but her pleasant disposition is underpinned by a deeply professional and knowledgeable approach to corporate law.‘
‚Katy Poole is excellent; very well networked and highly regarded across the East Anglian patch and beyond.’
Kernmandanten
Greeen+ Limited
Electronic Cigarettes Limited
Pajef Limited
Elton John Aids Foundation
Princebuild Holdings Limited
Hydromarque Limited
Yours Clothing Limited
JS Davidson
Ellisons
Ellisons ‘understands the importance of excellent communication and practical, commercial advice’, and clients praise its ‘strong, can-do, pragmatic culture’. Led from Essex by Paul Forsyth, the practice continues to build on its presence in East Anglia through ‘standout partner’ Petra Sharp in Ipswich and David Heller in Bury St Edmunds. Heller ‘always cuts to the chase with pertinent advice’.
Praxisleiter:
Paul Forsyth
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Petra Sharp; David Heller
Referenzen
‚A team that works closely together that understands the importance of excellent communication and practical, commercial advice.‘
‘Petra Sharp is a standout partner. She understands our business inside out and always provides us with quick and accurate advice – would highly recommend.’
‚David Heller – a calm approach to all the difficulties that arise during a transaction. Always willing to spend time discussing the issues and suggest pragmatic solutions.‘
Kernmandanten
Pitpatpet Limited
Shareholders of Hi-Spec Facilities Services Limited
Climatec Group Limited
Norfolk Primary Care CIC (previously North Norfolk Primary Care Limited)
Suffolk GP Federation C.I.C
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Pitpatpet Limited in connection with an equity fundraise, where PitPatPet Limited raised growth investment from Correlation One Investments (Europe) Limited.
- Advised the selling shareholders in relation to the sale of Hi-Spec Facilities Services Limited to Atlas FM Group Limited.
- Advised Climatec Group Holdings Limited in relation to a management buy-out.
Prettys Solicitors LLP
The corporate and commercial group at Prettys Solicitors LLP in Ipswich is ‘professional while remaining personable and easy to deal with’. Led by the vastly experienced and ‘technically excellent’ Ian Waine, the practice calls on MBO, EOT and M&A expert Daniel Billson, who ‘relays even the most technical of the legal matters in simple terms’. Sarah Lewis, whose broad practice spans M&A and corporate restructuring, exemplifies the ‘impressive expertise within the commercial team’.
Praxisleiter:
Ian Waine
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Daniel Billson; Sarah Lewis
Referenzen
‘From our first introduction through to the conclusion of our recent project, Prettys Solicitors have been excellent! They are professional whilst remaining personable and easy to deal with. They are great at communicating and keeping us informed at each stage of the process and deal with any queries efficiently and effectively.‘
‘Dan Billson (Partner) is fantastic to deal with! He’s taken the time to understand us, our business, and what we are looking to achieve and has guided us through the necessary processes. Dan relays even the most technical of the legal matters in simple terms giving us the confidence and understanding we need.’
‘They are a relatively small practice, but they have impressive expertise within their commercial team. The stand out strength is their practical and pragmatic, yet highly commercial approach to contract negotiations.’
Kernmandanten
Perrywood Group
Maritime Transport
Pickering Group
Scrutton Bland
Perivan Limited
EPPH Limited
EPPH Drainage Limited
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised Scrutton Bland on the sale to Jensten of the issued share capital of Scrutton Bland Insurance Brokers Limited (SBIBL).
- Advised Perrywood Limited, a family owned business on the acquisition of its third garden centre, Buckhatch Garden Centre and Nursery from Ingatestone Saddlery Centre Limited.
Roythornes Solicitors
Roythornes Solicitors has grown its presence in East Anglia through its Alconbury office, with the team providing advice on corporate and commercial matters. Martin Jinks leads the practice, which calls on the in-depth data privacy and charity sector knowledge of Julia Seary, the extensive experience of M&A team head Mike Matthews, and corporate transaction and restructuring specialist Lizzie Walters. The practice ‘combines agility with technical flair’ and clients describe the lawyers as ‘incredibly thorough, accommodating, and knowledgeable’.
Praxisleiter:
Martin Jinks
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Julia Seary; Mike Matthews; Lizzie Walters; Ollie Peckham; Beth Wallace
Referenzen
‘The Roythornes team combines an agility with a technical flair that is seldom seen. They are able to roll their sleeves up and provide cross-border transactional advice where required. In the £5m to £15m space it is hard to find a better corporate legal team in the East of England.’
‘Ollie Peckham and Beth Wallace are of the highest quality. They are collaborative, highly intelligent and provide the highest quality advice.‘
‘Roythornes was incredibly thorough, accommodating, and knowledgeable. They were able to support us to get the result we wanted and made sure we were well equipped internally.’
Kernmandanten
The Property Franchise Group plc
Ceres Rural LLP
TC Bulley Davey Limited
BA Bush & Son Limited
Frontier Agriculture Limited
Pigeon Investment Management Limited
Sakata UK Limited and Sakata Vegetables Europe SAS
Fortis Hire
Italian Beverage Company Limited
AB Texel
Highlight-Mandate
- Acting for the shareholders of LAC Conveyors & Automation in the sale of the logistics automation company to MotionTech.
- Acting for the shareholders of technology company, Point 74, in its sale to FPE, a private equity-based specialist software fund.
- Advising in relation to a restructure of a group of 14 companies with a total of c. 90 investors and an aggregate value of over £30m.
Barker Gotelee
Barker Gotelee has recognised expertise in matters concerning the agricultural, technology, manufacturing, aviation and transport sectors. The firm frequently handles high-value transactions, including acquisitions, disposals and solvent restructurings involving owner managers, and also provides a full range of commercial advice, including specialist support with IP and data protection issues. Practice head Clare Richards provides ‘first-class service’, while Victoria Spellman is ‘a fountain of knowledge’ and is frequently involved in due diligence and disclosure processes for complex transactions.
Praxisleiter:
Clare Richards
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Victoria Spellman
Referenzen
‘Barker Gotelee has a great team in this field. The people know their stuff and are very approachable. Speed of service is what sets this team apart from other firms in the area.’
‘Clare Richards has given a first-class service to many of our mutual clients. Her care and attention to detail are second to none.’
‘The practice has highly qualified individuals who have an expertise covering all aspects of legal advice required by the business. This extends to company structure, tax planning, commercial planning, and legal responsibilities.’
Highlight-Mandate
- Advised shareholders on the demerger of a multi-million-pound group of companies.
- Advised on the group restructuring of a well-established multi-generational transport company.
- Advised a farming cooperative on negotiating a produce supply contract with a top four supermarket after the previous counterparty became insolvent.
Hunt & Coombs LLP
Hunt & Coombs LLP is a well known firm in Peterborough with a client roster of SMEs and owner-managed businesses. The team is led by Naina Tilney, who is best known as a litigator, with strong support from Olivia Chalmers, who handles corporate and commercial matters, as well as commercial real estate transactions. Her work centres disposals for regional SMEs and high-net worth individuals. In early 2025, the firm hired notary public John Scott from Lamb & Holmes to lead its commercial group.
Praxisleiter:
Naina Tilney
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Olivia Chalmers; John Scott
Kernmandanten
Anglia Home Furnishings Ltd
Taylor Rose
Taylor Rose has built up its local presence with the arrival of Phil Parkinson from Blacks Solicitors LLP, who has more than 20 years’ experience in commercial and data protection law. Nicholas Johnson, who joined from Tollers LLP, has extensive experience in corporate, commercial, and banking and finance law. ‘The practice stands out due to its deep industry expertise ensuring that clients receive both high-level advisory and hands-on support’, remarks one client.
Weitere Kernanwälte:
Phil Parkinson; Nicholas Johnson
Referenzen
‘We work with Phil Parkinson and he is extremely responsive and supportive and his advice is sound and practical.‘
‘The practice stands out due to its deep industry expertise ensuring that clients receive both high-level advisory and hands-on support. Potential clients would be interested to know that the team brings a diverse range of specialisations making it well-equipped to handle complex challenges. It is their mix of professionalism, insight, and personalised service that truly differentiates them from others in the field.’
‘The individuals I worked with, Nicholas Johnson and Phil Parkinson, stand out due to their exceptional expertise, dedication, and ability to think creatively in solving complex challenges. What sets them apart from competitors is their deep industry knowledge combined with a genuinely client-focused approach offering valuable advice even during an initial meeting. They take the time to understand each client’s unique needs and tailor their strategies accordingly. They bring not only technical proficiency but also strong interpersonal skills, ensuring that clients feel supported and confident in their guidance.’
Kernmandanten
Perigon Holdings Limited
Hill Home Survey Limited
Greenbean Scientific Ltd
Rise Health and Fitness Ltd
Property Experts (Nationwide) Ltd
R&B Homes Ltd
Highlight-Mandate
- Advising Property Experts (Nationwide) Ltd on a Bridge Finance Project.
- Advising R&B Homes Ltd on a Shareholders Agreement.